India thwarts Pak attack as tensions simmer at border

HT's report on Pakistan targeting Indian posts in Kutch in 1965 and India's response

- HT Correspondent

A war-like situation is developing on the Kutch-Sind border following massive attacks by Pakistan army regulars on four Indian border posts spread over a length of more than 50 miles — the Sardar Post, Vigokot, an unnamed place 30 miles east of Kanjarkot and Chadbet.

The attacks, launched this morning, were preceded by intensified Pakistani shelling of Indian positions last night. The fiercest battle of the day, according to official reports, was fought at an unnamed place in the Rann of Kutch marked on the map as Point 84—about 30 miles east of Kanjarkot. Pakistanis attacked the post in brigade strength of about 3,500 troops and tanks. Reports reaching New Delhi this evening said three Pakistani tanks were destroyed by jawans defending the post. The post at Point 84 is about six miles inside Indian territory.

According to reports received late tonight, fighting was still going on at the point 30 miles east of Kanjarkot. The Indian Army was moving reinforcements to the area.

Undeclared war The Pakistani attack, described by an official spokesman as nearly an undeclared war, came unexpectedly during negotiations between India and Pakistan for ceasefire arrangements and talks over the tension in the Kanjarkot area following its forcible occupation by Pakistan in January. The latest in the chain of diplomatic talks was a meeting today between Pakistan High Commissioner Arshad Hussain and Foreign Secretary C.S. Jha. The Pakistani envoy was told that India considered a retrograde step the Pakistan Government's move to go back on the proposal for "immediate" ceasefire Rawalpindi had itself made about a week ago.