https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Battle_of_DaliBattle of Dali - Revision history2026-08-17T17:24:18ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Dali&diff=404457&oldid=prevAjay Kumar: Created a new article2023-08-09T18:06:42Z<p>Created a new article</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Battle of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965}}<br />
{{Infobox military conflict<br />
| conflict = Battle of Dali<br />
| place = Dali village, [[Sindh]], [[Pakistan]]<br />
| partof = [[Rajasthan Front]] of the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]<br />
| result = Pakistani victory<br />
| territory = Pakistan recaptures Dali<br />
| combatant1 = {{flag|Pakistan}}<br />
| combatant2 = {{flag|India}}<br />
| commander1 = Brig. K. M. Azhar Khan<br />
| commander2 = unknown<br />
| units1 = [[Punjab Regiment (Pakistan)|18 Punjab]]<br />
| units2 = [[Madras Regiment|17 Madras]]<br>[[Maratha regiment]]<br />
| strength1 = 900-1000<br />
| strength2 = 1500-2000<br>3 tanks<br />
| casualties1 = 38 killed<br>53 wounded<br />
| casualties2 = 97 killed<br>82 wounded<br>180 captured (including 7 officers)<br>3 tanks captured<br />
| date = 21-22 September, 1965<br />
}}<br />
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The '''Battle of Dali''' was a major engagement of the [[Rajasthan Front|Sindh-Rajasthan Front]] of the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]], as well as one of the final battles of the war as the UN-mandated [[Tashkent Declaration|ceasefire]] came into effect a day after the battle.<br />
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== Background ==<br />
Hostilities on the [[Rajasthan Front|Rajasthan front]] began on 8th September 1965, when [[Pakistan Rangers]], along with the Hur tribal warriors (natives of the [[Thar Desert|Thar desert]] of [[Sindh]]), began conducting raids and capturing Indian border villages and fortifications. India had kept some forces in Rajasthan with the aim of launching offensives into Sindh and southern [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]], but the Pakistani raids forced them to be mostly on the defensive. The attack on Dali, a small Pakistani village located roughly 13 miles from the border, was the only significant Indian counterattack in this front of the war.<br />
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== The Battle ==<br />
The attack consisted of elements of the Maratha light infantry regiment along with 17 Madras regiment, and a tank troop (consisting of 3 tanks).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Imran |date=2019-10-22 |title=The lost graves of Munabao |url=https://www.meemainseen.com/2019/10/the-lost-graves-of-munabao/ |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=MANI JUNCTION |language=en-US}}</ref> On 21 September, this force crossed the border and attacked Dali, which was protected by a single company consisting of some 100 soldiers. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the Pakistani defenders put up a fierce resistance, which stalled the Indians for most of the day. The company also managed to alert Brigadier Azhar Khan, the commander of [[Punjab Regiment (Pakistan)|18 Punjab]] who had recently captured the Indian town of [[Munabao]] to the north. He turned his unit around from Munabao and approached Dali from the north.<ref name=":0" /><br />
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In the meantime, the battle at Dali continued. On the evening of 21 September, the Indians finally managed to drive out the lone Pakistani company defending the village, who retreated to the nearby town of Khinsar.<ref name=":0" /> This success was short-lived however, as 18 Punjab arrived the following morning and the fighting reignited. After a brief battle, the Indians were defeated with heavy casualties. Many were captured by Pakistan while the rest fled back to the border.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=www.webspider.pk |first=Web Spider (pvt) Ltd |title=Glorious September: 1965 War |url=https://www.hilal.gov.pk/eng-article/detail/NDkw.html |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=www.hilal.gov.pk |language=en}}</ref><br />
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== Casualties & Losses ==<br />
The battle claimed the lives of 97 Indian soldiers and 82 more were wounded. 180 were captured by Pakistan, including at least 7 officers.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> All 3 Indian tanks were captured in working condition with minimal damage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PAK INDIA 1965 WAR |url=http://www.pakistanarmy.biz.tc/rajasthan.html |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=www.pakistanarmy.biz.tc}}</ref> Pakistani losses were few by comparison, with 38 killed and 53 wounded.<br />
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== References ==<br />
<references /><br />
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{{coord missing|Pakistan}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Battles of Indo-Pakistani wars]]<br />
[[Category:Battles in 1965]]<br />
[[Category:Battles involving Pakistan]]<br />
[[Category:Battles involving India]]<br />
[[Category:History of Sindh]]<br />
[[Category:History of Sindh (1947–present)]]<br />
[[Category:Military history of Pakistan]]<br />
[[Category:Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]</div>Ajay Kumar