On 18th September the fight was at its peak, enemies get an idea that they cannot move ahead; now they are only fighting to show their faces ahead. All the day, fight continues without any break; with the horrifying and dreadful clatter of guns, blast of tankers and with the noise of warrior aircraft in the air.
Respected Hakeem Sahab, Aasalam-O-Alikum! My father (late) was an employ in army. He was found of telling us about the combatant stories of 1965 war; one of the occurrence I am telling to the readers of Ubqari.
The huge fight of Chonda has started on 17th September, and it was continued till 21st September, however since 10th September on both side number of tankers was started increasing. During war, sometime the condition comes worse in the Sialkot railway side and someday the area of jalsar sector will be under attack. Enemies want to concur the Sialkot bypass and wanted to reach Wazir-Abad. In those times, tankers fight will not endure during night because tankers don’t have night vision device. So that at sun-set time; tankers from both sides will get order to go back. Tankers will go back and stop in their area at the distance of two, two kilometers. Then the work of reparation, ammunition, and petrol will continue all the night so that next day in morning after preparation the tankers will have to go in front-line. However, Infantry and tankers-store keep on their work at night. On 18th September the fight was at its peak, enemies get an idea that they cannot move ahead; now they are only fighting to show their faces ahead. All the day, fight/war continues without any break; with the horrifying and dreadful clatter of guns, blast of tankers and with the noise of warrior aircraft in the air. Smoke and dust was too much that sometime tankers are captivating their target at very stumpy distance and sometime at fewer than the detachment of hundred meters. An eye-witnessed soldier said that sometime the enemies can be seen very closely, both don’t have chance to fire each other, tanker collides with the other tanker and both get damaged, on spot, four – four combatants came out of the tankers and fought face to face; by the blessing of Allah, Mostly Pakistan wins in such happenings. At the time of sun set, tankers of both sides get the orders to come back. Our one tanker which was very near to the tankers of enemies cannot catch the commands of going back because of demolished wireless system. Three soldiers and sobedaar sahib who were inside the tank couldn’t make any presumption of direction due to dust and Evening darkness and by seeing the direction of other tankers they start moving with them towards India. They move ahead for three to four kilometers and stayed with the crowd of tankers under the trees. Yet Sobedaar sahib and companions were not aware of it, that in which danger they are surrounded. Two of the companions went out to take food towards the kitchen and came back very quickly in tensed situation without bringing food, they told that there is a mark of Pona Horse (Regimental badge) on the uniform of Indian soldiers and the tankers around us are not ours. They have seen all this in the light of kitchen. Anyhow sobedaar sahib has prayed to ALLAH and encouraged his companions and again sends two men to bring some food. This time they have put off their shirts and cover their faces with towel. There was line of Indian soldiers for food in kitchen and they are quickly distributing the food. On their turn, both soldiers put ahead their plates while wiping off the sweat from their faces and came back to the tank safely bringing food. Now four of them start thinking to escape safely from there. They know it that in a while petrol-fillers will come here than one group tank will come to ask about repair work. Besides one group will come to give ammunition for tank, considering all these circumstances they were becoming restless. It was not even possible to start the tank and run away but, they had to go away before the sun rise, all of them turn by turn were praying to Allah SWT, finally Subedar Sahib said to these three soldiers that we will never surrender and will try best to get away. This was also decided that whoever comes, conversation should be kept short like: Ok “Do it” No requirement etc. etc. After a while, a vehicle of Indian army with fuel came and we got the petrol filled in the tank. Then field service (repair staff) of Indian army people came and were told that there is no need, people came to give ammunition, but we did not take it as the bore size of the gun of our tank was different. However, we still had 5 rounds left with us. Before early morning at the time of Sehri when it was still dark, we got an idea from the movement of Indian soldiers and their preparation that, after some time the unit will be ordered to march. But Subedar Sahib started his tank before while reciting Bismillah, and started moving it to and forth (like one shows for testing). He took it about 100 meters away from the concentration of Indian army. Suddenly he turned his big gun in the direction of Indian tanks and fired all the five rounds on enemy and started running towards the front line which was 3-4 kilometers away. For some time enemy did not understand what is going on but then they tried to stop the tank with the help of artillery. Anyway, after reaching close to the front line, there was one more dangerous stage to cross, how would the Pakistani soldiers know that the tank coming from Indian side is one of their own? Now, there was some light, white clothes were tied on the barrel of the tank and the gun was turned towards the side so that anyone looking at it could know that the intention is not aggressive. The soldiers of Pakistan had the tank on their gunpoint and were looking towards it double mindedly that why the enemy is coming to surrender. Gradually the tank reached our bunkers, from all sides the four soldiers shouting Nara-e-Takbeer (Allah is great) came out and hugged all the soldiers around them. Allah SWT’s help was there, due to which they spend the night in the dangerous situation and still destroyed 5 Indian tanks and came themselves back also with success.
