Past midnight on 5/6 September, without a formal declaration of war, Indian Army crossed the international border and attacked Lahore and Kasur fronts. The attack was halted in its tracks, inflicting heavy casualties on the aggressor by Pakistan Army and PAF. On 7 September a single PAF pilot, Squadron Leader M. M. Alam, SJ, in his F-86 Sabre shot down five IAF attacking Hunter aircraft in a single sortie, an unbeaten world record! On night 6 / 7 September three teams of our Special Services Group (SSG) were para-dropped on IAF bases at Pathankot, Adampur and Halwara to neutralise them.

To relieve pressure on Lahore front, on night 7/8 September, after crossing two major water obstacles in a bold thrust, Pakistani armoured and mechanised formations supported by artillery and PAF overran area Khem Karn, 6 to 8 miles inside Indian territory. Vital Indian positions at Sulemanki and across Rajasthan and Sindh were also turned in bold, swift attacks.

On night 7/8 September, 1 Corps of Indian Army launched their main effort east of Sialkot with one armoured and three infantry divisions on our extended 15 Division front, screened only by gallant 3 FF and B Company 13 FF (Reconnaissance & Support) (See map 4 ot home page). 24 Infantry Brigade (Brig A.A. Malik, HJ) on the move in area Pasrur, rushed 25 Cavalry (Lt Col Nisar Ahmad, SJ) on 8 September to delay and disrupt enemy thrusts. As soon as the presence of Indian 1 Armoured Division was confirmed, understrength 6 Armoured Division (GOC, Maj Gen Abrar Husain, HJ), held as GHQ reserve, was rushed forward to stop the onslaught on a 30-mile front. The biggest tank battle since World War II was fought on the Chawinda front by 6 Armoured Division with under command 24 Infantry Brigade Group and valiantly supported by 4 Corps Artillery (Brig A.A.K. Choudhry, HJ). The main effort of the Indian Army was blunted, inflicting heavy tank and troop casualties. PAF support helped turn the tide of the battle. Before a counter offensive by 6 Armoured Division on 22 September could be launched, India asked for ceasefire in the UN. India's aggression against our international borders without a formal declaration of war had cost it, apart from heavy personnel, material and economic losses, 1617 sq miles of territory as compared to 446 sq miles of our open and undefended territory. Pakistan Army captured 20 officers, 19 JC0s, and 569 OR.