‘Pakistan’s armed forces far better today than ’65, ’71’

[Hurter]

KARACHI: Pakistan’s armed forces are far superior today than in the wars of 1965 and 1971, panelists at breakfast meeting organised by the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) observed on Friday.

“Our armed forces are second to none in fighting militants and have proven themselves far better than many western armies fighting Islamic State and other militant factions without much success in the Middle East,” President of Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Association (Pesa) Lt-Gen (retd) Ali Kuli Khan said at the meeting held in Karachi.

According to Gen Khan, the command of Pakistan Army is in professional hands today. “There is line of senior officers capable of taking command from the present chief to carry on their legacy to future generation,” he said.

Talking about the fall of East Pakistan in 1971, the Pesa president said holding the army alone responsible for the debacle is unfair. “I don’t want to start a blame game but the war in East Pakistan was lost before it began… it was lost for political reasons,” he said.

He added that even the then army chief of the Indian army praised Pakistani forces and admitted that the latter faced the overwhelming strength of 16 to one in India’s favour.

Gen Khan also hit out at Pakistani leaders who have robbed the nation blind through rampant corruption. He said government servants, both uniformed and non-uniformed, were now chasing these leaders who have left Pakistan in a state beyond repair.

Shuja Nawaz, the author of ‘Crossed Swords’, a well-researched history of the Pakistan Army, praised the army of today at the meeting as well. He said instead of relying on theoretical text books, real-life experience is being shared with new recruits by battle-hardened instructors. Their interaction is producing excellent results, he added.

CPNE Secretary General Dr Jabbar Khattak said the army has been playing a positive role in Pakistan in addition to their duties on border. “This has impacted our country’s history both inside and outside Pakistan,” he said.

Defence analyst Ikram Sehgal also praised the army and rangers, saying they had done an exceedingly good job in Karachi. “After 2008 there is a tremendous change in army’s achievements. No army has got success against militants in the world with all their vast resources like Pakistan Armed Forces,” he said. “This momentum must carry on into future,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3rd, 2015.

‘Pakistan’s armed forces far better today than ’65, ’71’ - The Express Tribune

 

[Hurter]

But according to PDF, 65 war was won by Pakistan.

Yes it was. But he is talking about the firepower. Our army is far more established than ever before.

 

[third eye]

Pakistan’s armed forces are far superior today than in the wars of 1965 and 1971, panelists at breakfast meeting organised by the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) observed on Friday.

I am sorry but whats news in this statement ?

All armies of the world today are better than what they were 44 years ago .

 

[AUz]

And what was the next agreement you were signing?

West Pakistan didn't sign any other agreement with india. We just forced/humiliated india in 1965 and contained it forever.

You might be referring to the EAST Pakistan agreement which, according to your OWN Commanding General, wasn't a military war but a political disaster of Pakistan in East Pak.

You can keep being happy at a POLITICAL defeat of our nation in East Pakistan when our OWN people stood up against our army and civil war ensued (civil war isn't a measure of any army's capabilities, you know )

 

[MilSpec]

Yes it was. But he is talking about the firepower. Our army is far more established than ever before.

Compared to 1971, even a toaster, bicycle, or any known object in the world we live in is better, why wouldn't be the firepower?

 

[Assange]

Militarily.....we banged indian military to the level of utter embarrassment.


I mean, we forced a seven times larger nation to sign the agreement of stalemate with us on equal terms after total military war! I'll take that

Well this thread is going to be another 1965 war thread...Anyways...

You should stop thumbing you chest with a victory over 7 times larger army...You did not take into the fact that even though India army being a larger armed force than Pakistan in 1965 it was outstretched at that time...India had enemies all around it at that time......Indian army was deployed in Chinese borders and also near East Pakistan at that time....So the time when this war was happening the man power would have at par more or less.....

By the way you should also note that Indian army managed to capture 1900 odd sq km of land fertile Sialkot sector etc etc ...But Pakistan managed to capture 500 odd square km....

 

[indianBong]

Pakistan’s armed forces are far superior today than in the wars of 1965 and 1971,

so is India's......

 

[Nefarious]

Obviously it's better then those times.

Article is talking in terms of narrowing gaps between Pak and mighty Supa Powa when compared to 65 and 71.

Now, you can argue whether that's true or not but surely your not all that stupid and stating the obvious that it's literally better then 65 ,71.

 

[coffee_cup]

Compared to 1971, even a toaster, bicycle, or any known object in the world we live in is better, why wouldn't be the firepower?

Compare to 1971, today's Afghan forces are a joke
Compare to 1971, today's Iraq is destroyed
Compare to 1971, today's Yogoslavia (if we count all new countries together) has no power projection abilities
Compare to 1971, how many countries have rolled back their nuclear programs?

So as much as your Indian ego would like to belittle Pakistan's achievement in defence, it is something that we take pride in.

That despite all those sanctions and worst of Indian cross-border terrorism in Pakistan, we have thrived and made very significant progress!

 

[Donatello]

But according to PDF, 65 war was won by Pakistan.

Umm, if it wasn't won by Pakistan, who won it? India? after losing and bargaing real estate on both sides, i am not sure what garbage you were taught about 1965.

Just like Indians claim all wars were won by India, when in 1948, Pakistan marched and captured a good chunk of Kashmir.......an inch of which India still hasn't been able to take back since.

 

[Stannis Baratheon]

1965 was a draw and 1971 was a Bangladesh victory. India only entered when Pakistan Army was exhausted by Bangladesh and yet suffered heavy losses (for a short period of time it is) even though they had Muktijudhas on their sides. So, don't come here and talk about how India won.

 

[Tipu7]

It's not the strength compared to past years but it's strength gap with your enemy.

India strength gap was pretty low in 65, enlarged in 71 & now this gap is even wider.

IN is far far superior than PN, IAF has clear edge over PAF in most field, IA overcome the quality edge of PA by using overwhelming numbers. So for Pakistan time is more tough now.

Nuclear weapons though can be game changer though no one can analysis in whose favor a nuclear war can turn .......

1965 was a draw

Disagree

 

[GURU DUTT]

Umm, if it wasn't won by Pakistan, who won it? India? after losing and bargaing real estate on both sides, i am not sure what garbage you were taught about 1965.

Just like Indians claim all wars were won by India, when in 1948, Pakistan marched and captured a good chunk of Kashmir.......an inch of which India still hasn't been able to take back since.

the result of a war is judged by the conviction and goal it was faught for and did the initiator of the war was successfull in achieving those goals ... right

now pakistan initiated it in three stages

1. in rann of kutch to get the whole rann of kutch and it was partly sucssesful as it had a very good raod connectivety and infra in isndh but indians had to cover the whole rann to get to the fighting area

2.operation gibralter where it again had all the great road and communication infra (which british left) while here we had just complited a makeshift NH1 as a new link to J&K

3.operation grandslam where in akhnoor sector deu to again good infra pakistan was in position to have a better strike infra to cut of indian link to J&K after capturing akhnoor road junction and then moving over to capture amritsar and then delhi

in short : pakistan initiated it (was the agrassor) where it had a upper hand + the fact deu to bieng a member state of CEATO/CENTO had latest american pttion tanks , artilerry and the best fighter of that era(sabre jet)

and was almost succesfull in the initial time but never hoped that india will fight back and never in punjab or rajathan which we did as we had better infra there and after the pakistans pride the 1st armoured divission which launched an attack from kasur in pakistan to annex indian punjab was deccimated in khemkarn sector in battle of asal uttar pakistani plans were defeted

now since we attacked and you were unable to get both rann of kutch , punjab and J&K and had to agree to ceasefire tell me honestlli who won and who lost as we still have owr punjab, rann of kutch and J&K

i hope sincearlli that i dint troll or made any degoratorry remarks or in any way made fun of pakistan , its militarry planners or its political elite in any way and hope to have a meaningful dialog with you SIR ... thanks in advance

 

[Pakistani till death]

Well this thread is going to be another 1965 war thread...Anyways...

You should stop thumbing you chest with a victory over 7 times larger army...You did not take into the fact that even though India army being a larger armed force than Pakistan in 1965 it was outstretched at that time...India had enemies all around it at that time......Indian army was deployed in Chinese borders and also near East Pakistan at that time....So the time when this war was happening the man power would have at par more or less.....

By the way you should also note that Indian army managed to capture 1900 odd sq km of land fertile Sialkot sector etc etc ...But Pakistan managed to capture 500 odd square km....

You should also note that pakistan was on the defence with our aims to not let sialkot, lahore and kasur fall into indian hands and we succeeded in that.

 

[Jf Thunder]

1965 was a draw and 1971 was a Bangladesh victory. India only entered when Pakistan Army was exhausted by Bangladesh and yet suffered heavy losses (for a short period of time it is) even though they had Muktijudhas on their sides. So, don't come here and talk about how India won.

actually, if it wasnt for the Indian intervention in 1971, the uprising was pretty much crushed