Battle of Burki

The Battle of Burki (also known as the Battle of Lahore) was a battle between the Indian and Pakistan Army during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 at Burki, a village that lies 11km south-east of Lahore, Pakistan near the border with India and which is connected to Lahore by a bridge over the Bambawali-Ravi-Bedian Canal (BRB Canal).  

During the battle Indian Army's efforts to capture the Burki village, the outnumbered military companies under Major Bhatti had forced the Indian Army to engage in hand-to-hand combat during the night of the 7/8 September 1965, and the fighting continued for the next three days despite Indian Army having numerical advantage. Although the defense of the Burki sector through the BRB Canal had less importance in the views of military strategists working at the Army GHQ in Rawalpindi, its defense was fierce and tenacious, and the Indian Army had to halt its plans of capturing Lahore and focused on capturing the Burki sector and destroying the bridge connecting the BRB Canal.

Background 
On 6 september 1965 Indian launched a 3 prolonged attack on Lahore from 3 different axes, Indian 7th Division was attacking from Khalra and Atari axes. Indian army first encountered with Pakistani forces at Hudiara defended by the only 90 troops of 17th Punjab regiment. A fierce battle took place at Hudiara in which Indian suffered from 400 casualties and about 8 tanks destroyed. After this delaying battle Pakistani blow up the bridge at Hudiara Drain and withdraw to Barki. This cause a serious delay in Indian offensive.  

Battle 
On 7 September at 1100 hours Indian Artillery shelled at Barki. Barki was defended by the Alpha Company 17 Punjab commanded by Raja Aziz Bhatti.  The Major aziz and his Artillery observer had set up their post in the tallest house in the village. This became a target for Indian artillery and aircraft. A portion of the house was hit, but the two officers escaped injury. By 1500 hours Indian tanks engaged Barki with direct fire. Two hours later Alpha Company 17 Punjab was reinforced with a platoon of 12 Punjab and the Indian attack repulsed. 

From 8 to 9 September Indian made multiple attempts to capture Barki but all their attacks were repulsed. 

On 10 September Indian launched a brigade level attack on Barki 4 Sikh Battalion launched a direct attack on Barki, but Major Aziz Bhatti effectively halted their advance and subjected them to intense shelling.

The shelling was so intense that Indian Major general Harbaskhsh Singh write: 
In addition, the Pakistanis rained over our men a staggering weight of artillery fire. some 2500 shells were fired within a space of 45 minutes.

When the Indian 16 Punjab Battalion supported by tanks attempted to encircle the Pakistani position, Major Bhatti responded swiftly by ordering his troops to cross the BRB Canal. And barki fall in Indian hands.

Aftermath 
On morning 12th September three Indian tanks started shooting up Bhatti's position from across the canal. The Aziz indicated the target to Capt Anwar(artillery commander). Two of the Indian tanks were hit. At the same time a tank shell tore through Maj Aziz Bhatti.


Although Indian army succeed in capturing Barki but their attack halted, bridage at BRB Canal blow up by Pakistanis. The war in that axes reached at stalemate.

Awards
Battle Honour of Barki and Theatre honour of Punjab 1965 was conferred on the following Indian units:
 The Central India Horse (CIH)
16th Punjab
4th Sikh
9th Madras
5th Guards

The Pakistani commander, Major Raja Aziz Bhatti was later posthumously awarded the Nishan-e-Haider, the highest military decoration given by Pakistan.

 References 

Category:Indo-Pakistani war of 1965