Page 10 - Seniors Today - Vol1 Issue 3
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way for the Indian forces to begin operations. in the Valley were concentrated in clearing
The famous battle of Shalteng on the outskirts of the invaders in the Uri / Baramulla / Poonch
Srinagar is considered to be one of the defining sectors.
factors in the history of Kashmir. It was by the Clearly the British sided with Pakistan, and till
end of December ’47 that the Indian forces were today people wonder about the actual motive
able to push back the raiders beyond Uri. There behind this treacherous move. It must be noted
is controversy as to what led to the Indian army that one of the two most important caravan
to withhold operations as they had the invaders routes to Kashgarh and beyond to China went
running. Had the offensive continued there was through Gilgit. The British Major Brown (Gilgit
little doubt that the Indian Army could have Scouts) simply asked the British political regent
taken back Domel and Muzzaffarabad. and to send a Pakistani authority to take over as
further even Mirpur. This mystery was neither there was little or no resistance. By end of
unravelled nor debated in an open forum, ever. November 1947, Pakistan had complete control
It is well known that PM Nehru diverted efforts over the region, sweeping the local liberation
to the Poonch area with instructions to hold front aside. The bigger game plan was to find
onto that area at any cost. inroads to Skardu and onwards to Leh (Ladakh).
The winters of 1947–48 were significant, as The capture of Gilgit by the scattered force,
the defences of the Valley was bolstered and comprising of Gilgit Scouts, Chitral Scouts,
now they were a lot more prepared. In fact in the Muslims of the state forces, some locals led
May 1948 an offensive was launched to capture by Pakistani army regulars and their British
Domel; unfortunately, the Pakistanis were also commanders, raised the morale which led them
shoring up their defences and this resulted in to move forward to newer areas.
pitched battles but little else. Except for some Skardu, another very strategic area, was
minor gains, there was a stalemate. The Indian central to the other route going to Ladakh along
forces were numerically smaller than the the Indus and it too was put in a stranglehold
determined Pakistanis with a much larger force. due to the ineffective defence put up by the
This emboldened the Pakistanis to choose and ragtag state forces. The “Siege of Skardu” as it
select some strategic targets and the result was is now known had begun and went for several
that India ceded large swathes of territory in months. The gallant state forces fought hard but
the Jammu area as well as the areas west of Uri. ultimately, with no reinforcements forthcoming,
Unfortunately, the Pakistanis shifted focus to it was a dire situation. Only a full chapter on
the North comprising of Gilgit, Kargil, Skardu this battle would do justice to the bravery under
and Ladakh. sustained attacks.
The strategic areas of Gilgit, Skardu and Gurez, another very important gateway to the
Kargil were now targeted by the Pakistanis, Valley and an approach route to Gilgit on the
who decided that it would put pressure on the other side, saw a Pakistan-led force looking
Indian forces by opening up the Northern front to make inroads. However, the Indian Army
apart from the already active Western front (Uri saw this and, in a concerted offensive effort,
& Poonch). With the termination of the Gilgit established control on this strategic area. In
lease in July 1947 the area which was back with June ’48 this area was brought back into Indian
the Jammu & Kashmir state forces was hardly control. Gurez is one of the most beautiful parts
in any shape to effectively protect these areas. in Kashmir. Thus this route got blocked for a
The British officers holding command at Gilgit Pakistani advance.
specifically were in favour of handing over this
very important area to Pakistan, and as such
the Maharaja simply handed it over to them as
the state forces were no match for the invaders.
The Indian forces which by then had arrived
10
Jawans marching to the Uri front - June 1948
