Brig Mohinder Singh, in command of the attacking brigade, launched the operation at last light on 5 December, spearheading his main thrust with one infantry battalion to clear the general area of Tibba, Pul Bajuan and Pindi Bajuan so as to protect the northern flank of the followup battalion group working its way along the Ghag nullah. These localities, although fully prepared, were not occupied, and as a result the leading battalion encountered no enemy opposition.
But despite this its operation was painfully slow. The battalion insisted on going through the battle procedures for set-piece attacks and took the whole night to clear the positions the followup battalion made its way along the nullah securing Tibba with one armoured squadron, reached the area south of Patrah about 0330 hours, and was able to establish a roadblock south of the nullah on the Khoje Chak-Saidpur road about 0800 hours on 6 December. This roadblock party captured the company commander of 34 Punjab, one of the last elements withdrawing from the Chicken’s Neck salient.
The rest of the followup battalion was held up because its motor transport carrying essential heavy weapons and ammunition was bogged down in the soft nullah beds behind. Track-making had not kept pace with the leading elements. The battalion could only fetch up by 1000 hours, and then went through the laborious and time-consuming battle procedures for clearing the Khoje Chak group of villages.
Meanwhile, unknown to the battalion group, Bakshi had inducted elements of another armoured regiment into the salient to hasten the clearance. These elements clashed with the roadblock tanks, which mistook them for withdrawing Pakistani vehicles. Casualties were however averted by the timely intervension of Bakshi’s staff. The next night, a commando team was sent to Gondal ferry to establish another roadblock. Soon after they arrived, they were fired upon by a large body of withdrawing enemy troops. Tank-mounted infantry had to be rushed to the block to help the commando team out.
The third battalion was launched after the fall of Tibba to clear the waist of the salient. It developed a subsidiary thrust along Chak Naun-Kulia Raiyan and Chanaur and had secured the area up to Shahpur by first light the next day. By this time it was evident that the back of the enemy resistance was broken. Bakshi arrived in Shahpur and, after getting the feel of the situation, decided to hasten mopping up the area. He ordered an armoured squadron and a mechanized company group to clear the area north of the Kachhi Mand-Trangot line, while the third battalion pushed on to Phuklian by 1400 hours on 6 December and thence on to Kakran and Sir without meeting any opposition.
There were reports of one squadron of tanks having been sited by an artillery observation post, but Bakshi refused to react to unconfirmed information and stuck to the original plan for attack.
The advance next morning was resumed towards Gangwal and Rajpura, and the forward units came under fire at 1350 hours from the retreating Pakistani column in the ferry area. The enemy was hotly pursued but made a quick getaway. By the evening of 7 December, the Chicken’s Neck salient was completely cleared of the enemy. The third battalion was left to consolidate and subsequently hold the area and the remainder of the brigade group was withdrawn for other tasks, thus bringing the Chicken’s Neck offensive to a successful conclusion. In this operation, the enemy suffered 32 killed, four wounded and 28 prisoners of war, including two officers, of whom one died of wounds.
Identification revealed that out of the total casualties and prisoners about 85 per cent were Chenab Rangers, a paramilitary organization, while the rest were regular army men. It appeared that the ranger companies in the salient had been beefed up with a sprinkling of regulars. Some of the equipment captured was obsolete material like six-pounder guns and 303 rifles, discards by the army normally issued to paramilitary forces. By our own estimates, of about six Pakistan Ranger companies employed in Chicken’s Neck not more than two platoons could be accounted for by way of killed, wounded and prisoners. It showed that the main Indian thrust aimed at blocking the routes of the Pakistani withdrawal over the ferries was not altogether successful.
The lapse of about 36 hours between securing the Saidpur and Gangwal ferries allowed the Pakistanis to slip away with most of their equipment. Fazal Muqeem describes the loss of the salient thus: “In the meantime, 15 Infantry Division was keeping the enemy contained on the Sialkot borders by small local actions along the borders. It had, however, lost Phuklian (Chicken’s Neck) salient to the enemy, which was unforgivable. The division had not used its imagination, and slavishly interpreted the GHQ instruction to hold Marala headworks by not less than a battalion. It had allowed only the Rangers to operate in forward areas, for which they had no capability.”
Where did the Indians fail? 26 Infantry Division managed to capture Chicken’s Neck, about 170 square kilometres of Pakistani territory, and thereby removed the threat to the Akhnur bridge and Jammu town and protected the flank of the Indian troops operating in the Jaurian sector. But it failed to bag the Pakistani force employed in the salient. This happened because our operations, like our organisations, are infantry-oriented. The key to the success of this operation was the speed with which the routes of withdrawal of the Pakistani force could be blocked at the ferry sites. Once that was achieved, the rest was a mopping-up operation. The main thrust was spearheaded by the infantry battalion, followed by engineer elements, and then the soft-vehicle column carrying ammunition and heavier infantry weapons like RCL anti-tank guns and infantry mortars and reorganisation stores, with tanks bringing up the rear.
The progress of the column was unnecessarily tied to the pace of the infantry, and so were the operations for clearing the Pakistani opposition. The Indian infantry cautiously went through the sluggish battle procedures to tackle already vacated positions with unnecessary caution and slowed down the operations to such an extent that the enemy slipped away almost unharmed. This was a failure of infantry-oriented tactics practised in conformity with Indian military concepts. The essence of this operation was speed and manoeuvre and the exploitation of mobility endowed in armour and armoured personnel carriers. An armoured squadron supported by a mechanized company, with maximum infantry mounted on its tanks, could have effectively blocked the ferries in a matter of hours. After having shed the infantry, about one company each at the four ferries as roadblocks, the armour/mechanized infantry group could have launched mopping-up operations from south to north.
A similar column could perhaps have opened the axis of maintenance from the direction of Kachhi Mand. As the enemy capability for counterattack was extremely limited and he was reported to have no more than a troop of tanks when the Indian columns were tank heavy, elaborate reorganisation needing anti-tank minefields and RCL gun could have been done away with. The whole operation could have been completed with the entire Pakistani force in the big in a matter of 12 to 18 hours, thus relieving the force employed less holding troops for other tasks. The capture of Chicken’s Neck posed a threat to the Marala headworks to the extent that Pakistan promptly strengthened its Marala defences with a brigade out of GHQ reserves.
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The other divisional offensive task having been abandoned, Bakshi maintained a defensive posture for the rest of the war. Aggressive patrolling and raids were conducted on Pakistani territory to harass the enemy, cause attrition and retain the initiative. In these minor actions, the division evicted the enemy from two of our BOPs at Nawa Pind and Jogan Chak, earlier vacated by us on the outbreak of hostilities and later occupied by about a company of Pakistan 37 FF Regiment on the night of 4/5 December. A spirited assault by infantry and armour recaptured the posts on 5 December. In this operation, Pakistan suffered 19 killed and 18 prisoners, including three JCOs,against India’s two killed and six wounded. In addition they captured four MMGs and 30 odd rifles. Raids continued on the Pakistan BOPs all along the divisional front and three of them, at Chhota Chak, Chumbian and Peeli, were captured. It goes to Bakshi’s credit that he did not lose any territory in his sector. But the higher command failed to use purposefully the troops released after the capture of Chicken’s Neck.
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Power of Dismissed Soldier! What Could Be Power of Serving Soldier?
An opinion by: Balbir Singh Sooch
1. BSF Soldier Tej Bahadur Yadav was dismissed on 19 April 2017. The reason cited was indiscipline, for which there is no bar to contest the elections and the notice issued dismissed BSF Soldier Tej Bahadur Yadav is defective, illegal for the reasons best known to the authorities concerned as reported.
2. Thus, the notice dated 30-04-2019 is defective, not applicable and nothing in the eye of law as his case of dismissal is not covered under section 9 of ‘THE REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE ACT, 1951’ as his case of dismissal was not on the grounds of corruption or disloyalty, as the reason cited was indiscipline under the forces Act;
3. As he (BSF Soldier Tej Bahadur Yadav) made headlines by going public with his allegations of sub-standard food in the Border Security Force of India.
4. BSF Soldier Tej Bahadur Yadav dismissed, but neither he seems could be attracted for any offence section ‘THE REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE ACT, 1951’ nor did he serve any other notice for any other offence for rejecting his nomination papers ‘THE REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE ACT, 1951’.
5. The notice dated 30-04-2019, served to dismissed BSF Soldier Tej Bahadur Yadav seems to be totally illegal under section 9 of ‘THE REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE ACT, 1951’ being nothing in the eye of law.
6. An Open Submission: The notice dated 30-04-2019, served to the dismissed BSF Soldier Tej Bahadur Yadav deserves to be withdrawn and the dismissed BSF Soldier Tej Bahadur must be allowed to contest the election after declaration his nomination papers as valid, submitted within the stipulated period of limitation.
7. Otherwise, there could be a wrong message all over that the Election Commission of India is failing in his duty to conduct the fair and free elections in India.
8. It could further be presumed widely that the Indian system is very weak before the ‘Power of Dismissed SPY.
The Meek, Incapable and Inefficient Leadership of India Harmed Indians Endlessly So Far
A View By: Balbir Singh Sooch
Leadership of India and Pakistan
1. Border dispute with China can be resolved through dialogue: Rajnath Singh said as reported in TOI on September 29, 2017, 20:07 (IST)
2. Though, China and Pakistan are thick friends and allies under all the circumstances. Can India deny to it?
3. Whereas India, China should start a new chapter: Chinese envoy said as reported in The Tribune, Chandigarh on September 30, 2017, 12:35 PM (IST) and similarly earlier, “Border dispute with China can be resolved through dialogue” Rajnath Singh said. Is it only diplomacy and or a part of diplomacy between India and Pakistan politically motivated since the so-called partition of India?
4. But, the similar language, “Border dispute with China can be resolved through dialogue”, India never used for Pakistan: Why?
5. Whether India and Pakistan have some hidden agenda as Learned Mr. Harsh V. Pant openly disclosed, “The Xiamen BRICS declaration earlier this month also listed Pakistan-based terror organisations for the first time. It is not surprising, therefore, that Pakistan’s Foreign Minister has had to admit that terrorist Hafiz Saeed and terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) are a “liability” for his country and for the South Asian region”. Courtesy: THE HINDU
6. And now, in the light of above, India can’t blame Pakistan for the terrorism.
7. RSS Chief lauds Indian army over counter-infiltration operations along LoC (Where is line of Control???)
8. Then, India and Pakistan are always remained willingly or unwillingly in warning and challenging mood with each other under the garb of terrorism: Why?
9. Rest could be the only politics of business of ‘big powers’ and that proved success for them always due to the meek, incapable and inefficient leadership of India, who never addressed their internal welfare and development ………
“India must be prepared for two-front war: General Rawat says no scope for reconciliation with Pakistan,” Clarified by Army chief of India as widely reported today.
After ‘Make In India’ now ‘New India’ Slogan after Slogan:Thanks
310 army personnel committed suicide since 2014: Government of India
QUESTIONS AS COMMENTS ON THE SERIOUS AND DEMORALISING-MAKING INDIANS FEEL DISPIRITED by: Balbir Singh Sooch.
Was within army itself more than war like conditions and the actions prevailing in India?
If answer is ‘YES’ then it is ‘WHY’ so?
Whether Indian system is responsible for all this and or other reasons beyond the control of the government of India?
Who will answer and or whose responsibility could be fixed to answer all this?
But, it is a very heartening, serious and demoralizing-discouraging and making you lose confidence or hope in the system of India, uncomforting matter for all Indians.
But again, the government of India may rely and reply on the following set old tutored, fashioned-manner, a particular way of behaving or doing something on the unsympathetic lines minus looking after the welfare of our defence forces. Am I wrong to observe so in this modern age now?
•Trend seen in all military branches; •Military and medical leaders have been searching for answers to what’s been called an “epidemic”; • Most are traced to failed relationships, something linked to frequent deployments.
Comment by:
Balbir Singh Sooch-Sikh Vichar Manch
The War Is Not Solution:
There Can Be War After War???
The War Is Not Solution: But There Will Be War To Highlight A Foolish Era Of Modi: Map Of India May Be Different Hereafter: No Opposition In India: Problems of Communalism, Casteism, Corruption, Terrorism, Poverty and Dirt Are Deep Rooted In India.
Balbir Singh Sooch-Sikh Vichar Manch Concluded Under The Given Circumstances, May Someone Prove It Wrong: Thanks
An Opinion By:
Balbir Singh Sooch-Sikh Vichar Manch
http://www.sikhvicharmanch.com/
https://www.facebook.com/balbir.singh.355
The ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative includes China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as its ‘flagship’ project:
PANAMA PAPERS
PM Sharif’s disqualification an ‘internal affair’, won’t impact CPEC: China
29 Jul 2017 | 9:48 AM
The ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative includes China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as its ‘flagship’ project.
Lahore, July 29, 2017
Beijing termed Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification from public office as an “internal affair of Pakistan” and said that it will not impact China-Pakistan strategic cooperative partnership involving ‘One Belt, One Road (OBOR)’ initiative that includes China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as its “flagship” project.
Reacting to the political changes in Pakistan, arising due to the Supreme Court verdict in the Panama Papers case, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang said during a press briefing, “We believe that the China-Pakistan strategic cooperative partnership will not be affected by the change of the situation inside Pakistan. China stands ready to work with Pakistan to continue jointly building the [One] Belt and [One] Road.” The Supreme Court on Friday disqualified Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from holding public office in a landmark decision on the Panama Papers case.
China expressed hope that various parties and sections in Pakistan could “prioritise state and national interests, properly deal with their domestic affairs, maintain unity and stability, and keep focusing on the economic and social development.”
The all-weather friendship between China and Pakistan has withstood the test of times, Kang added.
ANI –Courtesy by: THE TRIBUNE, CHANDIGARH
DEFENCE FORCES: But facts required regarding how much our army (Defence forces) is well equipped
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/armed-forces-fully-equipped-to-deal-with-contingencies-says-arun-jaitley/article19377197.ece?homepage=true
DEFENCE FORCES: But facts required regarding how much our army (Defence forces) is well equipped
Not moral support but facts required regarding how much our army is well equipped. Aman Datta rightly commented: Balbir Singh Sooch observed
Union Defence Minister Arun Jaitley during the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament in New Delhi. | Photo Credit: PTI/TV grab
See more comments at following link:
INDIAN DEFENCE REVIEW:
https://www.indiandefencereview.com/spotlights/1971-war-the-battle-of-chickens-neck/
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/armed-forces-fully-equipped-to-deal-with-contingencies-says-arun-jaitley/article19377197.ece?homepage=true
Forwarded By:
BALBIR SINGH SOOCH-SIKH VICHAR MANCH
http://www.sikhvicharmanch.com/
https://www.facebook.com/balbir.singh.355
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/armed-forces-fully-equipped-to-deal-with-contingencies-says-arun-jaitley/article19377197.ece?homepage=true
DEFENCE FORCES: But facts required regarding how much our army (Defence forces) is well equipped
Not moral support but facts required regarding how much our army is well equipped. Aman Datta rightly commented: Balbir Singh Sooch observed
Please see more comments at following link:
INDIAN DEFENCE REVIEW:
https://www.indiandefencereview.com/spotlights/1971-war-the-battle-of-chickens-neck/
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/armed-forces-fully-equipped-to-deal-with-contingencies-says-arun-jaitley/article19377197.ece?homepage=true
China Will Remain A Threat To India By Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Sarath Chand
An Analysis and Conclusion By: Balbir Singh Sooch
The standoff has happened in the southernmost part of Tibet. — AFP
The Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Sarath Chand deserves appreciation for bold clarification and comparatively to bring the truth on surface about the military strength of India and China and the after affects in case of war or no war between India and China as the India-China military standoff continues at Doka La, that China would continue to remain a threat for the country in future also, saying that,
1. “On the North, we have China which has a large landmass, huge resources and a large standing Army… Despite having the Himalayas between us, China is bound to be a threat for us in the years ahead.”
1. Referring to China’s rapid military modernisation, “That a large portion of Chinese defence spending remains undisclosed”.
2. “As the second largest economy in the world China is racing to catch up with the U.S.”.
3. Referring to Pakistan, being a smaller country with smaller economy, it (China) chose to needle India unconventionally rather than engage in a full-fledged war and said, “That suits its all-weather friend China,”
4. Stating that South Asia continues to be one of the most “volatile regions” in the world, “India being in the centre of it, is the security provider for this region.”
5. For that, Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Sarath Chand said, India needs to become economically strong in order to have influence in the area and to secure ourselves. “The world recognises strength, both economic and military.”
6. On June 16, 2017 Chinese troops tried to construct a road through the disputed Doka La Plateau which was physically blocked by Indian troops in the area triggering the present standoff. The Extracts courtesy by: THE HINDU
China Will Remain A Threat To India By Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Sarath Chand
“India on Thursday, July 20, 2017 made a renewed pitch for a “peaceful resolution” of the Doklam standoff with China through diplomatic channels, and stressed that “differences” should not become “disputes“ on Doklam standoff as reported said by the spokesperson Gopal Baglay of ‘Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India”.
As to why India never used such or similar language, “differences” should not become “disputes” in case of disputes with Pakistan (our younger brother, being a smaller country with smaller economy) for the last seventy (70) years? As to why Indians are being made fools so far and similarly Pakistanis by the government of Pakistan; and by each other respectively and conspiringly?
By seeing the hopeless discriminatory and cruel conditions of downtrodden and the minorities within India under the garb of ‘Hindu Nationalism’ and the relations, that’s diplomacy failure outside, the world opinion and all the neighbouring countries are not at all with India now.
Under the changed behavioral circumstances, it is very safe to draw the inference from that ‘China will remain a threat to India’ and that “India needs to become economically strong in order to have influence in the area and to secure ourselves peacefully within India and outside also” before triggering any type of standoff and war with China”. Isn’t?
“China claims India ‘admitted’ to entering its territory, says should ‘withdraw’ troops:
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has claimed that India “admitted” to entering Chinese territory and said the solution to the standoff was for its troops to “conscientiously withdraw” from the Doklam area in the Sikkim sector.
“The rights and wrongs are very clear and even senior Indian officials have openly stated that Chinese troops did not enter into the Indian territory,” Wang said yesterday in Bangkok, commenting for the first time over the standoff between
Indian MPs have received 1,250% salary hike over 20 years: What about Military officers and soldiers also of Ex-Servicemen respectively?
Indian MPs have received 1,250% salary hike over 20 years: In 2010, they got a raise of Rs 34,000 and now compare salary and pension hike of Military officers and soldiers also of Ex-Servicemen respectively. As Reported By FP Staff Jul, 20 2017 15:33:06 IST: Courtesy by First Post
“NEW DELHI: With Tamil Nadu MLAs getting a 100 percent salary hike, parliament MPs on Wednesday also demanded fee hike, saying that the government secretaries and MLAs in states are being paid better than them.
The matter was raised in Rajya Sabha by Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal and he got support from the senior Congress leader Anand Sharma.
Sharma soon joined him saying Indian MPs are worst paid in the world.” Courtesy by: Express News Service | Published: 19th July 2017 05:10 PM (IST).
Similarly, Military officers and soldiers also Ex-Servicemen respectively must be paid further worst in the world. The government of India, must pay attention as reports and comments coming in to that comparison of MPs and Soldiers salary presently in India. Balbir Singh Sooch
No Significant Improvement In 3 Years, Says Auditor On Army’s Ammunition Shortage:
CAG had earlier warned that Army could not fight a war beyond 15 to 20 days due to ammunition shortage.
The CAG report said, of the 152 types of ammunition used by the military, availability of 55 per cent types was below the minimum inescapable requirement for operational preparedness. For another 40 per cent types of ammunitions, the army had a stock of less than 10 days.
All India | Reported by Vishnu Som, Edited by Aloke Tikku | Updated: July 22, 2017 08:29 IST
COMMENT: By: Balbir Singh Sooch-Sikh Vichar Manch
“The CAG report said, of the 152 types of ammunition used by the military, availability of 55 per cent types was below the minimum inescapable requirement for operational preparedness. For another 40 per cent types of ammunitions, the army had a stock of less than 10 days.”
It is very sad report at this junction for the security and safety of India, in view of this report, Indian army seems to be helpless nothing more is desirable to comment now in the interest of integrity and unity of India:
Balbir Singh Sooch-Sikh Vichar Manch boldly said.
In the consequences of ‘Bhutan Map News’, ‘Siliguri Corridor- “Chicken’s Neck” Map News, Akhnoor Dagger Map News; what could be Map of India leaving aside Pakistan? Be Cautious!
Civilians who are patriots and have interest in defense matters should have more active role in decision and policy making than some random babu/mantri who are very inefficient.
India;s victories are often won by commanders who defy their bosses and their Neta-Babu over lords. In other words, anybody cursed with both integrity and competence has to eat his heart out waiting for an opportunity to win the battle with “High Command”, the first enemy before attacking the more obvious foe. This is not just in the Armed Forces,where the consequent risks are dire but in all sectors of Indian activity. This has been my experience through out my own professional careers Does it always have to take this Bollywoof route? One wonders.
and now the time has come for indias fall.soon
General sahib, you have knack of writing sweet nothings.
Brilliant article !