August brings back the memory of a time when the Kashmiri locals joined hands with the Indian army to chase away the Pakistan-backed terrorists who came to Indian territory with an induced imagination of capturing Kashmir, in 1965. Although the Pakistani advancement led to a full fledged war, the brave Indian soldiers along with the fearless locals made sure that the plans of the enemy are buried in the valley forever. Pakistan called it 'Operation Gibralter' to replicate the success of Muslim army in south of Spain centuries ago.?
defencePK
Operation Gibraltar was the code-name given to the operation, Pakistan armed forces especially army launched to infiltrate Jammu and Kashmir in August 1965 in the garb of locals and start a rebellion against Indian rule.
Pakistan sought to cash on the growing discontent of ?Kashmiris and thus infiltrated Kashmir in hope that once instigated, Kashmiris would do rebellion against India and while taking benefit of chaos, Pakistani army regulars would defeat Indian Army and capture the valley.
madrasregiment-.org
Pakistani General Akhtar Hussain Malik described Operation as ?"to defreeze the Kashmir problem, weaken Indian resolve, and bring India to the conference table without provoking general war."
Post India's China debacle in 1962, Indian army was going through ?massive changes both in personnel and equipment.
Pakistan army despite being way smaller than Indian army got a qualitative edge in air power and armour for brief period of time which Pakistan's military establishment wanted ?to utilise before India could recover from Chinese drubbing.
thehindu
Moreover, an event of disappearance of a holy relic from Srinagar's Hazratbal shrine in 1963 created turmoil and intense Islamic feeling among Muslims in the valley, which was viewed by Pakistan as ideal opportunity to instigate the sentiment of revolt in Kashmiris.?
In August 1965, Pakistan Army's 50th Airborne paratroopers and Pakistan Army's guerrillas, disguised as locals, entered Jammu and Kashmir with an objective of fomenting an insurgency among Kashmiri Muslims.
Pakistan's plan was that after instigating Kashmiris for rebellion, the 40,000 strong well armed army of Pakistanis garbed as locals would launch offensive against Indian Army.
Indian Army broken by the Chinese thrashing wouldn't ?be able to cope with this sudden attack and since rebellion will be led by Kashmiris themselves, it would be hard for Indians to launch a counter attack.
theweek
Though Pakistan President Ayub Khan wasn't fully convinced with the plan, but Pakistani generals went ahead with it. In first week of August 1965, Pakistani troops especially of Azad Kashmir Regimental Force (Now Azad Kashmir regiment) who looked like locals infiltrated Kashmir. The troops were divided into 10 forces (5 companies each) and were given different code names, mostly after historically significant Muslim rulers.
voiceofnation
Initially Pakistani troops got some success and without even encountering with Indian Army, they got hold of key positions. ?Pakistani-held Kashmir across the Pir Panjal Range into Gulmarg, Uri and Baramulla. They planned to encourage a general revolt, which would be followed by direct combat with Indian army.
Despite initial success, the law of averages did Pakistanis in and ?poor coordination between Pakistan forces resulted in discovery of infiltrators.
adityaaryaarchive
Kashmiris instead of taking the bait from Pakistanis refused to revolt and many of them became informers for Indian Army who helped Indians to throw Pakistanis out of Kashmir.
Pakistani forces had to retreat in haste. Fearing the massive killing of their soldier due to half baked plan, the Pakistan Army had to Open front in Punjab to divide the engagement of Indian army which further led to first full-fledged war between the two neighbours.?