Capture of Hajipir Pass in 1965 Hajipir Pass in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir(POK) has been a constant source of problem for

Indian security forces in Kashmir. Trained militants have been sneaking into Kashmir valley ,Poonch and Rajouri districts. It is located on Pir Panjal range at height of 2637 m on road between Poonch and Uri. This road is of strategic importance as it connects Uri with Poonch but since major portion of road now is in POK,it cannot be used. Uri Poonch road was opened by Indian Army in 1947 after clearing it of tribals and Pakistan regulars in its operation to link up Uri with Poonch. but later it was reoccupied by Pakistani forces before cease fire on 1st Jan 1949.The heights near Pooch town were under control of Pakistan and are constant threat to Poonch town. Hajipir Pass was once again captured by Indian Forces during 1965 war but as a follow up of Tashkent Accord,it had to be given back to Pakistan. Topography of Hajipir Pass

Hajipir Pass (A) is an important area for infiltrators into Kashmir and Rajouri-Poonch areas. The pass is dominated by three hill features namely Bedori (3760m) in the east, Sant(2895m) in the west and Lediwali Gali(3140m) in the south west .Bedori is 14 Km south east of Uri and Hajipir Pass is10 km south west of Bedori. It was essential to clear these features before Indian forces could reach the pass. The whole operation was named OP Bakshi and OP Faulad.

OP Bakshi During 1965 Indo Pak war a pincer movement was planned under command of 68 Infantry Brigade from Uri-Hajipir axis and simultaneous attack from Poonch-Kahuta from the south. Right pincer was entrusted to 1 Para and left pincer was entrusted to 19 Punjab. The operation by 1 Para commenced at 2150 hrs of 25th August 1965.By 0430 hrs on 27th August the party reached close to Sank and attacked it. The enemy withdrew leaving behind 16 dead. The enemy had strong position at Sar, which was cleared by sunset. A mixed column under Major Dayal approached Hajipir involving climb of 2200m.It had to be done under cover of darkness. Forces started from Ledwali Gali on night of 27th .Major decided to climb to the pass. En route captured 10 Azad Kashmir Malatia about 10 Km below the pass. By 9 AM column was 700 m below the pass. The enemy was taken by complete surprise. The enemy could not stand daylight attack and withdrew by 10 AM. The counter attack by enemy on 29th was repulsed. The Indian position was consolidated by capturing Ring contour and Point 8786.Meticulous planning in capture of Hajipir Pass earned Maha Vir Chakra to Major R S Dayal who later became Lt.General and Lt.Governor of Pondichery. Advance of left flank by 19 Punjab was not as successful. After capturing 10944 and Pathra by midnight of 25th August the next target was Bedori which had to be given up due to heavy MMG firing. An alternative route through Bedori spring was selected. OC 19 Punjab volunteered and operation started on 0330 on 28th and party reached 610m below 3760 m high Bedori.It was captured by 0600 and the Bedori Pass was captured by sunset of 28th Aug.19 Punjab finally met up with 1 Para on 1st September.

Major RS Dyal, MVC

CITATION During the 1965 Indo Pak war, Major Ranjit Singh Dyal was tasked to capture "Sank"an important feature. Having been repulsed once the young major attacked the feature again and having captured it ,chased the enemy and in the process also captured another important feature called " ledwali gali".Not the one to rest on his laurels Major Dyal once again marched through inclement weather and rough terrain and captured the famous 'Hajipir Pass'. For his outstanding leadership and courage he was awarded the Mahavir Chakra OP Faulad There are many picquets dominating Poonch- Hajipir route. The cease-fire line crosses Batar Nullah about seven km north of Poonch and runs from west to east. Immediately north of this line were two Pakistani picquets called Raja and point 7702 (later named Chand Tekri). These two posts dominated the Poonch-Kahuta road and had to be captured if the roads were to be opened. Raja and Chand Tekri picquets are most important and are shell proof equipped with MMGs. These served as camps for infiltrators.93 Infantry brigade launched the Op Faulad for capturing these picquets. Simulteneous attack was launched on Raja by 2 Sikh and Chand Tekri by 3 Dogra on night of 5/6 September. Approach to picquet were slippery and assaulting troops had to face heavy firing. After dashing through barbed wire fences and mines they were engaged in hand-to-hand fight. Finally succeeded in capturing the picquets . Indian side had heavy causalities. 3 Dogra commanded by Lt Col RB Nair was assigned to capture the point 7702. The battalion successfully sneaked past Raja picquet. The two leading companies were to assault from the left flank and cross the start line at 4 am on September 6 under the able leadership of Maj Greesh Chandra Verma and Capt Gurdev Singh Bawa. 'B' and 'C' companies stormed point 7702 at 0500 hrs on September 6. After a fierce hand-to-hand and bunker-to-bunker fight, the enemy was uprooted from the strongly built defenses and the post was captured by 0545 hrs.Major G C Verma and Capt G S Bawa of Dogra lost their lives. Lt Col N N Khanna CO of 2 Sikh was fatally wounded. He was awarded MVC posthumously. After capture of these picquets Indian forces had no difficulty in clearing other pockets. Final link with Hajipir was completed with the capture of Kahuta on 10th September. With this Indian forces had completely sealed Hajipir sector. Lt Col N N Khanna CITATION On 6th September,1965,Lt.Col.Narindra Nath Khanna led the 2 Sikh Battalion in an attack on Raja picket, across the cease-fire line in Pakistan.The picket was vital to link up Uri-Poonch sector. The only approach to the strongly defended picket was from the east, across a very steep terrain. Barbed wire fences and mines guarded the approach. At 4a.m.,Lt.Col.Khanna led three companies across the line. At once they were greeted with heavy firing as the Indian soldiers were easy targets for the Pakistani snipers. At the very front of his troops, the Lt.Col. was injured when a grenade caught him in the right shoulder. But he continued to lead the assault. In a short while, he had reached the enemy bunkers. A burst of machine gun fire mortally wounded him but his men kept at their task till the enemy gave way.Lt.Col.Khanna was awarded the Mahavir Chakra posthumously for his indomitable courage.

Indian Soldiers Hoisting Tricolor at Hajipir Pass Surrender of Hajipir Pass As per Tashkent Accord signed by the Prime Minister of India Mr Lal Bahadur Shastri and the President of Pakistani Gen Ayub Khan on ,16th January 1966, India and Pakistan forces shall withdraw to their respective positions as prior to 5th August 1965.The Accord was signed by Prime Minister Shastri in good faith hoping for good neighborly relations with Pakistan but subsequent events of !971 War and Kargil War have proved him so wrong. Unfortunately Mr Shastri died soon after signing the accord. Extracts from Tashkent Accord are reproduced here: (i) The Prime Minister of India and the President of Pakistan agree that both sides will exert all efforts to create good neighbourly relations between India and Pakistan in accordance with the United Nations Charter. They reaffirm their obligation under the Charter not to have recourse to force and to settle their disputes through peaceful means. They considered that the interests of peace in their region and particularly in the Indo Pakistan subcontinent and, indeed, the interests of the peoples of India and Pakistan were not served by the continuance of tension between the two countries. It was against this background that Jammu and Kashmir was discussed, and each of the sides set forth its respective position. (ii)The Prime Minister of India and the President of Pakistan have agreed that all armed personnel of the two countries shall be withdrawn not later than 25 February, 1966, to the position they held prior to 5 August, 1965, and both sides shall observe the ceasefire terms on the ceasefire line. Post 1965 Events Pakistan started its nefarious activities soon after taking over the pass and started sending infiltrators to create internal disturbances in the valley. After taking over Hajipir bulge Pakistan built

roads for strengthening its defense. Strong positions were created on vantage points in Hajipir area by Pakistan armed forces. During 1971 war, Pakistan once again tried to capture Poonch town. Its forces attacked from the positions on southern side of Hajipir Bulge. Indian forces were on defensive and had noticed movement of Pakistan troops across Cease FireLine (CFL) during November 1971.Poonch town is about 8 Kms from Cease Fire Line (CFL) as crow flies .India also improved its defense by laying mines and fortification. The area was defended by 1 / 4 GR,6 Sikh ,8 Jats and 11 J&K Malatia. Pakistan launched attack on night of 3/4th December. Raja and Chand Tekri Pequets across CFL were used for shelling Indian positions..Pakistan had initial success in capturing Picquet 405 ,helipad on 1030 hrs of 4th Dec. .These positions were recaptured along with Thanpir peak and Chandak village.However ,strong Indian retaliation forced Pakistanis forces to withdraw. Thanpir was recaptured by 1800 hrs of 5th Dec. With this threat to Poonch was eliminated and Pakistan made no serious attack on Poonch thereafter .6 Sikh won one MVC,5 Veer Chakra and 2 mention in dispatches for defending Poonch. Looking back it was a blunder committed by late Lal Bhadur Shastri in agreeing to go back to position prior to 5th August in Tashkent Agreement. The continued control over the Hajipir Pir bulge would have reduced distance between Uri and Poonch and eliminated continuous problem that we are facing due infiltrators from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir.

Ramesh Lalwani
10th September2010