ISLAMABAD/Peshawar - Since five decades down the road when valiant Pakistani forces had repelled Indian attack in 1965, the war veterans still have the glimpses of memories in their minds.
These memories of those 17 days spark to their minds whenever September 06 falls as no Pakistani including the singers and artists lagged behind in manifestation of courage and commitment for the forces.
So recalls the memories of the war days a War Veteran Lt Gen (r) Alam Jan Mahsud as he thinks of the skirmishes side by side the contribution of the singers and artists. The melodious voice of Madam Noor Jehan is an exception as Alam Jan spoke highly of the late singer whose songs he says, infused spirit of patriotism and national fervor. "Aye Watan ke Sajelay Jawano" is as famous and enchanting song today for the whole nation as it was for those defending the nation at borders during war days," he said talking to APP.
"It infused the spirit of patriotism and national fervor amongst Pakistanis regardless to their ethnicity, religious or political affiliations and background," he added. "Thanks to these songs, it had enabled the common Pakistani to amass feats of great and unrivaled courage when it came to defend their homeland."
He said it inspired Pak Army and its valiant soldiers to show even more feats of unprecedented valor in the battlefield. In essence, these Pakistani singers paid a great service to their nation in those testing and hard times, they rose to the occasion when their country called and sure enough they hearkened.
Alam Jan Mehsud said the spirit and emotion of the whole nation in 1965 war was unmatched and un-forgettable. "Common people from across the country stood with the Pakistan Army shoulder to shoulder."
Meanwhile, talking to APP another hero of the 65-War Lt. Col. (r) Afzal Hassan exhibited the same 50-year old spirit, saying that the Pakistan Armed Forces were capable enough to give a befitting response to India, in case of any aggression by it.
Hassan, who was Second Lt. in the Armoured Division in 1965, said India had launched the attack cowardly in the dark, but Pakistan Army faced it courageously and failed her nefarious designs. Soldiers set great examples of valor as everyone irrespective of ranks was following the mission to force the intruding enemy for retreat, putting aside all risks, he added
Sharing some of the memories, the war veteran said he was deputed at the BRB canal, Lahore, Gujranwal and Chawinda border Sialkot where Indian tankers had attacked on September 19. But, India had to flee leaving their tanks on Pakistani soil after receiving effective retaliation by Pakistan Army.
He said Indian must be aware of the fact that Armed Forces of the nuclear Pakistan were highly appreciated in the worked due to professional skills, and they were strong enough to safeguard country's frontiers.
Narrating his war memoirs to APP Peshawar, Colonel GB Shah Bukhari said at the morning of September 6, 1965, commandeering a detachment of 6th Armored Division he was encamped in an open ground at Wazirabad.
He was a part of 6th Armored Division that was raised in 1964 at Nowshera and at the time of partition, country had only single armored division that was based at Multan when the war was waged.
"I was busy in shaving in my tank when two jets appeared on the horizon, dived and disappeared. My jawans and myself took them as Pakistani Jets but the sound of two explosions afterwards compelled ourselves to move to the site where it was found that a convoy that was sent to fetch munitions from ordnance depot was targeted by Indian Jets."
A Junior Commissioned Officer who was driving a jeep in the convoy embraced martyrdom in the incident which Colonal Bokhari said was the first death of the September War. The Jets also attacked a passenger train at Wazirabad Railway Station in which, Miss Toosi, granddaughter of father of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah lost her life.
"Later we became aware of the situation after Field Marshall Ayub Khan addressed the nation and informed that we were being attacked by the India. The Colonel recalled that morale of Pak Army was at the peak and its jawans were brimming with energy when the initial skirmishes started."
Beaming with enthusiasm while recalling his memories, September War Veteran said, "We were ordered to take positions at Chawinda due to threat of possible Indian mounted attack from Sialkot front."
"While approaching to the assigned position we witnessed local population that was moving under a trance to defend country against the Indian war junkies with whatever they grab including axes, batons, shovels and out dated shotguns. It was the spirit of civil population we witnessed in the September War.
"Although we were outnumbered by the Indian forces that comprises armored, artillery, mounted and infantry divisions, yet Pakistani forces repulsed attacks of Indian ground forces with unprecedented chivalry and valor."
Appreciating the role of ground forces against attacking Indian Jets, majority of the targets were missed by the invading planes owing to our daunting anti aircraft fire. The Indian Air Force made a laughing stock of them by deliberately missing targets fearing Pakistani Shaheens.