Pak planes attack several towns on western front
A blatant Pakistani air attack simultaneously on three airfields in the Western SectorAmritsar, Srinagar and Pathankot- early on Friday evening added a new dimension to the already aggravated situation in the sub-continued. Reports also came later of attacks on the airfields of Abantipur in Kashmir, Faridkot in Punjab and Uttarlai in Rajasthan. Agra and Ambula were bombed. The PAF also for the second day today strafed the Agartala airfield in the Eastern Sector.
Several border posts in the Western Sector also came under intensive shelling by the Pakistani artillery. These were located mainly in the Amritsar-Ferozepur areas of Punjab and the Chamb-Jaurian sector of kashmir.
The Indian Air Force has been ordered to destroy the Pakistani war machine which has consistently disturbed peace in the sub-continent. At the same time, Indian troops in strength crossed into Bangladesh territory from Agartala in a defensive action. At the time of going to Press, ground fighting was still going on in the region of the important railway junction of Akhaura in Bangladesh. At least one Pakistani Brigade was reported to have been thrown into the battle.
To cover up its treacherous attack on India, Radio Pakistan announced that Indian troops had launched an attack on the Western Sector. At about the same time, Radio Peking quoted a New China News Agency report of an identical nature. A Defense Department spokesman in Delhi described this announcement as totally false and fabricated.
With today’s sudden attack in the western wing, Pakistan has opened a second front.
The Chief of the Western Air Command, Air Marshal M. M. Engineer, on Friday night called upon his men to bring the enemy down to his knees. His order was issued after an emergency meeting of the three Defense service chiefs and senior Defense Ministry officials.
He said in a statement late on Friday night that the Pakistan air attacks “have not been able to bruise, let alone hurt, us”.
Pakistani Airstrikes synchronized with a call over Radio Pakistan to mujahids for a “jihad” against India.
The raiding Pakistan aircraft were me: with anti-aircraft gun fire at all the airports.
An Army spokesman said in Jullundur that one of the Pakistani aircraft which attacked Amritsar was seen losing height.
Airfields in Kashmir Valley were attacked for about 14 minutes by six Pakistani Sabers and Amritsar was raided by four Mirages for about half an hour.
Amritsar airstrip was slightly damaged, but it was serviceable, he said.
In Barmer in extreme west of Rajasthan, bordering Sind, a Pakistani aircraft dropped three bombs at Utterial airfield, but there was no damage.
The plane fled when the anti-aircraft guns opened up. Most towns in north-west and north east India were under black-out.
Meanwhile, Pakistani shelling continued unabated in Ratankhurd, Kalslan, Larh Pulkanjari Dhanoya-Lalan, Wan-Khem karan barrier and Mehndipur in the Amritsar and Ferozepur sectors.
An official spokesman in New Delhi described the Pakistani action as a “blatant, unprovoked and sudden attack” which “fulfilled General Yahya Khan’s threat of war in 10 days.”
The Indian Cabinet went into emergency session flare tonight soon after the Prime Minister’s return to the capital from Calcutta.
Along with the raids, the Pakistan Army resorted to continuous shelling of Ferozepur and several border posts all along the north-western border.
An official spokesman said that the shelling of Ferozepur which commenced at 630 p.m.was still continuing.
The Srinagar airport came under attack at 5-47 p.m. The raid in Avantipur was at 6-08 p.m. in Pathankot at 3-45 p.m. and Amritsar at 5-40 p.m.
The Defense Ministry spokesman said Indian aircraft had engaged the enemy in all the airfields. Turn to Back page Col. 2
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 04.12.1971