The Battle of Basantar or the Battle of Barapind (December 4th - 16th, 1971) was one of the vital battles fought as part of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 in the western sector of India. Despite being outnumbered, the Indian troops won a hard fought battle that secured this vital area in the Punjab/Jammu sector. The result was that more than 1000 square kilometers^[1] of Pakistani territory was occupied by Indian forces. The name Battle of Basantar actually encompasses the entire gamut of battles and skirmishes fought in the Shakargarh sector. Image File history File links Unbalanced_scales. ... Combatants India Pakistan Commanders Sam Manekshaw J.S. Aurora A. A. K. Niazi # Strength 500,000+ troops 400,000+ troops Casualties 3,843 killed[1] 9,851 wounded[1] c. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Indian Army is one of the armed forces of India and has responsibility for land-based military operations. ... Pakistan Army Coat of Arms Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistan Military responsible for land based military operations. ... General Arun S. Vaidya General Arun Shridhar Vaidya, MVC(Bar), AVSM (Died: 10 August 1986) was the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army from 1983 to 1986. ... Combatants Indian Armed Forces Military of Pakistan Commanders Major General Lachhman Singh Brigadier Tajammul Hussain Malik Strength 20th Indian Mountain Division 205 Infantry Brigade, Pakistan Casualties  ?  ? The Battle of Hilli or the Battle of Bogra was a major battle fought in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and Bangladesh Liberation... Combatants Indian Army and later Indian Air Force Pakistan Army Commanders Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri Brigadier Tariq Mir Strength 120 troops 2 Recoilless Guns 2000+ troops 65 Tanks 5 Field guns 3 Anti-aircraft guns 138 Military vehicles Casualties 2 men, 1 jeep mounted recoiless gun 200 soldiers. ... December 4th redirects here. ... December 16 is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants India Pakistan Commanders Sam Manekshaw J.S. Aurora A. A. K. Niazi # Strength 500,000+ troops 400,000+ troops Casualties 3,843 killed[1] 9,851 wounded[1] c. ...

Location of battle

Basantar river is a tributary of the Ravi River that flows in the states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. This battle took place in the Shakargarh Sector or the Shakargarh Bulge that includes Jarpal and surrounding areas. The bulge is a protrusion of Pakistan boundary into Indian territory. It was a strategic area for both sides as it comprised road links to Jammu from Punjab, which could be cut off by Pakistan if it wished to launch an offensive. It was also economically vital for both sides as it straddled the fertile area of the Indus river belt. The Ravi River (Punjabi: , Urdu: ) is a river in India and Pakistan. ... This article details the Indian state of Punjab. ... Himachal Pradesh   (Hindi: हिमाचल प्रदेश, IPA: ), formerly the Punjab Hill States, is a mostly mountainous state in northern India. ... Jammu   (Hindi: जम्मू, Urdu: جموں) is one of the three regions comprising the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. ... Satellite image of the Indus River basin. ...

Reasoning behind the battle

As the war began on the eastern front, Pakistan decided to open up the western sector to divert Indian troops away and prolong the war. However Indian troops chose to attack right at the most offensive part of the Punjab sector in Shakargarh sector. This was despite taking into account that a main base of the Pakistan Army was at Sialkot, just a couple of hundred miles from the thick of the battle. Pakistan Army Flag The Pakistan Army (Urdu: پاک فوج) is the largest branch of the Pakistan military, and is mainly responsible for protection of the state borders, the security of administered territories and defending the national interests of Pakistan within the framework of its international obligations. ... Sialkot (Urdu/Punjabi: سیالکوٹ ) is a city situated in the northern part of the Punjab province in Pakistan at the feet of the snow-covered peaks of Kashmir near the Chenab river. ...

Battle plan

Both the opposing sides were led by I Corps. Pakistan's I Corp included three infantry divisions, one armoured division, an armoured brigade backed up by an unknown number of artillery and support units. Furthermore Pakistan had the advantage of bringing in the reserve troops stationed nearby. The Reserves totaled 5 divisions, commanded by none other than Lt. General Tikka Khan. The Indian I Corps had three infantry divisions, 2 Armoured Brigades, two independent artillery brigades and an engineer brigade. The aim of the Indian Army was to bridge the Basantar river - the entry to which was fully land mined - and take control of the Shakargarh bulge. Such an offensive would also secure the Pathankot army base from any attacks from Pakistan it was reasoned. Symbol of the Polish 1st Legions Infantry Division in NATO code A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of around ten to twenty thousand soldiers. ... Symbol of the Polish 1st Legions Infantry Division in NATO code A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of around ten to twenty thousand soldiers. ... Tikka Khan (Urdu: ٹکا خان) (b. ... In military science a brigade is a military unit that is part of a division and includes regiments (where that level exists), or (in modern armies) is composed of several battalions (typically two to four) and directly attached supporting units. ... The Indian Army is one of the armed forces of India and has responsibility for land-based military operations. ... “Minefield” redirects here. ... , Pathankot (Punjabi: ਪਠਾਨਕੋਟ, Hindi: पठानकोट, Pashto: پٹھان ڪوٽ) a city and a municipal committee in Gurdaspur district in the Indian state of Punjab. ...

The battle

The offensive in this sector was launched a few days after war broke out between the two nations. The Indian I Corps moved with force into the sector to capture the key areas. The 54 Infantry Division and 16 Armoured Brigade moved towards the area. As they advanced they were met by enemy defences that fought back. Pakistan reserves were also thrown in. Meanwhile the Indian division was bogged down as they had not cleared all the mines or bridged the river. However, in a daring counter attack by the 17 Poona Horse, 2nd Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal led his 3 tanks headlong into the mined area. A fierce tank battle ensued where a Pakistan tank was taken down. Once again the defenders regrouped with their tanks. The 8th Armoured Brigade of Pakistan was thrust into the battle to neutralise the enemy. What followed was a story of courage and extreme valour. Lt. Arun Khetarpal with his 2 remaining tanks fought off and gunned down 10 tanks before he was killed in action. The counterattack proved to be a disaster for Pakistan's armoured brigade.The ofensive plan was in five phases: a.Ph I To capture North Portion f Lalial Res forest and beat back any local Counter attack (2145h on 15 Dec 71) b.Ph II to capture Jarpal and Lohalby 0500h 16 dec 71. c.PhIII To Est Bridge H incl area North of Lalial Forest, Jarpal and Lohal on Ni 15/16 Dec 71. d.Ph IV To to Brak out The Poona Horse is a Indian army Regiment. ... 2nd Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal (14 October 1950 - 16 December 1971 born in Pune, Maharashtra joined the 17 Poona Horse of the Indian Army on 13 June 1971. ... 2nd Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, PVC (1950-1971) 2nd Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal (14 October 1950 - 16 December 1971) born in Pune, Maharashtra joined the 17 Poona Horse of the Indian Army on 13 June 1971. ... Closing the Falais-Argentan Pocket and the Mortain counterattack 6-17 August 1944 A counterattack is a military tactic used by defending forces when under attack by an enemy force. ...

After days of fighting that saw both sides gaining and losing territory, the Indians slowly but surely gained a threatening superiority, despite being at a quantitative and qualitative disadvantage. Towards the tail end of the battle, Pakistani forces led by Lieutenant Colonel Akram Raja made a frantic attempt to counter attack the Indian stronghold by jumping into an old-style cavalry charge with his tanks. Launched in broad daylight in view of the Indian defensive positions which were well secured, the battalion was mowed down in minutes. As the Indians came threateningly close to the Pakistan Army base at Sialkot, the Pakistan Air Force was called in and the Indians retreated back. As Pakistan lost the war and surrendered, fighting stopped in the sector too. India had gained control of more than thousand square miles before finally settling down to 350 mi² - 1000 km²^[1] of Pakistan territory that included approximately 500 villages. Sialkot (Urdu/Punjabi: سیالکوٹ ) is a city situated in the northern part of the Punjab province in Pakistan at the feet of the snow-covered peaks of Kashmir near the Chenab river. ... Branches of Service Pakistan Army Pakistan Air Force Pakistan Navy Pakistan Coast Guard Pakistan Paramilitary Forces Leadership Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff General Ehsan ul Haq Chief of Army Staff General Pervez Musharraf Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Ahmed Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Afzal Tahir...

Conclusion

The battle was supposed to showcase the might of Pakistan Army against an outnumbered Indian Army in that particular sector. However the ingenuity of a bold attack by the Indians surprised the enemy and the bravado of the Indians was always a factor that tilted the battle in India's way. Pakistan Army generally regards this as the most humbling defeat, next only to the Battle of Longewala despite numerical and qualitative superiority over the opposing force. In this battle alone India had destroyed close to 70 tanks losing only a few in the process. Pakistan's Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report recommended that the Commander 1 Corps, who "surrendered to the enemy without a fight" should "be tried for criminal and wilful neglect of duty" and poor conduct of operations, that "seriously jeopardised the Army offensive in the south.^[2] Combatants Indian Army and later Indian Air Force Pakistan Army Commanders Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri Brigadier Tariq Mir Strength 120 troops 2 Recoilless Guns 2000+ troops 65 Tanks 5 Field guns 3 Anti-aircraft guns 138 Military vehicles Casualties 2 men, 1 jeep mounted recoiless gun 200 soldiers. ...

This and other battles put paid to any hopes of bargaining for territory lost in East Pakistan, by capturing Indian territory; in fact Pakistan had lost sizeable portions of land on both sides of the border.

Awards

• Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military honour was awarded to Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, 17th Poona Horse
• Param Vir Chakra for Major Hoshiar Singh, 3rd Battalion, Bombay Grenadiers
• It was probably the first time in the history of wars, that an enemy recommended a soldier for an award. Colonel Mohammed Akram Raja was awarded Hilal-i-Jurat by the Pakistan Government on the basis of a citation written by Lieutenant Colonel, Ved Airy, who was Commanding Officer, 3Grenediars, Indian Army

The Param Vir Chakra is an Indian military decoration given for valour in combat operations. ... 2nd Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal (14 October 1950 - 16 December 1971 born in Pune, Maharashtra joined the 17 Poona Horse of the Indian Army on 13 June 1971. ... The Param Vir Chakra is an Indian military decoration given for valour in combat operations. ... Category: ... This article is about a regiment of the Indian Army. ... Hilal-i-Jurat (literal meaning the Crescent of Courage) is a Military Award awarded to officers of the Pakistan Army for acts of valour, courage, or devotion to duty in the face of the enemy. ... The Indian Army is one of the armed forces of India and has responsibility for land-based military operations. ...

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b} The India-Pakistan War of 1971: A Modern War
2. ^ The Hamoodur-Rehman Commission Report - Hosted by Pakistan People's Party

References

• Battle of Barapind-Jarpal
• Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report Chapter 5
• Poona Horse account of the battle
• A newspaper format presentation of the battle
• Casualties during war
• Maj. Gen. Ian Cardozo (2003). Param Vir - Our Heroes in Battle. Roli Books. ISBN 81-7436-262-2. 

See also

v • d • e Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
History	Operations and Battles
History •Partition of India •History of Pakistan • Indo-Pakistani Wars • War of 1947 • War of 1965 • Operation Searchlight • Bangladesh Liberation War • Mukti Bahini • Research and Analysis Wing • Mitro Bahini • Operation Jackpot. Indian Army, Summer 1971 • Operation Jackpot. Bangladesh Navy, Autumn 1971 The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is a mainstream political party in Pakistan. ... Combatants India Pakistan Commanders Sam Manekshaw J.S. Aurora A. A. K. Niazi # Strength 500,000+ troops 400,000+ troops Casualties 3,843 killed[1] 9,851 wounded[1] c. ... This article is under construction. ... A relief map of Pakistan showing historic sites. ... Since both nations achieved independence in August 1947, there have been three major wars and one minor war between India and Pakistan. ... Combatants India Pakistan Commanders General K M Cariappa, Lt Gen S M Shrinagesh, Maj Gen K S Thimayya, Maj Gen Kalwant Singh Maj Gen Akbar Khan Casualties 1,104 killed[1](Indian army) 684 KIA(State Forces)[2] [3] 3,152 wounded [1] 1,500 killed[4] (Pakistan army) The... The 1965 war, also known as the Second Kashmir War, between India and Pakistan was the culmination of a series of skirmishes that occurred between April 1965 and September 1965. ... Combatants Bengali units of Pakistan Army and civilian volunteers Pakistan Armed Forces Commanders Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmed (April 17 -December 16) Col(ret). ... Combatants Mukti Bahini India Aided By  Soviet Union Pakistan Aided By United States People’s Republic of China Commanders • Col. ... Liberation War commemoration poster Mukti Bahini (Bangla: মুক্তি বাহিনী) (Liberation Army), was a guerrilla force which fought against the Pakistan Army during the Bangladesh War of Independence in 1971. ... Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW)[1] is Indias external intelligence agency. ... Mitro Bahini (meaning Allied forces in Bangla) was a military force composed of Bangladesh Army (as part of Mukti Bahini) and the Indian Army in December 1971 during the Bangladesh Liberation War. ... Operation Jackpot was the codename assaigned to 2, possibly 3 operations launched by the Indian Army and the Bangladesh forces during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. ... Operation Jackpot was the codename assaigned to 2, possibly 3 operations launched by the Indian Army and the Bangladesh forces during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. ...		Battles of the 1971 War: • Battle of Atgram Complex • Battle of Garibpur • Battle of Boyra • Operation Chengiz Khan • Battle of Longewala • Battle of Hilli • Meghna Heli Bridge • Tangail Airdrop • Battle of Basantar • PNS Ghazi • Operation Trident • East Pakistan Air Operations, 1971 • INS Khukri • more... Combatants India Pakistan Commanders Sam Manekshaw J.S. Aurora A. A. K. Niazi Strength 500,000+ troops[citation needed] 400,000+ troops[citation needed] Casualties 3,843 killed[1] 9,851 wounded[1] c. ... The Battle of Atgram Complex, fought on the 21 November 1971 between the 5 Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army and the 31 Punjabs of the Pakistan Army, was one of the first engagements between the two opposing forces that preceded the formal initiation of hostillities of the 1971 Indo... Commanders Lt. ... A HAL Ajeet fighter . ... Combatants Pakistan Air Force Indian Air Force Strength •36 Aircrafts in first two waves. ... Combatants Indian Army and later Indian Air Force Pakistan Army Commanders Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri Brigadier Tariq Mir Strength 120 troops 2 Recoilless Guns 2000+ troops 65 Tanks 5 Field guns 3 Anti-aircraft guns 138 Military vehicles Casualties 2 men, 1 jeep mounted recoiless gun 200 soldiers. ... Combatants Indian Armed Forces Military of Pakistan Commanders Major General Lachhman Singh Brigadier Tajammul Hussain Malik Strength 20th Indian Mountain Division 205 Infantry Brigade, Pakistan Casualties  ?  ? The Battle of Hilli or the Battle of Bogra was a major battle fought in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and Bangladesh Liberation... Meghna Heli Bridge was an operation mounted on 9 December 1971 by the Indian Air Force to Airlift troops of IV Corps of the Indian Army from Brahmanbaria to Raipura and Narsingdi over the River Meghna during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, bypassing the strong Pakistani defenses at Ashuganj... The Tangail airdrop was an operation mounted on 11 December 1971 by the 2nd Parachute Battalion of the Indian Army during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. ... PNS Ghazi, the flagship submarine of Pakistan Navy until it was sunk in 1971. ... Combatants India Pakistan Strength 3 Missile boats, 2 Anti-submarine patrol vessels Casualties None Heavy Operation Trident and its follow up Operation Python were naval attacks launched on Pakistans port city of Karachi by the Indian Navy during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. ... The Crest of the Indian Air Force. ... INS Khukri was an old Type 14 ASW (Anti-submarine Warfare) frigate in the Indian Navy. ...
Political and military leaders India Indira Gandhi • Sam Manekshaw • K P Candeth • J S Aurora • Gopal Gurunath Bewoor • J.F.R. Jacob• Sagat Singh• M L Thapan• T N Raina• Sartaj Singh• N C Rawlley• K K Singh • Kuldip Singh Chandpuri •Kulwant Singh Pannu    Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto • Yahya Khan •A. A. K. Niazi • A. O. Mitha • Gul Hassan Khan • Rao Farman Ali • Sahabzada Yaqub Khan • Tikka Khan Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman • Tajuddin Ahmed • Muhammad Mansur Ali • A. H. M. Qamaruzzaman • M. A. G. Osmani • Ziaur Rahman • Khaled Mosharraf Awards India L/Nk Albert Ekka †• Fg Off N.J.S. Sekhon†• 2nd Lt Arun Khetarpal†• Maj Hoshiar Singh    Pakistan Major Muhammad Akram†• Plt Off Rashid Minhas†• Major Shabbir Sharif †• J/Swr Muhammad Hussain†• L/Nk Muhammad Mahfuz† Bangladesh Eng off Ruhul Amin†• Flt Lt Matiur Rahman†