1965 War: Indian Army Faced Heavy Losses on Lahore Front on 14th Day

LAHORE: The 14th day of the September 1965 war brought intense fighting on the Lahore front, with accounts from an Indian major general’s diary reportedly revealing details about the military situation and political pressures surrounding the conflict.

According to the material provided, the diary contained indications of orders issued to Indian troops during the war and raised questions over the use of the armed forces as instruments in a wider political struggle for power.

Diplomatic sources in New Delhi reportedly described the Indian military’s performance against Pakistan as a major crisis for the government, amid mounting battlefield pressure.

Heavy Fighting on Lahore Front

On the Maqbool Pur front near Lahore, Pakistani forces reportedly repulsed an Indian assault and inflicted heavy casualties on the attacking troops.

According to the account, around 150 Indian soldiers were killed, while approximately twice that number were wounded and left the battlefield.

On the Gadro front, Pakistani troops reportedly captured an Indian position and took one Indian officer and 35 soldiers as prisoners of war.

The reported battlefield developments highlighted the intensity of the fighting along the Lahore sector during the war.

Indian Air Force Suffers Further Losses

The account also states that the Indian Air Force suffered the loss of another 11 fighter aircraft on September 14, bringing the reported number of destroyed Indian aircraft to 80.

Pakistani forces also reportedly destroyed five Indian tanks during the fighting.

Despite being numerically smaller, the Pakistan Air Force was described as having maintained an effective operational advantage through the professional training, combat skills and determination of its pilots.

Pakistan Highlights Air Force Performance

The reported events of the 14th day remain part of Pakistan’s military narrative of the 1965 war, particularly the role played by the Pakistan Air Force in countering India’s larger force.

Pakistani military accounts have long highlighted the performance of its pilots and ground crews during the conflict, portraying their operational planning and combat readiness as key factors in defending the country’s airspace.

The reported diary revelations and battlefield accounts add another dimension to the historical debate surrounding the 1965 war, although specific casualty figures and claims concerning the diary would require verification from archival and independent historical sources.