The Battle of Chawinda

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The Battle of Chawinda in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 was one of the largest tank battles since the Battle of Kursk in World War II. September 6, 1965 India attacked on Pakistan at Sialkot border with 80,000-150,000 infantry holding 708 tanks in an intention of seizing the Grand Trunk Road at Wazirabad. Pakistan defended with 30,000-80,000 infantry holding 600 tanks.

Pakistani forces repulsed Indian attacks on Chawinda. A large Indian assault on 18 September involving India's 1st Armoured and 6th Mountain Divisions was repelled, with the 1st Armoured Division being mauled and being taken out of action, while the 6th Indian mountain division lay disintegrated in front of the Pakistani defences. The Indians withdrew to a defensive position near their original bridgehead. The Pakistanis followed up by launching Operation Windup, which forced the Indians back across the international border for some part, though the coming of the ceasefire meant that the Indians still managed to retain substantial territory.

The Indian Army failed to achieve any of its stated objectives. Their main objective was to capture Sialkot and thus cut the main Grand Trunk Road, splitting Pakistan in two. In the process, they had seen their most powerful formations performing, but even with strategic surprise and a superiority in men and material, the Indian Army had been halted and pushed back for some part.