50 years. Half a century. 50 years of our fallen soldiers, 50 years since blood was spilled like water, 50 years since two arch rivals locked horns. 50 years since both sides claimed victory, 50 years since a tumultuous relationship kept brewing trouble.
Quick Recap
The Indo-Pakistan War of 1965 was a culmination of skirmishes that took place between April 1965 and September 1965 between Pakistan and India.
This war started after Pakistan’s Operation Gibraltar, which was designed to infiltrate forces into Jammu and Kashmir to precipitate an insurgency against rule by India.
India retaliated by launching a full-scale military attack on West Pakistan.
The seventeen-day war caused thousands of casualties on both sides and also witnessed the largest tank battle since World War II.
The hostilities between the two countries ended after a ceasefire was declared following diplomatic intervention by the Soviet Union and the United States of America and the subsequent issuance of the Tashkent Declaration.
Controversial claims
While India celebrates the victory in an almost month long reverie, Pakistan calls September 6 as its Defence Day, marking its own claims of having won the 1965 war. However, neutral assessments suggest that India very clearly had the upperhand went ceasefire was announced.
Numbers
This war saw the largest amassing of troops in Kashmir since the Partition of British India in 1947, a number that was overshadowed only during the 2001–2002 military standoff between India and Pakistan.
This year, India’s celebrations will start on Friday and end on September 23, when the fighting came to an end in 1965 following a ceasefire. It will cost around Rs 35 crore!
Quote Unquote
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “As we mark the 50th anniversary of 1965 war, I bow to all brave soldiers who fought for our Motherland in the war. The courage and bravery of our Armed Forces is very inspiring,” in a series of tweets.
As we mark the 50th anniversary of 1965 war, I bow to all brave soldiers who fought for our Motherland in the war. pic.twitter.com/kvXMXCHuew
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 28, 2015
“They triumphed over every obstacle & protected India’s unity & integrity. We recall the dynamic leadership of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri. In 1965 he led from the front and was a key source of strength for the nation,” he added.
The courage & bravery of our Armed Forces is very inspiring. They triumphed over every obstacle & protected India's unity & integrity.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 28, 2015
Congress President Sonia Gandhi in her message said that on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the historic war, she joins the nation in paying tributes to the country’s armed forces and homage to all the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the honour of the nation.
“Under the able leadership of the then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, and the Defence Minister Y B Chavan, the Indian armed forces displayed exemplary courage and valour and wrote yet another shining chapter in the history of India.
“The nation will forever remain indebted to the soldiers who fought valiantly and upheld the highest traditions of our armed forces and our great nation,” she said.