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Preface
Having served as part of the rank and file of the prestigious Pakistan Army, it gives me great elation and satisfaction to see it evolving with the challenges of 21st century. The sacrifices being rendered by the ranks to safeguard the geographical frontiers is beyond doubt - a debt to our future generations.
Being a student of military history, I am confident that this institution would have taken steps to achieve the marvels of heroic deeds of our men for the future learning by the coming generations and also to immortalize the acts of these valiant sons of the soil. As a well-known conclusion or even a fact by now, the nature of conflict of Sub Conventional War (SCW) requires an unconventional approach by the planners for application of military force. This in my view has been aptly exhibited by our leadership all various level. Hence, Alhamdulillah success story of our Army emerged from the adversity in the near neighborhood as against the failed efforts by mightiest of the militaries.
Having been commissioned during the 1965 war in 17 Punjab Haidri and later commanded it in Parachinar/Jhelum, I always wondered about the Chunj operation fought by the Paitan in a very unconventional manner, I thought it important to study it and bring out these aspects for the benefit of coming generations. In the same context, I intend drawing pertinent linkage of such an unconventional approach and the scope of success that can be achieved through brilliance of leadership at the unit and sub unit level. Hence, I have endeavored to take the case study of Char Solah's action as part of 1948 Kashmir War to draw certain inferences that such facets bring to the field force multipliers. Audacity and ingenuity at battalion level in my view remains a key to success in any type of conflict. With the general information available to me through the operational account of various sub-unit or unit actions in FATA Region since 2003, also seem to satisfy this notion.
With same aspect in mind I am presenting outstanding aspects of leadership coupled with audacity, team work and regimental spirit that led to unprecedented success of Chunj Operations in 1948. My endeavor is to bring out these facets and amplify...