From The Vault

[fatman17]

#LtColonelAkramRajaSjaheed
Fearless Commanding Officer of 35 FF who laid down his life leading his Battalion in Counter Attack against Indian Army’s Tanks and Infantry at Barapind-Jarpal on 17 December 1971.
35 FF lost 4 Officers, one JCO, 55 Jawans, plus 200 injured. https://t.co/4URqSET0Y9
View attachment 697448

A warrior's story in pictures

 

[fatman17]

Respect

 

[fatman17]

Around midday on Dec 18, 1971 a company commander from 15 Punjab met CO 2 Sikh
He was to collect bodies of his soldiers who fell during a failed attack earlier that morning
'My best boxer', remarked the coy comd as he identified Mahfuz
Oh he fought like a boxer! replied Col Puri https://t.co/Dqgzq6LyNn

 

[fatman17]

The border post of Pul Kanjri was snatched back from 43 Punjab on Ni 17/18 Dec by 2 Sikhs in style
That night one Lnk Shanghara Singh became a mythical figure with a strikingly matching tale to that of Mahfuz
The story is graphically represented on the Pul Kanjri monument https://t.co/2Efrvfj5Vp

 

[fatman17]

Around midday on Dec 18, 1971 a company commander from 15 Punjab met CO 2 Sikh
He was to collect bodies of his soldiers who fell during a failed attack earlier that morning
'My best boxer', remarked the coy comd as he identified Mahfuz
Oh he fought like a boxer! replied Col Puri https://t.co/Dqgzq6LyNn
View attachment 698162

On his last resting place

 

[fatman17]

The border post of Pul Kanjri was snatched back from 43 Punjab on Ni 17/18 Dec by 2 Sikhs in style
That night one Lnk Shanghara Singh became a mythical figure with a strikingly matching tale to that of Mahfuz
The story is graphically represented on the Pul Kanjri monument https://t.co/2Efrvfj5Vp
View attachment 698163

On his last resting place

 

[fatman17]

the 9ᵗʰ Sudhnotis - my personal favourite of all Pakistani infantry battalions.

could go on with it's wartime record. those sixteen SJs and the sole HJ should give some idea https://t.co/Xly8A6sGDx

 

[PanzerKiel]

Lt Kaleem Mahmud, SJ

Lt Kaleem Mahmud SJ of 3 Punjab Regiment was initially declared Missing in Action on 7 Sept 1965 while defending the Jassar Bridge over River Ravi where the Indian troops had launched a Brigade size attack to eliminate a small Pakistani enclave across the bridge.

As planned by India, the first place that took the brunt of Indian attack in this sector was Jassar. 3 Punjab Regiment was partly deployed in the little enclave across the river Ravi on Indian side of the international border. The Indians started shelling at 0315 hours, a quarter of an hour earlier than they crossed the border in other places. An hour later the attack came in, led by one infantry battalion and the Indians succeeded in securing a foothold in the enclave. 3 Punjab put in a counter attack at 1000 hours on 6 September throwing back the Indians by 1200 hours.

Simultaneously 3 Punjab cleared the Indian enclave on West bank of the river. There does not appear to have been much resistance to this action. The lack of enthusiasm on the part of Indians to defend their position on the right bank of Ravi was a clear indication that the Indian attack against Jassar was merely a feint. If they had meant to invade Pakistan from this direction in earnest, it would have been easier for them to build up across the river, by making use of the enclave as initial brigade head. The Indians were to continue giving the impression that the attack on Jassar was in real earnest.

Between 0300 and 0630 hours on 7 September, Indians put in three attacks supported by massive artillery support and tanks. Lt Kaleem along with his platoon defended the Pakistani enclave with dogged determination and grit.

The enemy, overwhelming in numbers succeeded in getting close to the far end of the Ravi bridge at Jassar eventually. The bridge as a result was blown up at 0800 hours the same day. Lt Kaleem who was on the far end of the bridge ordered his troops to swim to the home side of the river while he provided covering fire for them to safely get accross.

Lt Kaleem held the far end of the bridge till all Pak troops in the enclave had crossed over to the home bank. As he moved in the open to cross the river, he was hit by a burst of machine gun fire as there was no one to provide covering fire for him.

A couple of days before the ceasefire took effect, 6 FF which had arrived in this sector after successful operation in Chamb and Jourian, relieved 3 Punjab Regiment at Jassar bridge. During patrolling of the area beyond the bridge 2/Lt Shabir Sharif SJ found out that the Indians had buried the dead body of 2/Lt Kaleem Mahmud just close to the bridge with his name written on a chit that was put in a glass bottle. Kaleem Mahmud received his commision in April 1963 passing out from 27 PMA Long Course.

 

[Vapour]

Lt Kaleem Mahmud, SJ

Lt Kaleem Mahmud SJ of 3 Punjab Regiment was initially declared Missing in Action on 7 Sept 1965 while defending the Jassar Bridge over River Ravi where the Indian troops had launched a Brigade size attack to eliminate a small Pakistani enclave across the bridge.

As planned by India, the first place that took the brunt of Indian attack in this sector was Jassar. 3 Punjab Regiment was partly deployed in the little enclave across the river Ravi on Indian side of the international border. The Indians started shelling at 0315 hours, a quarter of an hour earlier than they crossed the border in other places. An hour later the attack came in, led by one infantry battalion and the Indians succeeded in securing a foothold in the enclave. 3 Punjab put in a counter attack at 1000 hours on 6 September throwing back the Indians by 1200 hours.

Simultaneously 3 Punjab cleared the Indian enclave on West bank of the river. There does not appear to have been much resistance to this action. The lack of enthusiasm on the part of Indians to defend their position on the right bank of Ravi was a clear indication that the Indian attack against Jassar was merely a feint. If they had meant to invade Pakistan from this direction in earnest, it would have been easier for them to build up across the river, by making use of the enclave as initial brigade head. The Indians were to continue giving the impression that the attack on Jassar was in real earnest.

Between 0300 and 0630 hours on 7 September, Indians put in three attacks supported by massive artillery support and tanks. Lt Kaleem along with his platoon defended the Pakistani enclave with dogged determination and grit.

The enemy, overwhelming in numbers succeeded in getting close to the far end of the Ravi bridge at Jassar eventually. The bridge as a result was blown up at 0800 hours the same day. Lt Kaleem who was on the far end of the bridge ordered his troops to swim to the home side of the river while he provided covering fire for them to safely get accross.

Lt Kaleem held the far end of the bridge till all Pak troops in the enclave had crossed over to the home bank. As he moved in the open to cross the river, he was hit by a burst of machine gun fire as there was no one to provide covering fire for him.

A couple of days before the ceasefire took effect, 6 FF which had arrived in this sector after successful operation in Chamb and Jourian, relieved 3 Punjab Regiment at Jassar bridge. During patrolling of the area beyond the bridge 2/Lt Shabir Sharif SJ found out that the Indians had buried the dead body of 2/Lt Kaleem Mahmud just close to the bridge with his name written on a chit that was put in a glass bottle. Kaleem Mahmud received his commision in April 1963 passing out from 27 PMA Long Course.

View attachment 699077

Is this bridge still held?

 

[hassan1]

paf station lahore

 

[PanzerKiel]

Is this bridge still held?

Yes, it's an enclave, a small patch of ground surrounded on three sides by Indian territory, on the Eastern Bank of Ravi River. This bridge connects the enclave with the rest of the country.

 

[Phantom.]

Capt Mohammad Hamid Ullah Khan Sumba
31 Field Artillery
10 September 1965
Jassar Bridge

 

[fatman17]

GSM

 

[fatman17]

Another true story of valour

 

[fatman17]

the memorial for the fallen at Khananwali is unfortunately in bad shape. really hurts. a lot. https://t.co/y9pGGiVP71