Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged brief small arms fire on September 20, 2025, along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Nowgam sector of Kupwara district. The firing started around 6:15 pm and continued intermittently for about an hour before ceasing, with no reported injuries on either side.

Army sources emphasised that this incident did not amount to a ceasefire violation, characterizing it as a limited and mutual exchange of fire rather than a full escalation. The Indian Army has not yet issued an official statement on this exchange.

This skirmish comes months after Operation Sindoor, launched by India on May 7, 2025, in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. During Operation Sindoor, India targeted Pakistani terror infrastructure, destroying several airbases and terror launch pads, while incurring minimal damage itself. The four-day conflict concluded quickly with a ceasefire agreement reached on May 10, 2025, brokered with significant involvement by the United States among other international actors.

Since May, there have been occasional tensions and reported ceasefire violation claims, but the Indian Army has consistently denied any unprovoked firing by Pakistan, as evidenced by official clarifications issued for reports in August 2025 regarding ceasefire breaches in the Poonch region.

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh recently stated that Operation Sindoor ended promptly as soon as its anti-terrorism objectives were met, emphasizing that prolonging conflict would impose a disproportionate cost. He explained that the operation achieved its goal of striking terror infrastructure and thus terminating the conflict early was a strategic decision: “Why should we carry on? Because any conflict has a lot of price which has to be paid”.

The brief exchange of fire on September 20 does not signal a major escalation but remains a localized, controlled incident within the ongoing tense but largely stable ceasefire environment established after Operation Sindoor in May 2025.

Based On India Today Report

The Tribune Editorial: Fought during the 1965 war in the Khemkaran sector of Punjab, this clash is remembered as one of the largest tank battles since World War II.

HE opening of Punjab’s first military heritage site at Asal Uttar is a fitting tribute to a decisive moment in India’s history. Fought from September 8 to 10, 1965, in the Khemkaran sector of Punjab, this clash is remembered as one of the largest tank battles since World War II

The small village of Asal Uttar in Punjab, meaning ‘a befitting reply,’ witnessed an unparalleled display of valour by Indian troops against the Pakistani forces. This clash in Punjab thwarted Pakistan’s objective to seize Jammu and Kashmir and posed a threat to Delhi. Military historians view it as a pivotal moment in the conflict. Despite being heavily outnumbered and equipped with vintage tanks, our forces successfully crushed the enemy.

Against the backdrop of persistent attempts by Pakistan to annex Jammu and Kashmir, the 1965 war emerged as a response to India’s recovery from the Sino-Indian War of 1962. The conflict unfolded swiftly, with Pakistani forces launching “Op Desert Hawk” attacks in the Rann of Kutch and infiltrating Kashmir.

Captured American Made Pakistani Patton Tank, Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Pakistan’s two-phase strategy began with unrest in Kashmir, leading to “Op Gibraltar” in August 1965. Encouraged by China, infiltrators and the Pak Army sought to exploit the perceived discontent in the region. This was followed by “Op Grand Slam,” an attempt by the Pak Army to cross the international border.

Amid this tumult, the Battle Group of the Pakistan Army, comprising the 1st Armoured Division and 11th Infantry Division, crossed the International Border and captured the Indian town of Khem Karan. The gravity of the situation prompted the GOC, 4 Mountain Division, to order a strategic retreat, assuming a ‘Horse Shoe’ shaped defensive position with Asal Uttar, a few kilometres away from Khemkaran, as its focal point.

India 1965 War: Asal Uttar Map, Image Courtesy: Indian Defence Academy

The Indian Army’s 18 RAJPUTANA RIFLES, 1/9 GORKHA RIFLES, and 4 GRENADIERS covered three axes to Khem Karan, providing depth to 1/9 Gorkha Rifles. In a well-planned tactical move, Indian troops breached the Rohi Canal at night, flooding the sugarcane fields. The following morning, the Pakistani tanks, primarily M47 and M48 Patton tanks, were lured into the trap set by the Indian defence.

As the marshy terrain slowed down the Pakistani tanks, many of which got stuck in the mud, the Indian Army’s 9 DECCAN HORSE, equipped with Shermans, engaged them with impunity, knocking off 11 Pakistani tanks. In total, ninety-seven Pakistani Patton’s, Shermans, and Chaffee’s were destroyed or captured, while the Indian Army lost only 10 tanks.

Despite a successful incursion by two Patton tanks, the Indian defence, cleverly positioned amidst crops, has destroyed 11 enemy tanks. The 4th Grenadiers, including the brave Company Quarter Master Havaldar Abdul Hamid, played a pivotal role, destroying four tanks and turning the tide. Havaldar Abdul Hamid, later awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his unmatched bravery during the Battle of Asal Uttar, was the soldier who took on advanced Patton tanks with his ordinary anti-tank jeep. On September 9, Hamid had destroyed two Patton tanks with the help of his jeep and had essentially become an eyesore for Pakistani soldiers.

On the third day, September 10th, however, Pakistan gained ground, breaching Indian defence lines. At 0800 hours, a battalion of Pakistani Armor supported by Patton tanks attacked the 4th Grenadier positions but was unable to locate the battalion’s defences. Nevertheless, they launched an intense artillery bombardment to soften the target, and by 0900 hours, the enemy tanks had penetrated the forward company positions. Hamid knew that it would all be over if the tanks weren’t taken care of. In a melee, Hamid saw a group of Patton’s heading toward the battalion defences. Without caring for his life, he moved out of the flank with his gun mounted on a jeep. Heavy shelling didn’t deter him, and he continued firing, knocking out three Patton tanks back-to-back before the fourth one killed him.

Abdul Hamid, The Patton Killer Hero of the Battle of Asal Uttar Havaldar Abdul Hamid, later won a Param Vir Chakra for his valour and courage Abdul Hamid’s valiant efforts delayed the enemy’s advance, but he ultimately sacrificed his life to destroy two more tanks in a face-off.

Soldier Abdul Hamid 2000 Stamp of India, Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Simultaneously, Pakistani forces attempting to retreat towards the west faced fierce opposition from Indian cavalry and the Deccan Horse tanks, resulting in their entrapment. General Nasir was injured, and Brigadier Shami, the artillery commander, lost his life, signalling the end of Pakistan’s Khemka ran invasion.

The seventeen-day war caused thousands of casualties on both sides and witnessed the largest engagement of armoured vehicles and the largest tank battle since World War II. Hostilities between the two countries ended after a ceasefire was declared through UNSC Resolution 211 following a diplomatic intervention by the Soviet Union and the United States and the subsequent issuance of the Tashkent Declaration. Much of the war was fought by the countries’ land forces in Kashmir and along the border between India and Pakistan. This war saw the largest amassing of troops in Kashmir since the Partition of India in 1947, a number that was overshadowed only during the 2001–2002 military standoff between India and Pakistan.

The remnants of the destroyed tanks stood as a testament to Pakistan’s defeat, losing over 97 tanks, including 72 Patton tanks, leading to the establishment of Patton Nagar, commonly referred to as the graveyard of Patton tanks.

In the humble village of Assal-Uttar, amidst the carnage, the Indian Army showcased unwavering courage, proving that bravery prevails even in the face of adversity. Thus, on 8th September annually, commemorated as Asal Uttar Day, it marks the Battle Honour Day of Battalion 9 JAK Rifles (Rudra Shib Nabh), a crucial force in saving Khemkaran. After 59 years, it remains essential to remind future generations of the heroic valour displayed in this significant tank battle.

The indomitable spirit of Company Quartermaster Havildar Abdul Hamid, posthumously honoured with the Param Vir Chakra, is synonymous with the Battle of Asal Uttar. Additionally, the bravery of Lt Teja Singh Dhadwal, later Colonel, in the Rohi Nala battle, where he became the first Vir Chakra recipient of the 4 Mtn Division, further adds to the rich tapestry of heroism woven during this period.

The poignant reminder of this historic conflict is etched in the form of a grave and a war memorial located on the outskirts of Chima Village, along the Khemkaran-Bhikkiwind road in Tarn Taran district, Punjab. The Army’s mini-documentary on Abdul Hamid aptly categorizes the Grenadiers.

by Nilesh Kunwar

A Distraught Field Marshal

Things don’t seem to be going too well for the recently promoted Pakistan army chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. For starters, his promotion came about thanks to an illusion of Pakistan’s spectacular victory during the four-day-long Indo-Pak conflagrations in May conjured by the Pakistan army’s media wing Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).

However, since ISPR’s narrative was a generous mix of brazen lies, disinformation and omissions, it was bound to crumble under the sheer weight of physical evidence in terms of extensive damage caused to Pakistani defence facilities and terrorist assets. One such example: though the Pakistan air force (PAF) spokesperson emphatically claimed that the Nur Khan air base had suffered minimal damage, this strategic defence facility was hit so badly that even after four months it still remains non operational.

But this is not the Field Marshal’s only worry.

A significant increase in the intensity and frequency of attacks on security forces by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) as well as armed groups in Balochistan has turned both these provinces into veritable battlefields. Resultantly, there’s an inordinate increase in casualties being suffered by the security forces. The disquieting part is that despite the use of overwhelming brute force by the Pakistan army, cessation of hostilities in the near future seems unlikely.

Arousing Emotions

As has been its wont, Rawalpindi continues to trivialise the burgeoning crises in KP and Balochistan in an attempt to conceal the Pakistan army’s humongous military failure in these two provinces. It’s doing this by under-reporting casualty data as well as diverting public opinion by falling back on the time tested stratagem of arousing anti-India sentiments amongst the masses in Pakistan by declaring that TTP and armed Baloch groups are proxies being sponsored by New Delhi .

Even though no credible evidence has been provided to support this allegation, the very mention of Indian involvement in KP and Balochistan is enough to mobilise public opinion in favour of the Pakistan army. And with Field Marshal Munir resurrecting the two nation theory by alleging that there was an existential incompatibility between Hindus and Muslims, even an honest attempt to put the army’s professional performance under scrutiny becomes an unpatriotic act.

Field Marshal Munir has attempted to further insulate his army’s professional shortcomings in dealing with TTP by his penchant for invoking Islamic edicts. To project TTP as an anti-Islamic entity, he has decreed that this group would henceforth be referred to as Fitna al Khwarij (a phrase used for the Khwarij Islamic sect responsible for the first civil war (Fitna) in the Islamic community).

Consequently TTP terrorists are now called “Khwarij belonging to Indian Proxy, Fitna al Khwarij” by Pakistan army’s media wing Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR). Thus besides being portrayed as a proxy of Pakistan’s arch enemy Indian, TTP is also being projected as an anti-Islamic group that (as per Field Marshal Munir’s own Quranic interpretation), “should be executed, hanged, or exiled from the land.”

Even though armed Baloch groups are not pursuing any religious agenda and are fighting solely against the unlawful occupation of their land and indiscriminate exploitation its resources by Pakistan, the Field Marshal has nevertheless officially named these groups Fitna al Hindustan in an attempt to depict them as an Indian proxy with an anti-Islamic character.

Grand Declarations And Ridiculous Threats

Field Marshal Munir has been breathing fire while addressing his countrymen- both within the country as well as those living abroad. In April, he summarily dismissed the serious security threat in Balochistan by boasting that “We will beat the hell out of these terrorists very soon …you think, these 1500 terrorists belonging to BLA, BLF and BRA, etc, can take away Balochistan from us … (sic)”

Five months have since elapsed but one finds that despite massive deployment of soldiers supported by heavy artillery, drones, armed helicopters and even fighter jets, armed Baloch groups continue to hold sway in several districts and openly challenge the government’s writ with impunity. Besides attacking military targets at will, they are frequently blocking roads by establishing check posts in broad daylight and even taking over temporary control of cities after disarming the para military forces and local police.

The Pakistan army has also unleashed a reign of terror in an attempt to terrorise the Baloch people into submission. While enforced disappearances as well as extra judicial killing of innocent people are commonplace, those protesting peacefully against abduction and illegal confinement of their family members are being unduly harassed by the authorities.

Even the leadership of human rights movements like Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) hasn’t been spared and many including BYC leader Mahrang Baloch, who in 2024 figured the BBC’s 100 list as well as in Time magazine’s TIME 100 Next list for shaping the future of politics, have been incarcerated on trumped up sedition charges.

However, these brute measures have failed to break the determination and resolve of the persecuted Baloch people. This is definitely a reason of serious concern for Rawalpindi and more for the Field Marshal who boasts about beating the hell out of the Baloch armed groups.

Prognosis

Field Marshal Munir’s recent utterances like his coarse talk about wrecking the “shining Indian Mercedes” with “dump truck full of gravel” (Pakistan), and the barefaced “If we think we are going down, we’ll take half the world down with us” nuclear threat smacks of extraordinary arrogance. Such behaviour is called superiority complex, a term used to describe an attitude of superiority which conceals actual feelings of inferiority and failure.

As mentioned earlier, Field Marshal Munir has accused New Delhi of sponsoring TTP and armed Baloch groups to wage proxy war and destabilise Pakistan as a state policy to divert public attention from Pakistan army’s failure to rein-in TTP and the various armed groups in Balochistan. Since the public largely believes this accusation, Pakistan based terrorist groups have started asking as to why isn’t the Field Marshal taking punitive military action against India?

In a country that’s fed 24X7 with anti-India propaganda and where Hinduphobia is institutionalised (remember Field Marshal Munir’s “Hindus are different from Muslims in every way” remark?) this demand has the potential of gaining widespread public support.

Furthermore, Field Marshal Munir has made his countrymen believe that the Pakistani armed forces can easily destroy India as well as ensure that no harm comes to Pakistan. In the regard, readers would recall his pretentious “We’ll start from India’s East, where they have located their most valuable resources, and then move westwards” remark during the Tampa dinner in Florida

Since TTP and armed Baloch groups have no sanctuaries on Indian soil, the only form of the so-called retribution that Rawalpindi can undertake is to use its sponsored terrorists groups to commit some heinous act of terrorism. However, after being pummelled mercilessly for having masterminded the April 22 Pahalgam attack, only a dimwit would dare repeat any such action.

However, while his threat of taking down half the world if Pakistan is going down is a bit too far-fetched, if Field Marshal Munir feels that he’s going down (and with the way events are unfolding, this is a distinct possibility), then he’ll definitely take down half of Pakistan with himself.

So, while security forces in J&K need to maintain an enhanced state of vigilance against terrorist attacks, New Delhi too needs to be ready to inflict exemplary punishment on Pakistan and its proxies should Rawalpindi dare to cross the red line.

Nilesh Kunwar is a retired Indian Army Officer who has served in Jammu & Kashmir, Assam, Nagaland and Manipur. He is a keen ‘Kashmir-Watcher,’ and after retirement is pursuing his favourite hobby of writing for newspapers, journals and think-tanks. Views expressed above are the author’s own

The Indian Army’s Sapta Shakti Command conducted a large-scale integrated firepower exercise named Amogh Fury in the expansive Thar Desert, bringing together the full spectrum of combat platforms under a single operational framework.

The exercise showcased the Army’s capability to synergise tanks, mechanised infantry, artillery systems, air defence assets, attack helicopters, and UAVs into a unified battlefield strike formation, underlining the modern emphasis on network-centric warfare and seamless jointness.

The drills highlighted not just raw firepower but also the integration of surveillance, reconnaissance, and rapid mobility elements, with UAVs providing real-time targeting inputs that were quickly relayed to artillery and mechanised columns for precision engagement.

Tank regiments spearheaded the assault with armoured thrusts across desert terrain, backed by self-propelled artillery and multiple launch rocket systems to simulate high-intensity offensive action, while infantry combat vehicles ensured flanking security to sustain manoeuvre momentum.

Advanced air defence systems conducted live tracking against simulated hostile threats, reinforcing layered protection over field formations. Key to the exercise was the demonstration of battlefield communication networks that enabled commanders to orchestrate diverse platforms in a fluid, fast-changing environment — a hallmark of India’s push towards modern digital warfare.

The operational setting in the harsh desert conditions underscored the Army’s preparedness for potential high-tempo conflicts along India’s western front, where mobility, endurance, and logistic agility become force multipliers.

Importantly, the exercise reaffirmed India’s determination to maintain technological and doctrinal superiority, with equipment upgrades and modernisation reflected visibly in the firepower mix.

By integrating traditional kinetic capabilities with modern ISR inputs, Sapta Shakti Command demonstrated the ability to deliver overwhelming combat power in decisive engagements, reinforcing deterrence while showcasing readiness for sustained operations in extreme environments.

Based On Tribune Video Report

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has underscored that normalisation of ties between India and Pakistan is impossible without resolving the Kashmir dispute, calling any expectation otherwise a “fool’s paradise.”

Speaking to overseas Pakistanis in London, he stated that both countries must learn to coexist as neighbours, but peace hinges on a Kashmir solution.

Sharif emphasised that the billions spent on four wars between the two nations, including the ongoing conflict sparked by militant attacks in Kashmir, could have been better used for development and prosperity in Pakistan.

He accused India of choosing a combative stance rather than cooperative neighbourly behaviour and expressed hope for peace built on love and respect. Sharif also linked the Kashmir conflict to the larger regional unrest, referencing the Gaza war and the severe humanitarian crisis there.

The statement comes amid heightened tensions following the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack, where 26 civilians—mostly Hindu tourists—were killed by militants identified with Pakistan-backed groups. The attack significantly escalated hostilities, prompting India to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, expel Pakistani diplomats, and close borders.

Pakistan denied involvement despite international calls for accountability. This crisis triggered intensified cross-border skirmishes and led to India’s Operation Sindoor on May 7-8, 2025, a precise missile strike campaign targeting terrorist camps linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Pakistan retaliated with drone and missile strikes on Indian military installations, marking the most serious India-Pakistan military crisis in decades. After a four-day conflict, both countries agreed to a ceasefire on May 10.

The May conflict saw India focus on terror infrastructure with no direct military base targeting, while Pakistan responded with attacks causing civilian casualties in India. India asserted it had incurred significant militant casualties during the strikes.

The ceasefire followed escalating drone battles and artillery exchanges, with both sides blaming the other for violations thereafter. India maintains the stance that terrorism and dialogue cannot proceed simultaneously without credible anti-terror measures from Pakistan.

Pakistan, meanwhile, has pushed for resolution talks based on equality and sought to restore diplomatic and treaty frameworks paused in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack and ensuing conflict.

Sharif’s remarks reiterate Pakistan’s position that meaningful India-Pak ties depend on addressing Kashmir, while India insists on a terror-free environment as a precondition for dialogue.

The fallout includes sustained diplomatic stand-off, suspension of key bilateral treaties like the Indus Waters Treaty, and continued military alertness in the region.

The current India-Pakistan bilateral relationship remains stalled with heightened mistrust, where the Kashmir issue is central. Both governments face domestic pressure over terrorism, national security, and economic consequences of conflict.

Shehbaz Sharif’s call for peace highlights Pakistan’s view of Kashmir as essential to any rapprochement, reflecting ongoing regional geopolitical complexities amplified by incidents like the Pahalgam attack, Operation Sindoor, and the broader security scenario shaped by recent India-Pakistan confrontations.

Based On India Today Report

India and the United States have taken a significant step forward in strengthening their defence partnership by focusing on enhanced defence medical cooperation and strategic collaboration.

Following the successful conclusion of the joint military exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025 in Alaska on September 14, which included advanced training in electronic warfare, counter-drone operations, and high-altitude mountainous combat, a senior delegation of the Indian Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) led by Director General, Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, visited US Armed Forces medical facilities in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The delegation engaged in detailed staff-level discussions with US defence medical officials, focusing on advanced fields such as military medicine, marine medicine for naval personnel operating at sea, and aviation medicine, which also has critical applications for air force personnel and astronauts.

During the tour, Indian officers studied state-of-the-art US military medical infrastructure, including battlefield medical evacuation systems, trauma management, and emergency care frameworks designed for deployed troops across multiple theatres.

Both sides exchanged operational practices and treatment methodologies, with the Indian delegation also contributing insights from its extensive experience in varied terrain and operational conditions.

The visit placed special emphasis on boosting medical participation in bilateral military exercises, ensuring both nations possess seamless medical interoperability during joint operations or humanitarian assistance missions.

Officials stressed that closer cooperation in the medical domain strengthens not only the health security of military personnel but also adds a fresh dimension to the broader India-US strategic partnership, enhancing trust and preparedness for future contingencies.

Agencies

China’s bid to expand influence in Lanka a concern for New Delhi

Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi on Monday began a four-day visit to Sri Lanka to hold talks with the top military brass of the island nation for expanding bilateral defence ties in the maritime domain.

The Navy chief’s visit comes amid concerns in New Delhi over China’s persistent attempts to expand its strategic influence in the island nation. In Colombo, Admiral Tripathi will also meet Sri Lanka Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and hold talks with the three service chiefs and other senior officials.

The talks will be focused on a broad spectrum of matters with emphasis on maritime security, capability enhancement, training and identifying avenues to strengthen bilateral cooperation, officials said.

“The Chief of Naval Staff’s engagements in Sri Lanka are structured at deepening bonds of friendship, paving the way for enhanced understanding in key areas of shared strategic and maritime interests, in line with the vision of ‘MAHASAGAR’,” an official readout said.

“The visit reaffirms the time-tested India-Sri Lanka relations, anchored on mutual respect, maritime trust and a shared vision for peace and stability in the Indian Ocean Region,” it added.

Admiral Tripathi will also participate in the 12th edition of Galle Dialogue at Colombo on the theme ‘Maritime Outlook of the Indian Ocean under Changing Dynamics’. India has been eyeing to further expand maritime security cooperation with Sri Lanka.

In June, state-run Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) decided to acquire a controlling stake in Sri Lanka’s Colombo Dockyard PLC under a $52.96 million deal, a move that is expected to expand India’s strategic presence in the island nation.

Indian Navy regularly interacts with its Sri Lankan counterpart through medium of annual defence dialogue and staff talks. The two navies also hold Sri Lanka-India Naval Exercise (SLINEX), passage exercises and regularly engage in training and hydrography exchanges.

It was observed the case fell under Section 197 of the Pension Regulations, which allow disability pension to an individual who is invalided out of service on account of a disability which is neither attributable to nor aggravated by service

About 57 years after her late husband was invalidated out of the Army on medical grounds, the Armed Forces Tribunal has held that the soldier was entitled to disability pension and his widow should get the due benefits.

The now deceased soldier, Lance Naik Umrawat Singh was enrolled in the Army in September 1961 and took part in the India – Pakistan War of 1965. However, he underwent severe mental stress and strain on account of being posted on the borders for long periods of time, court records said. He developed ‘schizophrenic reaction’ and was boarded out of service in December 1968 after seven years and three months of service.

His claim for grant of disability pension was rejected. Subsequently, he enrolled in the Defence Security Corps in September 1972, but was discharged in November 1972. He finally passed away in January 2011.

The authorities had contended that since the requirement for grant of pension was 15 years, he did not fulfil the criteria for service pension. Further, not only his disability was held to be neither attributable to nor aggravated by military service, but was also assessed to be below 20 per cent, which is not eligible for disability benefits.

The Tribunal’s Chandigarh Bench comprising Justice Sudhir Mittal and Lt Gen Ranbir Singh observed that Umrawat’s case fell under Section 197 of the Pension Regulations, which allow disability pension to an individual who is invalided out of service on account of a disability which is neither attributable to nor aggravated by service. Or to an individual who is invalided out of service on account of a disability which is attributable to or aggravated service, but the disability is assessed at less than 20 per cent, or to an individual placed in low medical category who is retired or discharged from service for lack of alternative employment compatible with his low medical category.

Thus, it is evident that the deceased soldier was entitled to the grant of invalid pension with effect from December 1968, and accordingly, his widow is entitled to the grant of ordinary family pension with effect from February.2011, the Bench ruled.