September 1965 | A House in the War

1965 – A September not forgotten.

A September of loss. A September of sacrifice. A September of tragedy.

– The Pak-Indo war of 1965.

 

To invoke the feelings of nationalism, this Defence Day, Graana.com revisits the heroic sacrifices made by the defenders of our homeland.

 

September 6 marks 56 years of the second conflict that extended over 17 days between India and Pakistan – which challenged the status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

 

India, under Major General Niranjan Prasad, launched an attack near the west bank of the BRB Canal – a de facto border of India and Pakistan, which the latter successfully defused.

 

 

Pakistan successfully conquered Khem Karan after an intense fight from Indian forces.

 

 

A Pakistani flag can be seen hoisted on the Kishangarh Fort, Rajasthan.

 

Even though outnumbered against India’s well-equipped aircrafts, the PAF’s aircrafts proved to be superior to those of the IAF’s, as Pakistan’s fighter pilot, MM Alam made a record of downing five Indian aircrafts in less than a minute.

 

Even though bombs were showered on enemies, it was the homes that were destroyed.

Even though it was the land that burned, it was the families who paid the price.

Yet, it was a September of resilience. A September of valour. A September of perseverance.

 

Then-president and Field Marshal Ayub Khan presents Major Aziz Bhatti’s Nishan-e-Haider to his widow.

 

 

*All photos courtesy Inter-Services Public Relations.