Page 319 - Leadership in the Indian Army

The name ‘Chicken’s Neck’ was coined by Zoru Bakshi. To the south of
Akhnur, there is a narrow strip of territory that belongs to Pakistan and
measures about 170 square kilometres in area. It is actually an islet between

the river Chenab and Chander Bagha, one of its subsidiary channels. It has a
small neck in the south, and a jagged head, with a beak shaped like a dagger
extending towards the north. The beak points towards the Akhnur bridge,
and because of its shape and the threat it posed to Akhnur, the area had long
been known as ‘the dagger’. Bakshi felt that the name indicated a defensive
mentality and promptly informed everyone that henceforth it would be
called the ‘Chicken’s Neck’, which could be wrung at will by India. It is

known by this name even today.
The Chicken’s Neck, referred to as the Phuklian salient by the Pakistanis,
was strategically important for Pakistan as it provided the shortest route to
the bridge over the Chenab at Akhnur. It enabled operations to be developed
towards Jammu, and also uncovered the flanks of troops deployed in the
Jaurian sector. It was used by them for infiltration into Indian territory from

their base at Marala, which lay to the south of the salient. To enter the
salient, they had to cross the Chenab, using ferries. Intelligence reports
indicated that the area was held by four companies of Rangers, supported
by a regular battalion and some armour. Protective minefields had been laid
around the defended localities. Except during the monsoon, the area was
dry, and could be negotiated by tanks and motor vehicles.
Bakshi’s main task was to defend Jammu, and almost his entire division

was deployed in a defensive posture. He had been allotted an armoured
brigade and an additional infantry brigade for the operation. Though his
role was defensive, Bakshi had to undertake the advance towards Sialkot, as
part of the limited offensive planned by 15 Corps. As soon as operations
commenced, Bakshi had planned to carry out certain preliminary operations
to facilitate his task. In order to remove the Pakistani threat to the Akhnur

bridge, he decided to capture Chicken’s Neck. This would release the troops
employed in the close defence of the bridge, which he could then utilise for
the advance towards Sialkot. It was essential that this be done swiftly,
immediately after hostilities broke out.
Since the Pakistani defences were oriented towards the north and north-
east, Bakshi decided to infiltrate the salient from the south, from where the
enemy least expected an attack. This would achieve surprise, cut off the

enemy’s route of withdrawal and demoralise him even before his main