Battle of Batapur
| Battle of Batapur | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 | |||||||
 The Batapur Monument stands as a tribute to those who fought in the battle. | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Lt. Col. Aab Ahmed Khan |
 Major General Niranjan Prasad | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| 3 Baloch Regiment, 4 Engineers Battalion | 15 Infantry Division, C Squadron 14 Horse, 3 Jat Regiment | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown | Infantry division, tank regiment with Sherman tanks | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | 2 tanks destroyed, other losses unknown | ||||||
The Battle of Batapur was a engagement during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, fought on September 6, 1965, at Batapur, a town near Lahore, Pakistan. The battle was part of the larger conflict between Pakistan and India. It resulted in a victory for Pakistan, with the Indian forces retreating after resistance from the Pakistani 3 Baloch Regiment and the 4 Engineers Battalion.
Background
[edit]Batapur is a town near Lahore, known for the Bata shoe factory. It holds strategic importance due to its proximity to Lahore, particularly the Allama Iqbal International Airport, located just 20 minutes away via the Lahore Ring Road. The town was heavily impacted during both the Indo-Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971.[1]
On September 6, 1965, the Indian 15 Infantry Division, under Major General Niranjan Prasad, crossed the international border and advanced toward Lahore. The advancing Indian forces, supported by a tank regiment equipped with Sherman tanks, faced resistance from the Pakistani 3 Baloch Regiment.[2]
The Battle
[edit]The battle commenced as Indian forces reached the BRB Link Canal, where the Pakistani forces had prepared defenses. The engineers had started work on the demolition of the Batapur Bridge, but were short on explosives. Despite initial setbacks, Pakistani forces, including 3 Baloch, managed to hold off the Indian advance and prevent them from crossing the canal.
The Indian forces suffered casualties, including the loss of two tanks destroyed by the 3 Baloch Regiment before they could reach the bridge. As the situation became dire, Pakistani engineers, led by Major Aftab, improvised a solution by using anti-tank mines to create an improvised explosive device (IED).[3]
The efforts of the Pakistani forces, ultimately forced the Indian army to retreat.[4] [5]
Aftermath
[edit]The battle resulted in a Pakistani victory, as the Indian forces were unable to secure a foothold across the BRB Link Canal. The Pakistani forces managed to prevent the fall of Batapur Bridge and protect the defense of Lahore.[6]
The Batapur Monument, located east of Lahore where the BRB Link Canal intersects GT Road, stands as a tribute to those who fought and died in the battle.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ Lahore Situationer (11/20/71)
- ^ "Battle of Batapur and the Ingenuity of an Engineer: A Story of Jurat-o-Istaqlal". hilal.gov.pk. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ Dr. Waqar Aftab Malik. "Story of Courage and Perseverance". bolnews.com. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ "BATTLE OF BATAPUR 6 SEPTEMBER 1965 -THE DEFENCE OF LAHORE". pakpotpourri2.wordpress.com. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ "Battle of Batapur: History of the Failure of the Enemy is a Great Example". aaj.tv. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ Farooq Bajwa (2016-01-01). From Kutch to Tashkent: The Indo-Pakistan War of 1965. Internet Archive. Pentagon Press. p. 172. ISBN 978-969-640-004-2.
- ^ Syeda Aamna Nadeem. "1965 War Monuments of Manawan and Batapur". hilal.gov.pk. Retrieved 8 November 2024.