14th Day of September 1965 War: 11 More Indian Aircraft Destroyed in Air Battle on Lahore Front

ALT HL: September 14, 1965: 150 Indian Soldiers Killed on Maqboolpur Front; Post Captured at Gadru, 35 Personnel Including Officer Taken Prisoner

Web Desk: On the 14th day of the September 1965 Pakistan-India war, important and startling revelations have emerged from the diary of an Indian Major General recovered from the Lahore front. The contents of the recovered diary indicate that the political leadership in New Delhi used its armed forces merely as pawns in the game of power, while the diary also contains evidence of orders issued regarding the war. According to diplomatic sources in New Delhi, the Indian military’s continued poor performance on the battlefield had turned into a serious political and military crisis for the Indian government.

On the ground, Pakistani forces achieved significant successes, thwarting the enemy’s objectives. In the Maqboolpur sector of the Lahore front, the Pakistan Army repulsed an enemy attack through a strong counteroffensive. Around 150 Indian soldiers were killed in the clash, while Indian troops were forced to retreat, leaving behind more than 300 wounded soldiers on the battlefield. Meanwhile, on the Gadru front, the Pakistan Army advanced and took control of an Indian post, capturing 35 personnel, including an Indian military officer, as prisoners of war.

The Pakistan Air Force also demonstrated its professional expertise on the aerial front despite India’s numerical superiority. In air clashes on September 14, India reportedly lost 11 more fighter aircraft, bringing the reported total number of Indian aircraft destroyed during the war to 80. In addition, five enemy tanks were completely destroyed during ground operations. Despite being numerically smaller, the Shaheens of the Pakistan Air Force demonstrated their superiority in the skies through tactical strategy and bravery.