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The Pakistani government surrendered the Armed Forces Eastern Command, leading to the establishment of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh over the territory of East Pakistan. The document was signed by India’s Jagjit Singh Aurora and Pakistan’s A. A. K.
There is no war or conflict that doesn’t have a turning point. In India’s struggle against Pakistan in 1971, the Battle of Longewala marked that pivotal moment. This battle, fought between the Pakistani offensive forces and the Indian defenders at the Indian border post of Longewala in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, was the first major engagement in the Western Sector during the 1971 war. In the battle, not only were the assaulting Pakistani attack foiled and dented, the Pak forces were forced to withdraw when India launched an offensive attack against them thereby winning the decisive battle that changed the face of the Indo-Pak war forever.
The main thrust of the Indian Army during the 1971 war was directed towards the eastern theatre, with the western sector envisaged as a holding operation to prevent the Pakistan Army from achieving any success. Such success could have provided President Yahya Khan with a bargaining tool against the captured territories in the east. By the last week of November 1971, the Indian Army had launched offensive manoeuvres at Atgram against Pakistani border posts and communication centres along the eastern border. This is what Hitesh Lav, Author, Life Coach, Trainer (Ex-Colonel Indian Army), is asserting in his write-up about the Battle of Longewala and the creation of Bangladesh.
During the night of the 4th, Lt. Veer’s platoon conducting a patrol detected noises across the border that suggested a large number of armoured vehicles approaching. These were soon confirmed by reports from the Army’s Air Observation Post aircraft, flown by Maj. Atma Singh, indicating the presence of a 20 km long armoured column on the track leading to the post. The column was advancing in the general direction of the Longewala post.
Memorial in Longewala Post as it stands today
Directing Lt Veer’s patrol to trail the advancing armoured column, Chandpuri got in touch with the battalion headquarters requesting urgent reinforcements and armour and artillery support. Battalion HQ gave him the choice of staying put, and containing the attack as much as possible, or carrying out a tactical retreat of the company to Ramgarh, as reinforcements would not be available for at least six hours. Considering that Chandpuri’s command had no transportation, and was facing a mobile enemy, he decided to maintain the defensive position of the post where his troops at least had the benefit of prepared defensive works, rather than conducting a withdrawal at night that was a far riskier option.
Major Kuldeep Singh Chandpur was in command of Longewala post at that time
The Pakistani forces began their attack at 12:30 am. As the offensive approached the lone outpost, Pakistani artillery opened up across the border with medium artillery guns, killing five of the ten camels from the BSF detachment. As the column of Pakistan Army neared the post, Indian defences, lacking the time to lay a prepared minefield, laid a hasty anti-tank minefield as the enemy advanced, one infantryman being killed in the process. The Indian infantry held fire until the leading Pakistani tanks had approached to 15–30 metres. They accounted for the first two tanks on the track with their Jeep-mounted 106 mm M40 recoilless rifle, with one of its crew being killed during the combat. This weapon proved quite effective because it was able to engage the thinner top armour of the Pakistani tanks from its elevated position, firing at often stationary bogged down vehicles. In all the post defenders claimed 12 tanks destroyed or damaged.
The initial Pakistani attack at Longewala stalled when infantry discovered unseen barbed wire, mistaking it for a minefield. Fires from exploding spare fuel tanks on Pakistani tanks provided light for Indian RCL crews. Major Chandpuri directed artillery fire, frustrating Pakistani attempts to advance. In daylight, the Indian Air Force targeted Pakistani ground troops, claiming the destruction of 22 tanks and 100 vehicles. The Pakistani attack halted, and Indian tanks counter-attacked, defining Longewala as a pivotal moment in the 1971 war. Major Chandpuri received the Maha Vir Chakra. Naik Bhairon Singh Rathore, a war hero, passed away in 1971. His bravery at Longewala earned him the Sena Medal. The Pakistani attempt to infiltrate Longewala was decisively thwarted by outnumbered Indian soldiers. The battle contributed to the creation of the new nation of Bangladesh.
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