NOVANEWS
By Sajjad Shaukat
Besides Pakistan Army and Air Force, Pakistan Navy also played a key role in defeating India in
the 1965 war due to its excellent performance. Hence, by celebrating golden jubilee celebrations
of that war, on 8th September, the whole nation pays tribute to martyrs and Ghazi’s of Navy.
In the war of 1965, the Operation Dawarka marked the first use of the Pakistan Navy in that war.
The naval attack was launched by Pakistan on September 7, 1965 on western Indian shores. The
town of Dwarka was chosen to be a target of the attack due to its historical relevance for
Pakistan. In this context, Ghazi, the only submarine in the conflict arena was deployed to attack
heavy ships of the Indian Navy, and the ships, aiding Operation Dwarka.
For the purpose, a flotilla of the Pakistan Navy under the command of Commodore S.M. Anwar,
carried out a bombardment of the Indian Navy’s radar station coastal down of Dwarka, which
was 300 km., south of the Pakistani port of Karachi. In this regard, Operation Dwarka was a
significant naval operation.
When the Indo-Pak war broke out on 6 September 1965, the Ghazi was assigned to keep a vigil
off the Bombay harbor which at that time was packed tight with Indian warships including the
aircraft carrier Vikrant. The Ghazi was told not to tinker with smaller vessels, but focus on the
heavier units. So effective was its blockade that no Indian warships dared run the gauntlet. It was
the bottling-up of the Indian fleet by the Ghazi which enabled the Pakistan flotilla to move in and
blast the Indian naval fortress of Dwarka. The Pakistani operation was successful and its
warships harboured in Bombay, making the Indian Navy unable to sortie. Throughout the war
Indian Navy’s aircraft-carrier was besieged in Bombay.
The Ghazi’s audacious performance won it 10 awards including two decorations of Sitara-i-Jurat
and the President’s citations said, “The Commander Karamat Rahman Niazi operated the
submarine in the enemy territorial waters from 6th September to 23rd September 1965 with
courage and strong determination. His personal example of valour, sound judgment and
aggressiveness inspired his officers and men to maintain a high degree of operational efficiency
of the submarine in the face of the enemy”. The second-in-command Lieutenant Commander
Ahmed Tasnim and Lieutenant Zafar Muhammad Khan won Sitara-e-Jurat.
The attack on Dwarka caused the Indian Navy led to questions, being asked in India’s parliament
and subsequent post-war modernization and expansion, with an increase in budget from Rs. 35
However, Pakistan’s first submarine, the Ghazi, blazed a trail of raw courage and professional
skill and national dedication which has inspired and guided the young naval arms and motivating
the marines ever since. It established the tradition of aggressive patrolling across the strategic
expanse of North Arabian Sea.
In this respect, an account of the Pakistan Navy’s performance is offered by India’s Vice
Admiral Mihir Roy, a former Commander of the Vikrant and Commander-in-Chief of India’s
Eastern Naval Command, in his 1995 book, “War in the Indian Ocean”. He writes, “But the
Bombayites failed to understand the lack of success by the Indian fleet especially with sirens
wailing, Jamnagar attacked and Dwarka shelled with the Indian fleet still preparing to sail was an
affront to the sailors in white who could not understand what was holding the fleet back”.
Now, Pakistan Navy is in accordance with the modern trends of the naval warfare. In this
context, a three-day joint seminar of Pakistani and Turkish navies was inaugurated at the Bahria
Auditorium in November 2002. Commander Pakistan Fleet Real Admiral M.A. Tahir who was
the chief guest, termed the seminar a viable platform not only to discuss modern naval warfare
techniques, but also to provide an opportunity to the naval officers to improve upon their
procedures and concepts in order to keep pace with the ongoing changes in the naval tactics and
doctrines—for better conduct of naval operations in periods of peace and tension.
The basic aim of Pakistan Navy is to defend the territorial waters of the country, for which all
sectors of the service are playing the role in a befitting and professional manner. In this
connection, at the passing-out parade of a batch of Pak Marines at the Marines Training Centre,
PNS Qasim, the Chairman, Port Qasim Authority, Karachi, Rear Admiral Sikendar Waqar Naqvi
has stated in the recent past, “PNS Qasim played a vital role in training the Navy personnel to the
optimum level of professionalism—these well-groomed and proficient mariners not only can
defend the coastal areas, but will also play an important role in the inland protection”.
He elaborated, “In the present scenario of modern warfare tactics, any laxity and negligence
would not be spared by the enemy. Complete self-confidence, highest degree of professionalism
and total commitment to the task are the only tools to have an edge over the enemy”.
Nevertheless, Pakistan Navy is focusing on improving their professional skills and concepts
according to the latest trends, and is equipped with modern submarines, war ships etc.
Notably, on this very occasion, one is reminded by the soul-stirring memories of the 1965 war
against India, when naval officers and sailors instilled with the highest spirit of patriotism.
Pakistan Navy’s courageous expeditions in defeating Indian Navy in that war and national
commitment of defending the sea-frontiers of Pakistan by its heroes the naval personnel remains
alive today. Drawing inspiration from the unparallel conducts of the 1965’s war, Pakistan Navy
is fully prepared to meet any challenge of the enemy.
Nonetheless, the role of Pakistan Navy in the Indo-Pak war of 1965 is highly appreciable. While,
securing Pakistan’s coasts, it played a vital role in defeating India in the 1965 war. Therefore,
this 8th September is a special day due to the golden jubilee-ceremony of Pakistan Navy’s
