Every year, the month of September brings us three important days to remember: September 6 as the Defence & Martyrs Day, September 7 as the Pakistan Air Force Day, and September 8 as the Pakistan Navy Day. These three days take us back to the strategically significant 1965 War, when the brave Pakistani nation and its Armed Forces together defended the motherland with unprecedented national spirit as well as utmost courage. Together, in fact more specifically for the first time after the Independence, the nation and its Armed Forces noticeably established, not only to the arch enemy India but also to the world at large, that any evil eye on Pakistan, any nefarious design against Pakistan, and any idea of threatening or challenging the security, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan is, and shall ever be a futile and frustrated move.
That’s why the story of September is much bigger than battles and aircraft, tanks and torpedoes. For, it is the story of not only the ordinary Pakistanis who stood shoulder to shoulder with their fearless soldiers, but also of the valiant soldiers of Pakistan Army, the courageous sailors of Pakistan Navy and the daring pilots of Pakistan Air Force, who joined hands together to give a befitting blow to Indian forces on all fronts of war, which they started in wee hours of September 6 aiming to capture Lahore and Sialkot. It is in fact the story of every patriotic Pakistani, men and women, the old and the young, the rich and the poor, specially the stage and film artists, singers and vocalists who gave the nation a forceful voice against the aggressor.
When India launched offensive against Pakistan at Lahore, Sialkot and other sectors, on the night of September 6, 1965, Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force, and Pakistan Navy responded across land, sea and air. Their befitting and coordinated response, courage, and determination thwarted the nefarious designs of the enemy. Equally important was the support of the nation that stood shoulder to shoulder with its Armed Forces.
On land, Pakistan Army bore the responsibility of defending the territorial boundaries. The most serious threat came toward Lahore, where Indian forces launched an offensive. Our troops resisted their advance in areas such as Burki and Bedian along the BRB Canal. Despite the element of surprise and the intensity of the attack, our soldiers blocked the enemy from achieving its objective of capturing Lahore. Another major engagement took place in the Sialkot sector, particularly at Chawinda. The Battle of Chawinda became one of the largest tank battles since the World War II. Pakistan’s armored and infantry units fought fiercely against the Indian forces and blunted their offensive. This eventually led to the retreat by India’s 1st Armored Division from the area. On other fronts in Punjab and Kashmir, our army continued to defend its positions through intense fighting until the ceasefire.
Pakistan Air Force played a crucial role in protecting our skies, and supporting the army on the ground. Soon after the attack, the PAF launched counter-airstrikes against Indian airfields, including Pathankot. These attacks disrupted enemy strikes, and demonstrated the ability to respond quickly to aerial threats. At sea, Pakistan Navy defended the country’s maritime interests and helped protect the approaches to Karachi. One of its best-known operations was Operation Dwarka, conducted during the night of September 7-8, 1965.
Pakistan’s Armed Forces were not alone during this national crisis. The nation stood firmly behind its soldiers, airmen, and sailors. Everyone contributed through prayers, voluntary assistance, blood donations, and support for the sons of soil. People from different walks of life displayed a strong sense of national unity. Radio broadcasts and patriotic songs strengthened public morale, while families accepted the sacrifices made by their loved ones serving at the front. The war therefore became not only a military campaign, but also an expression of national solidarity.
Artists, Singers, and Intelligentsia
In this war singers, poets, writers, actors, journalists, academics, students and ordinary citizens played an important role. While the forces defended Pakistan with weapons, the people contributed through the power of words, music, information, culture and collective solidarity. Madam Noor Jehan became the iconic voice of the war. She recorded patriotic songs that were broadcast repeatedly by Radio Pakistan and heard by soldiers and civilians alike. Songs such as “Ae Watan Ke Sajiley Jawano,” “Ae Puttar Hattan Te Nahi Wikde” and “Ae Rah-e-Haq Ke Shaheedo” transformed music into a source of courage and national solidarity. Other prominent singers, including Mehdi Hassan, Saleem Raza and Alam Lohar, also contributed patriotic performances.
Poets, lyricists and writers created poems and songs that gave emotional meaning to the national experience. Writers such as Jameeluddin Aali, Masroor Anwar, Ehsan Danish, Soofi Tabassum and Himayat Ali Shaer, among many others, produced poetry and lyrics celebrating courage, sacrifice and love of country. Radio Pakistan provided an important platform through which these works reached millions of listeners. Actors, playwrights and other performing artists used their talents for the cause. Radio dramas and special programs were produced to maintain public morale and give people a sense that the entire country was participating in the war.
The role of journalists and broadcasters was equally significant. At a time when television was still in its infancy, Radio Pakistan was the principal medium reaching the population. Its news bulletins, particularly those delivered by the celebrated newsreader Shakeel Ahmad, kept citizens informed and helped sustain confidence during the crisis. Universities and students demonstrated solidarity; students organized patriotic activities, while some volunteers even offered their services for the national defence effort. It was a moment when the general public transformed patriotism into practical solidarity. Citizens supported soldiers, volunteered for various services, and participated in civil-defence.
In Lahore, Sialkot, Chawinda and other areas close to the front, ordinary men and women showed remarkable courage, discipline and willingness to physically fight shoulder to should with our troops. In Lahore, people responded immediately to the emergency. Shopkeepers and businessmen donated food, clothing, medicines and other useful articles, which were collected at army centers and sent towards the front. People prepared cooked meals, including pulao and biryani, for soldiers fighting in forward areas. Students and young people stood along roads through which military convoys passed, offering soldiers food, water and refreshments. Many volunteers also helped dig trenches and joined civil-defence organizations. Our women made an especially valuable contribution. Women’s organizations, including the Girl Guides and the All Pakistan Women’s Association, organized blood-donation camps, collected funds and provided nursing assistance to the medical services. Volunteers also helped care for wounded soldiers and civilians.
The people of Sialkot and Chawinda faced an even more direct danger because their homes were close to the battlefield. Despite Indian shelling, they maintained remarkable calm and continued essential civilian activities. A citizen volunteer force assisted the local administration in providing relief to victims, regulating traffic and maintaining public safety. Hundreds of local mechanics reportedly came forward to repair army vehicles without payment, while civilians also helped remove casualties from the battlefield. In villages around Sialkot and Chawinda, people assisted the Armed Forces and sheltered families displaced from border areas. The contribution of the citizens was so significant that the people of Sialkot were later awarded the Hilal-i-Istaqlal in recognition of their courage and steadfastness during the war.
Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Nishan-i-Haider
The 1965 War produced many examples of courage and sacrifice. The name of Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed stands out as one of the most inspiring. He played a historic role in the defence of Lahore. As a company commander in the Burki sector, he was responsible for defending an important position along the BRB Canal. After the Indian offensive began on September 6, he moved forward with his troops and remained with them despite continuous Indian artillery and tank fire. For five days and nights, he personally supervised and organized the defence, refusing to abandon his men or his position. He repeatedly exposed himself to danger in order to observe Indian movements. His leadership helped prevent the Indian advance from achieving its objective in that sector and gave our forces valuable time to strengthen their positions. While directing the battle and observing the enemy, he was struck by an Indian tank shell and embraced shahadat. For his extraordinary courage and devotion to duty, he was awarded the Nishan-i-Haider.
Pakistan Air Force
The PAF played a decisive role in defending Pakistan’s aerial frontiers during the 1965 War. Its pilots demonstrated exceptional courage, professional skill, determination and leadership. Its rapid response to the Indian offensive helped prevent the enemy from gaining control of our skies and provided essential support to our forces fighting on the ground. One of the most celebrated pilots of the war was Squadron Leader M M Alam. On September 6, he shot down two Indian Hunter aircraft and damaged three others. On September 7, during further interceptions over Sargodha, he destroyed five Hunter aircraft in less than a minute — a remarkable feat that became one of the most famous episodes in the history of the PAF. He was subsequently awarded Sitara-i-Jurat for his courage and exceptional flying skill.
Squadron Leader Sarfaraz Ahmed Rafiqui demonstrated another kind of heroism. On September 6, he led a formation of F-86 Sabres against Halwara airfield. During the return flight, his guns jammed after he had already shot down an Indian Hunter. Rather than abandon his formation, he remained in the battle and maneuvered his unarmed aircraft to protect his fellow pilots. His aircraft was eventually shot down and he embraced martyrdom. His selfless conduct earned him the Hilal-i-Jurat.
Squadron Leader Sajjad Haider also distinguished himself through exceptional leadership and flying ability. His formation took part in the attack on Pathankot airfield on September 6, where our pilots inflicted significant losses on Indian aircraft. The operation demonstrated the PAF’s ability to carry the fight deep into enemy territory while operating under intense anti-aircraft fire.
Other pilots, including Flight Lieutenant Saif-ul-Azam, Flight Lieutenant Amjad Hussain Khan, Flight Lieutenant Cecil Chaudhry, and Flight Lieutenant Imtiaz Ahmed Bhatti, displayed remarkable courage in air-to-air combat and ground-attack missions. Saif-ul-Azam, for example, flew numerous ground-support missions over the Sialkot, Wagah and Kasur sectors and continued attacking enemy armor despite difficult conditions.
The pilots’ contribution extended beyond individual aerial victories. PAF fighters provided close air support to Pakistani troops, attacked enemy armored formations and military positions, defended Pakistani airbases, and conducted strikes against Indian airfields. The PAF Museum records that its F-86 force played an important role in checking Indian Army formations advancing toward Kashmir, Sialkot, Lahore and Kasur.
Pakistan Navy Officers and Sailors
Pakistan Navy played an important role in defending the maritime frontiers of Pakistan during the 1965 War. Its officers and sailors demonstrated courage, professional competence, discipline and determination. Within hours of the Indian attack, our naval vessels were prepared for operations and were deployed to protect the coast, especially Karachi. The most celebrated naval action of the war was Operation Dwarka, also known as Operation Somnath, carried out on the night of September 7-8, 1965. A task group of Pakistan Navy warships sailed towards the Indian coastal town of Dwarka and carried out a surprise bombardment. The force included PNS Babur, PNS Khaibar, PNS Badr, PNS Jahangir, PNS Alamgir, PNS Shah Jahan and PNS Tippu Sultan. The operation required careful navigation, coordination, communications and gunnery at night and close to enemy territory. The officers responsible for the operation displayed exceptional leadership. Commodore S. M. Anwar, Commander Pakistan Fleet, directed the task group, while the commanding officers of the individual ships carried out their assigned duties with precision. Their success depended not merely on senior commanders but on the collective professionalism of hundreds of officers and sailors who navigated the ships, operated the guns, maintained communications, handled engines and machinery, and remained alert throughout the mission.
A particularly important part of the naval strategy was the employment of PNS/M Ghazi, Pakistan’s submarine. Under Commander K R Niazi, with officers and crew serving aboard her, Ghazi operated in the vicinity of the Indian naval approaches. Its presence created a significant deterrent and restricted the freedom of movement of major Indian naval units. The sailors and technical personnel deserve special recognition because naval warfare depends upon teamwork. While officers made operational decisions and led formations, sailors, petty officers, signalmen, engineers, electricians, gunners, navigators and other specialists worked continuously to keep ships operational and combat-ready.
They helped in protecting Karachi and our coastline, maintain maritime communications and deter Indian naval operations. Its surface ships and submarine ensured that the Indian Navy could not easily exploit its numerical superiority. The presence of Ghazi contributed to a defensive strategy designed to keep major Indian naval forces cautious and close to their bases. The bravery of the officers and sailors of 1965 remains an important chapter in Pakistan's naval history and is commemorated annually on Navy Day, September 8.
Documentaries and Dramas
The stories of our heroes did not remain on the battlefield. These later found a way into books, documentaries, TV dramas, and long plays. PTV produced programs such as Nishan-i-Haider, in which the lives of recipients of the coveted medal were dramatized to show what really happened on the battlefield. In the first two plays, acclaimed actors Saleem Nasir and Zille Subhan played Captain Raja Mohammad Sarwar Shaheed and Major Tufail Mohammad Shaheed. Non-actors were selected to play Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed and Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed, simply because they could act and they resembled the real-life heroes.
Successful missions like Operation Dwarka were also featured on television, as were tragedies involving PNS Ghazi, which was integral to Pakistan’s victory in 1965. Light-hearted plays like Sunehrey Din and Alpha Bravo Charlie helped new generations learn about the people behind the military uniforms and boosted recruitment in the Armed Forces. Why was it important to dramatize these incidents? It was important because younger minds like yours remember stories better than dates. A child may forget a date from a history book but is less likely to forget the story of a young pilot seizing control of his plane, a soldier apprehending an enemy without using his weapons, or a family waiting for a loved one to return. That is how history comes alive.
From 1965 to Bunyanum Marsoos
Pakistan has faced difficult moments many a time since 1965. Recently, in May 2025, the country again faced a serious confrontation with India. The Armed Forces’ response was Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, and the episode produced a new generation of patriotic songs, videos, and stories. The technology had changed dramatically. In 1965, people gathered around radios, but 60 years later, young Pakistanis watched events unfold on television, YouTube, and social media. Yet one thing remained the same: the desire to tell stories of courage and national resilience. The greatest way to honor the heroes of the past is not simply to remember their names; it is to build Pakistan they sacrificed for.
