Battle of Longewala

The Battle of Longewala was one of the most significant engagements of the western front during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. It took place at the Longewala border post in the Jaisalmer sector of Rajasthan, where a small Indian Army force of 23 Punjab faced a major Pakistani armoured and infantry thrust advancing into Indian territory. During the night of 4–5 December 1971, Pakistani forces from 18 Infantry Division advanced towards Longewala with armour and infantry, with the broader objective of pushing towards Ramgarh and ultimately threatening Jaisalmer. The Indian position at Longewala was held by A Company, 23 Punjab, commanded by Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri, supported by a small number of Border Security Force personnel and limited anti-tank and artillery resources. Major Chandpuri and his men held their defensive position despite being heavily outnumbered. The Indian troops used the elevated defensive position, anti-tank weapons, artillery support and the difficult desert terrain to slow and disrupt the Pakistani advance through the night. At first light on 5 December, Indian Air Force Hunter aircraft from Jaisalmer began repeated close-air-support missions against the Pakistani armoured column. With the Pakistani tanks exposed in the open desert and lacking effective air cover, the IAF repeatedly attacked the armour and supporting vehicles. The combined resistance of 23 Punjab, artillery and the Indian Air Force halted the Pakistani advance. By the end of 5 December, large numbers of Pakistani tanks and vehicles had been destroyed or damaged. Indian air attacks continued into 6 December, after which the Pakistani force withdrew towards the border. The battle prevented the Pakistani thrust from reaching Ramgarh and Jaisalmer and became a major Indian defensive victory of the 1971 war. The performance of the defenders and the IAF at Longewala subsequently became one of the best-known examples of coordinated ground defence and close air support in the war.