Page 306 - Leadership in the Indian Army

the offensive was blunted. As a result of the efforts of British Prime
Minister Harold Wilson, who acted as a mediator, a ceasefire was accepted
by both sides on 1 July 1965. An agreement was signed to this effect,

returning to the situation as on 1 January 1965. However, as was
subsequently discovered, the Kutch operations had been launched by
Pakistan with a view to tie up Indian reserves, and test the weapons and
equipment that had been supplied to her by the USA. The operations had
also been intended to gauge Indian reaction, both political and military.
After the debacle against China in 1962, India’s defence capability was not
held in high esteem, and Pakistan’s new President, Ayub Khan, saw this as a

golden opportunity to wrest Kashmir, an attempt in which Pakistan had
failed in 1947.
Preparations for the operations began in early 1965. Thousands of
guerrillas were trained and armed by Pakistan. By mid-1965, a force of
8,000 Razakars, a lightly armed volunteer force, was raised. In addition,
about 150,000 Mujahids (crusaders) were trained to support the regular

army and militia. Anti-India propaganda was stepped up, and Kashmiris
were exhorted to rise against the ‘alien’ rule of India. A special
organisation, called the Gibraltar Forces, was created to undertake the
operations in Kashmir. Each force was to have about 30,000 men, divided
into small groups of about a 100 each, with a hard core of regular troops
supported by Mujahids and Razakars. The forces were given the names of
famous Muslim warriors, such as Salauddin, Ghaznavi, Babar and Khilji, to

inspire the guerrillas and induce religious fervour. They were concentrated
at Murree, and placed under the command of Major General Akhtar
Hussain Malik, General Officer Commanding 12 Division in Pak Occupied
Kashmir.
In July 1965, Bakshi was promoted Brigadier and given command of the
newly raised 68 Infantry Brigade, in Jammu and Kashmir. Though the

brigade formed part of 3 Infantry Division in Ladakh, it was located in the
Kashmir valley. Pakistani infiltration began a few days after he assumed
command. Crossing the border at several places, the guerrillas began to
blow up bridges, establish roadblocks, and destroy administrative
installations. Though the Indian troops had no inkling of the planned
infiltration, they were well prepared and their reaction was swift. The
infiltrators were dealt with wherever they were encountered, and soon most

were either liquidated or made to surrender. In some places, the Pakistanis