Enemy beaten back in Chhamb for third time
From our Special Correspondent, New Delhi Dec. 10.–For the third time in a week, the Pakistani Army in a major battle, was beaten back in the Chhamb sector this afternoon by the gallant Indian troops.
According to an official spokesman, Pakistanis made a determined strike for a breakthrough to dislodge our troops from the Chhamb position so that they could overrun Akhnoor and isolate Jammu from the Kashmir Valley.
The latest position was that the enemy has been withdrawing. But yet another attack in the early hours of tomorrow may not be unexpected.
Casualties on both sides have been heavy, but heavier on the part of the Pakistani Army. Both the sides called for full support of armour and aircraft.
One Pak Saber jet was downed in Chhamb sector.
In fine, in none of the sectors in the West, Pakistan could achieve, till now, any of its cherishd objectives which were: (1) destruction of Indian Air Force in a preemptive attack (on December 3-4): (2) penertation into the Kashmir valley through the Chhamb sector; and (3) seizure of territory in Rajasthan for bargaining over the loss of East Bengal.
The spokesman pointed out that none of the objectives of Pakistan had materialised till now, nor would be in future.
In other sectors in the western theatre of war, the position had remained what it had been this morning.
The Pakistani Army attacked the Chhamb salient early this morning with the support of two armour regiments and full air cover. The enemy crossed the Munnawar Tawi rivulet and gave battle in Indian territory, cast side of the rivulet.
Pakistanis began the attack at about 4-30 a.m. throwing in perhaps about 30,000 men preceded by about two armour regiments. The Indian Army called for air support and the IAF inflicted severe punishment to the Pak armour coming in repeated air waxes and firing lethal rockets, and guns and dropping bombs whenever necessary.
The enemy took the punishment and halted but opened its second attack of the day early afternoon. None of the sides gave quarters and the battles raged in all fury. The Indian air operation eventualy compelled the enemy to start pulling out in the evening.
The enemy attack was not unexpected Indian Army had already called for an additional assistance of a brigade, and it was there.
It was this foresight of the local military planners which perhaps had contributed, substantially in stalling the enemy’s attempt at overrunning the Chhamb sector today.
The spokesman said: “Their air cover was effective, but our defence was also effective.”
In the Kargil sector, the advancing Jawans occupied more Pak posts.
Enemy attacks on the Uri sector, Poonch and Naushera were also repulsed, but none of them entailed what could be called a battle.
Pakistan continues to have an aggressive posture, vis-a-vis Kashmir and may be spoiling for bigger battles.
In the Samba sector, which may one day develop into an Indian thrust unto Sialkot, is still in the probing stage.
Indian probing thrust into Sialkot sector
Continued from page 1. col. 4 Indian had not taken the offensive yet.
The enemy had engagement today in the Amritsar sector in which tanks and armour were used.
Five more Pak tanks were destroyed in various sectors in the western front today, bringing the total to 107.
The spokesman pointed out that it was because of the excellent strikes by the IAF that Pakistan had till now to postpone its cherished big offensives in the west.
Indian forces today made a separate thrust in Sialkot area and captured Nainakot, about three miles inside Pakistan territory.
The spokesman said that Indian forces were 35 km from Sialkot town.
The Indian Army snatched two more posts from Pakistani hands in Kargil hill features, occupying till now as many as seven posts. We have captured three enemy soldiers, one mountain gun two threeInch mortars, one machinegun. The enemy shelled Uri, Tangdhar and Poonch. Their attempt to seize a bridge in Uri sector had been foiled.
In a serious patrol clash in the Poonch sector, 10 Pak soldiers were killed with no casually on our side.
Amritsar sector: The enemy shelled and bombed this sector and attacked the border post of Burj which was repulsed. Two machineguns and one jeep were captured.
The Jawans have climinated six enemy posts in the Barmer sector (Dalankatar, Somrar, Dostijotar. Tar Abdul Rahim, Jhuglio and Jhund), all south of Kelnor. This is the region for launching a drive to Hyderabad (Sind).
The group of Pak troops who had been in the Indian territory in the Jaisalmer sector (in Longanewala area) had been ejected and the remnants are being chased. Here artillery and air strikes had destroyed in the last two days five tanks, one armoured personnel carrier, two field guns and four vehicles.
Ferozepur sector. Enemy shelled Hussainiwala, and there were engagements in Kalsian. Narli and Khemkaran area. opposite our positions, Pakistan has concentrated tanks and is perhaps looking for our weak spots. The Indian side has noticed that Pakistanis, in this area, has not yet abandoned her aggressive posture, and thus if a big battleflares up it will be no wonder.
He said that everywhere in the Kargil. Tithwal, Jammu and UrlPoonch sectors. Indian troops were trying to take all enemy positions and posts from where our positions on the Indian side of the border had been threatened, add agencies.
One Pakistani F-104 starfighter was shot down by Indian antiaircraft guns when it attempted to raid the Okha port in Gujarat last evening.
Pakistani planes stated three predominantly Muslim civilian areas in and around Srinagar in the course of their raid on Srinagar airfield around 0905 hours yesterday.
Pakistani planes raided Amritsar airfield thrice and Pathankot airfield twice after midnight but could not cause any damage.
The enemy jets dropped some bombs in areas neighbouring these airfields.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 11.12.1971