Battle of Fazilka

Battle of Fazilka
Part of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
From left to right and bottom: Battleground map of Sulemanki. The Pakistani army overwhelmed the Indian defenses at Fazilka. A Pakistani soldier from the 6th Frontier Force Regiment on a knocked-out Indian T-54/55 at Sulemanki.
Date 3 December – 17 December 1971 Location Fazilka, Punjab India-Pakistan Border Result Pakistani victory [1] Territorial changes Pakistan captured significant land in Fazilka [2]
Belligerents
India	Pakistan
Commanders and leaders
Brig. S.S. Chowdhry (replaced by Brig. G.S. Reen, later by Brig. Piara Singh) [3]	Brig. Amir Hamza Major Shabbir Sharif   † [4]
Units involved
Indian Army 67th Brigade 3 Assam 4 Jat 15 Rajput 3/11 Gorkha 22 Cavalry 8 Cavalry Border Security Force	Pakistan Army 105th Brigade 6 Frontier Force Regiment 7 Punjab Regiment 18 Baloch Regiment   Pakistan Air Force No. 17 Squadron PAF
Strength
16x T-54 tanks 16x Sherman tanks 24x field artillery guns 8x medium artillery guns (plus reinforcements)	16x Sherman tanks Unknown artillery guns 12x F-86 aircraft
Casualties and losses
190 killed [5] 145 captured [6] 196 missing [5] 425 wounded [5] Total Casualties:956 Several tanks destroyed [7]	59 killed [4] 30 Captured [8] Total Casualties: 89 1 tank captured [8]

The Battle of Fazilka also known as Battle of Sulemanki was a military engagement during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 in the western front, near the Indo-Pakistani border in Punjab. In this battle Pakistani forces achieve success against the Indian 67 Brigade, capturing significant territory west of Fazilka. ^{[9] [10]}

Background

Fazilka, a prominent border city in Ferozepur district, Punjab, lies at the end of a testing on the Sulemanki headworks in Pakistan. Defence of the headworks has always been one of the most important commitments of Pakistan's military planners. Their proximity-1.5 kilometres or so from Indian territory-made the area very vulnerable and largely influenced Pakistani concepts of its defence. Pakistan had no choice but to gain some cushion of depth by extending operations into Indian territory at the very outset. This was achieved in 1965 and was repeated in 1971. ^{[9] [11]}

Battle

On the twilight of 3 December, the Pakistani brigade, under cover of intense artillery fire, charged through the Indian troops with such speed and ferocity that it was able to establish a foothold on the tank obstacle line of the Sabuna Distributary six miles inside, within an hour. ^[12] The 6 FF ambushed the withdrawing enemy and killed 50 and captured 145. ^[13]

The Indian army seemed to be very sensitive about this area and made determined efforts to recapture the lost ground every night with fresh troops throughout the war. Most of these attacks were launched on 'B' Company's (6 FF) positions. Sikhs, Rajputs, Gurkhas, Assamis and Jats were used at different times. The most determined attack was that of 4 Jats, when, on the night of December 5, some of its elements led by Major Narayan Singh penetrated 'B' Company's (6 FF) positions on the embank-ment. In the ensuing hand to hand fight this Indian Major was killed by another Pakistani company commander Major Shabbir Sharif. ^[13] That night in another counterattack, the Indian tanks closed up to two yards of 6 FF positions after having destroyed all the antitank guns in the area. They were only repulsed by artillery fire and 3.5 Energa grenades. During all these fiercely fought battles, Five 8 Cavalry tanks were bogged down here, and four of them were destroyed by Pakistani artillery and infantry antitank weapons. ^[9]

Since all Indian counterattacks were foiled within hours of darkness, air support during daytime largely served to mop up any stragglers, besides boosting friendly troops' morale. No 17 Squadron, based at Rafiqui, flew 55 F-86E sorties, of which 33 were considered successful. In 22 sorties, either no targets could be found or, bombs were released on dead reckoning with questionable results. Half a dozen tanks and some vehicles were claimed as destroyed. ^[12]

According to Indian Army Major General and military historian Sukhwant Singh the Indian army failed at the battle of Fazilka: ^[9]

So obsessed were the Indian commanders with the elimination of the Pakistan lodgment that between Chowdhary and Ram Singh five counterattacks were launched for this purpose. All failed miserably as troops were committed piecemeal in the expected direction and over ground having a funnelling effect on the assaulting troops These unimaginative attacks resulted in inordinately heavy casualties and eroded Indian morale. On the other hand, our failures made heroes of the men of B Company 6 FF holding the lodgement, Indeed, they deserved praise showered on them.

Aftermath

Although major hostilities ended with the ceasefire, on 26–27 December, Indian 4 Para of 51 Para Brigade conducted an assault to dislodge a small Pakistani platoon from a sand dune near Nagi village. The attack resulted in 21 Indian killed and 60 wounded. ^[14]

Awards

Pakistani Major Shabbir Sharif from 6 FF awarded with Nishan-e-Haider. ^[15]

Brigadier Amir Hamza awarded by S.J. ^[16]

References

1. Khan, Gul Hassan (1993). Memoirs. Oxford University Press. p. 331. ISBN   978-0-19-577445-0.
2. Gill, John H. (2003). An Atlas of the 1971 India - Pakistan War: The Creation of Bangladesh. National Defense University, Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies. p. 'Page'54.
3. Indian Official History of 1971 Indo-Pak War, Chapter IX, ‘The Punjab and Rajasthan Front,’ page 387.
4. Imran (2015-09-07). "Shabbir of Sulemanki". MANI JUNCTION. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
5. Singh, Maj Gen Sukhwant (1981). India's Wars Since Independence The Liberation Of Bangladesh. Lancer Publishers LLC. p. 159. ISBN   978-1-935501-60-2.
6. Khan, Fazal Muqueem (1973). Pakistan's Crisis in Leadership. National Book Foundation. p. 209. ISBN   978-0-88386-302-2.
7. Singh, Maj Gen Sukhwant (1981). India's Wars Since Independence The Liberation Of Bangladesh. Lancer Publishers LLC. p. 156. ISBN   978-1-935501-60-2.
8. Singh, Maj Gen Sukhwant (1981). India's Wars Since Independence The Liberation Of Bangladesh. Lancer Publishers LLC. p. 158. ISBN   978-1-935501-60-2.
9. Singh, Maj Gen Sukhwant (1981). India's Wars Since Independence The Liberation Of Bangladesh. Lancer Publishers LLC. p. 162. ISBN   978-1-935501-60-2.
10. "Memoirs of Sabuna Bund Battle Sulaimanki-Fazilka Sector 3-6 Dec 1971". Hilal Publications. Retrieved 2025-03-25.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
11. Imran (2019-10-02). "Martyrs of Asaf Wala". MANI JUNCTION. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
12. Air Commodore Kaiser Tufail (Retired) (2020-07-15). Against All Odds The Pakistan Air Force In The 1971 Indo Pakistan War. p. 55.
13. Khan, Fazal Muqueem (1973). Pakistan's Crisis in Leadership. National Book Foundation. p. 209. ISBN   978-0-88386-302-2.
14. Gill, John H. (2003). An Atlas of the 1971 India - Pakistan War: The Creation of Bangladesh. National Defense University, Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies. p. 55.
15. TV, SAMAA (2025-08-16). "Major Shabbir Sharif: Military Service Historical Documentation". SAMAA TV. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
16. "India and Pakistan: Fazilka-Suliemanke Sector, Ground Orbats September 1965". indianmilitaryhistory.org. Retrieved 2025-08-29.

See also

• Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
• Indo-Pakistani War of 1965