Battle of Basantar

The Battle of Basantar or the Battle of Barapind was one of the vital battles fought as part of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 in the western sector of India. Despite being outnumbered, the Indian troops won a hard fought battle against the odds that secured the vital area in the Punjab/Jammu sector. The result was that 350 square miles of Pakistan territory was occupied by Indian forces.

Location of battle

Basantar river flows in the state of Punjab and Haryana. This battle took place in the Shakargarh Sector or the Shakargarh Bulge that includes the Jarpal village and surrounding areas. The bulge meant that Pakistan was deep inside Inside territory and was poised to sever road links to Jammu from Punjab. It was also a strategic place for both sides as it straddled the fertile area of the Indus river belt.

Reasoning behind the battle

As the war began on the eastern front Pakistan decided to open up the western sector to divert Indian troops away and prolong the war. However Indian troops chose to attack right at the most offensive part of the Punjab sector in Shakargarh sector. This was despite taking into account that a main base of the Pakistan Army was at Sialkot, just a couple of hundred miles from the thick of the battle.

Awards

• Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military honour was awarded to Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, 17th Poona Horse
• Param Vir Chakra for Major Hoshiar Singh, 3rd Battalion, Bombay Grenadiers
• It was probably the first time in the history of wars, that an enemy recommended a soldier for an award. Colonel Mohammed Akram Raja was awarded Hilal-e-Jurat by the Pakistan Government on the basis of a citation written by Lieutenant Colonel, Ved Airy, who was Commanding Officer, 3Grenediars, Indian Army

References

• Major General Ian Cordozo's book: "Param Vir Chakra Winners"