Battle of Barki: When Indian infantry fought Pak armour to capture Lahore during War

This time in history marks fierce battle of Barki fought between Indian infantry and Pakistani armour during Indo-Pakistan War of 1965. Barki, a village near border with Punjab, India is connected with Lahore by Bridge of Ichogil canal. Indian Army h clashed with Pakistani forces that were hidden in pillboxes, dug-outs and slit trenches carved into banks of canal. Even though enemy was supported with a large number of tanks, as well as fighter jets, y were crushed on battlefield against India, leing her to victory.

What instigated Battle of Barki?

On August 17, 1965, Pakistan launched Operation Grand Slam in an effort to release infiltrators who h been captured after failure of Operation Gibraltar on August 15 and to cut off Indian supply lines. As supply lines came under severe stress due to Operation Grand Slam, India retaliated by launching an incursion towards Lahore to open up a second front in war and to divert Pakistan’s attention from Kashmir.

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After opening Lahore front, Indian troops vanced towards Lahore along three battle-axes — Amritsar-Lahore, Khalra-Burki-Lahore and Khem Karan-Kasur ros — overpowering small Pakistani force.

Indian troops, supported by its single armoured division, quickly pushed back unprepared Pakistani defenders with aim to encircle and possibly besiege Lahore. Due to surprise invasion, India was able to capture a large amount of Pakistani territory from Khalra, an Indian border town which lies on a straight ro to Lahore through Burki.

In meantime, Pakistani Army mobilised its troops in Lahore and launched a three-pronged counter-attack to recapture lost ground. Subsequently, Battle of Barki was fought on Khalra-Burki-Lahore ro.

Pakistan aimed at forcing Indian troops into retreat before ir armoured support and supply lines could catch up. It also planned to recapture much of territory it h lost in previous battles. Indian army’s goal was to capture and hold town of Burki until reinforcements, including armour and supplies, could arrive.

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fall of Pakistan in Battle of Barki

battle began with India vancing from Khalra and tank operations in a village called Jahman being first major Pakistani outpost to fall. Pakistani troops pulled back towards next major town, which was Burki, leaving small pockets of resistance at each village to slow down Indian vance.

On September 8, Pakistan began counter-attack with artillery pounding India. This constant shelling from Sept 8 to 10 slowed down Indian vance but was unable to stop it completely. Pakistani armour n launched a counter-attack which led to a clash between Indian infantry and Pakistani tanks at Burki. battle resulted in most of Pakistani armour being beaten by September 10.

Indian troops were able to hold off Pakistani armour attack until Indian tanks from 18th Cavalry Regiment arrived. India subsequently launched main assault on September 10 with armour support. With most Pakistani tanks alrey destroyed, defenders h very little armoured support from remaining tanks. As many as 84 Pakistani tanks were destroyed, compared to just four Indian tanks, and smaller tank contingent showed great courage under fire.

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Pakistan’s Army called in a few fighter jets to provide air cover for its troops and to target Indian positions. However, use of fighters against ground troops inste of bombers, meant that little was achieved through air support. limited number of jets and easy availability of trench and defensive structures for cover led to failure of Pakistani air operations.

As a result, after a tough fight, Indian infantry captured Burki on September 11 and held it throughout rest of Indo-Pakistan war despite use of defensive structures like trenches and pillboxes as well as anti-tank weapons by Pakistan during defence of Burki.

After capture of Burki, Indian vance continued towards Dograi, a town in immediate vicinity of Lahore. y eventually went on to capture Dograi on September 20, thus bringing city of Lahore within range of Indian tank fire.

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