Kaser-e-Hind or Qaser-i-Hind is a
citadel
A citadel is the core fortified area of a town or city. It may be a castle, fortress, or fortified center. The term is a diminutive of "city", meaning "little city", because it is a smaller part of the city of which it is the defensive core.
In ...
in the
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
n state of
Punjab
Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising ...
. The fortress was briefly occupied by Pakistani military and was later returned to India after the end of
1971 India-Pakistan War
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military confrontation between India and Pakistan that occurred during the Bangladesh Liberation War in East Pakistan from 3 December 1971 until the
Pakistani capitulation in Dhaka on 16 Decem ...
. 41 Baloch Regiment and 45 Field Regiment Pakistan Artillery were awarded battle honours for their tremendous and bold victory over the citadel.
The battle
On 3 December 1971, a unit of
41st Baloch under the command of Lt. Colonel Habib Ahmed launched an attack to capture the Qaiser-i-Hind fortress and the perimeter in the
Hussainiwala sector.
[ The unit of 41st Baloch was supported by 45 Field Regiment commanded by Lt. Colonel Asif under the control of Major General ]Akhtar Abdur Rahman
Akhtar Abdur Rahman Khan NI(M), HI(M), TI(M), SBt (Urdu: اختر عبد الرحمن; 11 June 1924 – 17 August 1988), was a Pakistani senior army general who served as the 5th Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Pakistan ...
.[ The fierce battle involved usage of heavy artillery and tanks by both sides. After initial resistance faced by Pakistani troops, Gunners of 45 Field Regiment Artillery from Pakistan side wreaked havoc on the citadel through direct shootings by bringing the guns forward. The Indian Air Force was also used to attack the advancing Pakistani troops. However due to resolve of Pakistani forces, by the night of 4 December 1971, the Indian troops eventually withdrew from the area.][ Qaiser-i-Hind citadel and Hussainiwala remained under the control Pakistani troops throughout the war. Following the end of 1971 war, the occupied territory was returned to India.
]
Casualties and losses
67 Pakistanis were killed (including 1 officer) and 120 were wounded in the battle for the fortress,
Gallantry
Many officers and soldiers of 41st Baloch and 45 Field were awarded medals for displaying act of bravery and courage throughout the conflict.[ 41 Baloch regiment and 45 Field Artillery Regiment both earned the title of "Fateh Qasar-e-Hind" for their performance during the capture of Qaiser-i-Hind. Lieutenant Afzal Nawaz from 45 Field Regiment Artillery was posthumously awarded ]Sitara-e-Jurat
Sitara-e-Jurat (, Star of Courage) is the third highest military award of Pakistan. It was established in 1957 after Pakistan became a republic; however, it was instituted retrospectively back to 1947. It is awarded for Courage, gallantry or dist ...
, Pakistan's third-highest gallantry award, for exhibiting exceptional bravery during his role as observer.[Hassan Asghar]
Second-in-Command — Gen Akhtar Abdul Rahman Khan
The News. 17 August 2019.
See also
* Battle of Chumb (1971)
* Battle of Hussainiwala
References
1970s in Punjab, India
Battles of the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971
Tank battles involving India
Tank battles involving Pakistan
Attacks on military installations in the 1970s
Attacks on military installations in India
Attacks on buildings and structures in 1971
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