# Battle of Kasur (1965)

The Battle of Kasur was one of the largest battles of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. It took place on 6–7 September in the Pakistani city of Kasur, as part of India's multi-pronged advance towards Lahore, the second largest city of Pakistan and provincial capital of Punjab. Main fighting lasted for over a day, ending with the Indian retreat on 7 September, though minor raids and skirmishes continued till the ceasefire on 23 September.

## Background

Kasur is a Pakistani city located 6 kilometers from the border with India, and 49 kilometers (37 miles) south-east of Lahore. In 1965, it had a population of over 100,000, making Kasur the only major city directly involved in a battle during the war.
The Indian plan was to attack and capture Kasur and advance to Lahore from there. This advance took place parallel to the Indian thrusts from Burki and Wagah.

## Strength
### Pakistani defenses

Pakistan's 11th Infantry Division, with 15 Lancers (45 tanks) and 32nd TDU Squadron (15 tanks), was responsible for the defense of the Kasur sector. 52 Brigade and 106 Brigade were positioned along the BRB canal, while 21 Brigade was located at Luliani (north-west of Kasur, along the Lahore-Kasur road) and was 11 Division's reserve for the counter-attack.
The Bambawali-Ravi-Bedian (BRB) Canal was Pakistan's main defensive line along this front. It was approximately five metres deep and 45 metres wide and was a “complete water obstacle”, formidable in terms of the South Asian subcontinent where attack across water obstacles was regarded as a risky and difficult operation.
The western banks of the canal were higher than the eastern banks, designed specifically to give the Pakistani defenders a good firing view and to make crossing difficult for the attacking Indians.

### Indian attack

India's 4th Mountain Division, consisting of 7 and 62 Mountain Brigades, and supported by Deccan Horse and the 2nd Independent Armored Brigade, were tasked with capturing Kasur. The 7 Mountain Brigade attacked Kasur from the north while the 62 Mountain Brigade attacked from the south. Both attacks were supported by the Deccan Horse, while the independent armored brigade was held in reserve. In total, India's attacking strength in the Kasur sector was close to 17 battalions.

## Battle

In the early morning hours of September 6, Indian forces crossed the border and advanced to within 2 miles of Kasur. At around 0500 hours, Pakistani 11 Division units hurried up to occupy their defensive positions along the BRB canal just as the Indian offensive was gaining momentum. The battle began with a seven hour long artillery bombardment and numerous airstrikes, after which India launched their main assault on the city. The battle witnessed some of the heaviest fighting in the war, which continued throughout the day.
The 7 Mountain Brigade, advancing from the north, attacked the outskirt village of Ballanwala and the bridges to its north, but failed to capture them. To the south, the 62 Mountain Brigade saw initial success, and captured its designated targets of Sehjra salient and Rohi Nullah bund, both along the BRB Canal. However, an effective Pakistani counterattack managed to recover these positions and throw the Indians back.
By the end of 6 September, India's 7 Grenadiers (from 7 Mountain Brigade) and 13 Dogra (62 Mountain Brigade) had suffered such heavy casualties that they ceased to exist as effective units altogether. These losses forced the 4th Mountain Division to abandon the main attack on Kasur and retreat back to the border on 7 September. According to Pakistani accounts, the withdrawal of the 4th Mountain Division was 'a debacle', and a large cache of ammunition and weapons was left behind which was seized by Pakistan.
Small Indian raids and airstrikes on Kasur continued till the ceasefire, though the city remained firmly in Pakistani hands.

## Aftermath & Casualties

The Battle of Kasur saw some of the heaviest fighting in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. According to Pakistani sources, Indian casualties were nearly 1100 including killed, wounded, captured or missing. At least 2 Indian battalions (7 Grenadiers and 13 Dogra) ceased to exist as functional units following the battle. India also lost 30 tanks in the battle, while Pakistani losses were 12-17 tanks and an unknown number of infantry.
On September 7–8, Pakistan's 1st Armored Division launched a large counterattack and captured Khem Karan, a prominent Indian trading town located 5 kilometers from the Pakistani border. Further Pakistani advance was checked at the Battle of Asal Uttar.

## Civilian casualties

Indian artillery and aerial bombing inflicted heavy casualties on the civilian population of Kasur. On September 7, Indian air raids caused a mosque to collapse on its worshippers, and a US Protestant mission school was badly damaged. In the ensuing chaos, many people were trampled by stampeding buffalos. On September 14, an Indian Canberra bomber blew up a two-block area and a factory complex with thousand-pound bombs. The city was hit almost daily by Indian jets firing 20-mm shells. In total, an estimated 1200 civilians were killed, and tens of thousands fled to the Punjabi countryside.