Now it’s apparent to everybody that India is going to emerge as an Asian power in its own right –October 1965 issue, the TIME Magazine

As part of its overall plan to move forward its line of defence to Ichhogil Canal, 11 Corps planned to advance along Khalra-Barki axis with 7 Inf Div leading the advance. As discussed in the previous battle 15 Inf & 4 Mtn Div were to lead the advance along Amritsar-Lahore & Khem Karan-Kasur axis respectively.

Pakistan remained defensive in the Lahore sector except Khem Karan where it planned a big offensive using 1 Armoured Division and two Infantry Brigades. Pakistan’s 10 Division was responsible for defence of Lahore from BRB (Babanwalla-Ravi-Bedian) Siphon in North till Bedian in South. 11 Division was responsible for defence of the area from Bedian till Hussainiwala Headworks.

As a part of the 11 Corps Offensive, 7 Infantry Division planned to attack in two phases.

• Phase 1. Advance with 48 Infantry Brigade supported by a squadron of tanks less a troop (Central India Horse) along axis Khalra-Barki, capture Barki and secure bridge over Ichogil Canal by last light 6 September. Simultaneously an independent task force directly under 7 Infantry Division Headquarter comprising 17 Rajput and one tank troop (CIH), supported by a regiment of artillery and field company of engineers was to cross the border and secure Bedian by last light 6 September.
• Phase 2. 65 Infantry Brigade to carry out mopping up operations along the canal and destroy all bridges within 7 Infantry Division area of responsibility.

48 Infantry Brigade and 65 Infantry Brigade concentrated close to the International Border astride the Khalra – Barki axis. Preliminary operations commenced in the early hours of 06 September 1965. 4 Sikh (65 Infantry Brigade) and 6/8 Gorkha Rifles (48 Infantry Brigade) captured the assigned Pakistani Border Out Posts (BOPs) setting the stage for the advance by 48 Infantry Brigade to Ichhogil Canal, which commenced at 0500 hours on 6 September 1965. Initial progress was fairly rapid as no enemy opposition was encountered till the Hudiara Drain where a Pakistani company was holding a delaying position along the Drain. After a short but sharp engagement Hudiara Drain was secured by 6/8 GR. 5 Guards, with a Squadron of CIH under command, launched a day light attack on the Pakistani company holding defences in the area. The defenders, apprehending a threat to their flank and rear, chose to abandon Hudiara Drain after blowing off the bridge. 7 Infantry Division had achieved and exploited complete surprise to gain early advantage.

At this stage in order to retain the momentum, 48 Infantry Brigade was ordered to firm-in astride the axis along Hudiara Drain and engineers were ordered to construct a Bailey bridge over Hudiara Drain which was accomplished with commendable speed by the afternoon of 7 September 1965. The bold moves kept the enemy guessing and upset his balance.

Battle of Barki

With the change in plans, on the evening of 6 September 65 Infantry Brigade was tasked to advance and capture the bridge over Ichhogil Canal at Barki.

The Strong Point of Barki was well defended from all sides. The village was occupied by a Company of 17 Punjab (Pak) and 12 Punjab (Pak); many houses had been strengthened to be used as pill boxes and the narrow lanes made move of tanks impossible. To the defender, it offered good ambush sites and killing grounds, they made tunnels and communication trenches to move undetected and safely between defended positions. Two companies occupied the West Bank of the Ichhogil Canal and prevented any outflanking move. The Strong Point was supported by elements of a Recce and Support Battalion and some tanks. A large number of fire units were placed under command and artillery support assured. Barki was indeed a fortress and though a tough nut, it had to be secured before any assault on the Ichhogil Canal could be attempted.

65 Infantry Brigade supported by CIH less a squadron began its march from a Firm Base established by 16 PUNJAB at 0500 H on 7 September with 9 MADRAS leading astride the axis KALRA-BARKI. A number of prelim operations were carried out to extend the firm base and break the outer crust of the defences for the final assault on Barki.

• 9 MADRAS captured BARKA KALAN on the evening of 7 September
• 4 SIKH captured BARKA KHURD on 8 September
• 16 PUNJAB captured BRAHMANABAD on 9 September finally breaking the crust

4 SIKH

4 SIKH was tasked to capture BARKI. The assault would be supported by CIH less one squadron and 7 Artillery Brigade.  After capture of BARKI, the battalion was to assist the crossing of the tanks over the BARKI drain.

The attack began on the night of 10 September at 2000 H from the East, which although a frontal approach, was adopted because of domination of the other approaches from the defences on the canal. The enemy was well aware of the Tactical importance of the Strong Point and fought back resolutely. Heavy artillery fire (over 2500 shells within 45 minutes) failed to deter the Sikhs who moved through the night like ghosts eliminating opposition in every street and house.

A well positioned Pakistani Machine gun was bringing down very effective fire on the attackers. Subedar Ajit Singh of a leading platoon was tasked to destroy the errant Machine gun. With utter disregard to personal safety, the valiant JCO charged the enemy position. A burst of machine gun fire wounded him in the chest but he carried on defiantly and went near enough to throw a grenade that effectively silenced the Machine gun. His gallantry inspired his comrades and they routed the enemy but the Subedar succumbed to his injuries. For his bravey and supreme sacrifice, Subedar Ajit Singh was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India’s second highest gallantry award.

The assault was well supported by the tanks which fired and neutralized many pill boxes identified by the assaulting Infantry. The tank fire was so accurate that the Pakistanis thought that Indians had bought new tanks with Night Firing capability. Other pill boxes were destroyed by lobbing grenades through their loop holes. BARKI was finally captured after two hours of fierce hand to hand fighting.

Later, when permission was given to the Pakistanis to collect their dead, they took away four truck loads including Major Raja Aziz Bhatti who was posthumously awarded the NISHAN-i-HAIDER, Pakistan’s highest gallantry award for his determined opposition to the 4 SIKH attack. Each year, Major Bhatti is honoured in Pakistan on 6 September, also known as Defence Day of Pakistan.

The brave Commanding Officer of CIH, Lt Col Satish Chandra Joshi had won a Vir Chakra in the 1948 war against Pakistan. In the Battle for Barki he was driving a jeep to reconnoiter a passage through the mine field. However, a mine exploded killing the brave soldier who led from the front. He was awarded a bar to the Vir Chakra for his bravery and supreme sacrifice.

4 Sikh won one Maha Vir Chakra, three Vir Chakras, three Sena Medals, four Chief’s Commendation Cards and the Battle Honour Barki for the daring assault on and capture of the heavily fortified Barki Strong Point.

16 PUNJAB

While 4 SIKH were battling their way through Barki, 16 PUNJAB was moving towards Ichhogil Canal. The unit was tasked to capture and demolish the bridge on Ichhogil canal near Barki village, 14 kilometers east of Lahore. The battalion invaded the minefields ahead of the canal to move forward to attack the enemy defences. The unit received one Vir Chakra, one Vashist Seva Medal, three Sena Medals and Battle Honour Barki. The Battalion had the distinction of operating its elements across the Ichhogil Canal.

“So fierce was the assault that the enemy deserted their fire trenches and bunkers and tried to return by crossing the canal. In the melee and confusion of battle, they destroyed the bridge themselves. Many Pakistani soldiers were seen jumping into the canal. The battalion thus achieved the assigned task and objective” – Maj General JS Bhullar Veteran of the 65 war, Commanding Officer of 16 PUNJAB.

Barki and the other captured areas in vicinity remained under the control of the Indian Army till the end of the war despite numerous attempts by Pakistan to dislodge them.

9 MADRAS

Orders for cease-fire were received on night 22/23 September 1965 and were to be effective by 0330 hours on 23 September 1965. On the same night a Pakistani company crossed Ichhogil Canal and occupied the eastern bank between two company defended localities of 9 Madras. This was detected only in the morning. There were many red faces around. Persuasion to vacate the bank was of no avail.

9 Madras was then asked to evict the lodgment, which the Battalion did by launching a counter attack at last light. The whole of divisional artillery and mortars were in support. Tanks also lined up in front of village Barka-Kalan and started pounding the bund pinning the enemy down. In the end it was a hand-to-hand fight, sometimes, the Thambis lifted the enemy out physically and pushed them into the water. A good number of Pakistani soldiers, leaving their arms, jumped into the canal in an attempt to cross, but hardly anyone reached the other side as they were swept away in the fast current of the canal. The rest were found dead in the trenches with shell or bayonet wounds. The battalion was honoured with one Vir Chakra, two Sena Medals, twelve Mention-in-Despatches and Battle Honour Barki.

Analysis

7 Division was able to achieve surprise and make good progress. The enemy however quickly regrouped and fought back resolutely leading to a modification of the 7 Infantry Division plans. 65 Infantry Brigade responded with alacrity and did well to carry out preliminary attacks to expand their firm base and break the crust of the BARKI Strong point which was well defended, protected and organized for all round defence. All three battalions fought bravely and used their skills well to dislodge the well trenched and determined enemy; all objectives of 7 Infantry Division were achieved and the battalions honoured with the Battle Honour Barki.

The Ichhogil Canal and other drains and distributaries were well utilized by the defenders and protected Pakistan against any deep and destabilizing thrust by the Indian Army. 16 PUNJAB had gained a foothold across Ichhogil and the capture of Barki provided a secure firm base for extending the bridge head and launching an assault at Lahore. 7 Infantry Division operations could have been progressed further to threaten Lahore which was only 14 Kms from Barki but that did not happen. The principle of reinforcement of success could have paid very rich tactical and strategically dividends; the Indian Army leadership however failed to exploit the gains.

“The Pakistani plan was based on BRB (Ichhogil) Canal which to a great extent compensated for disparity in resources and enabled our formations in the Ravi-Sutlej Corridor to deploy on very extended frontages” – Commander-in-Chief Pakistan Army, General Muhammad Musa