Siege of Skardu: Difference between revisions

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| conflict   = Siege of Skardu

| partof     = [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947]]

| image       = THOMSON(1852) p232 ISKARDO FORT.jpg

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| date        =

| place       = [[Skardu]]

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| territory   = [[Skardu]] becomes part of [[Gilgit Baltistan | Pakistan-administered Kashmir]]

| result     = Pakistani victory<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/comment/spare-a-thought-for-those-defenders-of-skardu/121327.html|title=The Battle of Skardu|newspaper=The Tribune (India)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZWXfAAAAMAAJ|title=Thimayya: An Amazing Life|last=Khanduri|first=Chandra B.|date=2006-01-01|publisher=Knowledge World|isbn=9788187966364|language=en}}</ref>

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{{flagicon|India}} [[Dominion of India]]

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{{flagicon|Pakistan}} [[Dominion of Pakistan]]

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| commander1 = {{flagicon|India|army}}[[Sher Jung Thapa|Colonel Sher Jung Thapa]] {{Surrendered}}

| commander2 = {{flagicon|Pakistan|army}}[[Aslam Khan (Pakistani brigadier)|Colonel Aslam Khan]],<br/>{{flagicon|Pakistan|army}} Colonel Mata ul-Mulk

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| units1     = [[Jammu and Kashmir State Forces]]

| units2     = [[Gilgit Scouts]], [[Chitral Scouts]], [[Chitral Bodyguard|Chitral State Bodyguards]]

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| campaignbox ={{Campaignbox Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948}}

The '''Siege of Skardu''' was a prolonged military [[blockade]] carried out by the [[Gilgit Scouts]], [[Chitral Scouts]] and [[Chitral Bodyguard|Chitral State Bodyguards]], acting in coordination against [[Jammu & Kashmir Rifles|Jammu and Kashmir State Forces]] and the [[Indian Army]] in the town of [[Skardu]], during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qc25BwAAQBAJ|title=The Crimson Chinar: The Kashmir Conflict: A Politico Military Perspective|last=VSM|first=Brig Amar Cheema|date=2015-03-31|publisher=Lancer Publishers|isbn=9788170623014|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_l9tBQAAQBAJ|title=Gilgit Rebelion: The Major Who Mutinied Over Partition of India|last=Brown|first=William|date=2014-11-30|publisher=Pen and Sword|isbn=9781473821873|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rotnAgAAQBAJ|title=Short Stories from the History of the Indian Army Since August 1947|last=(Retd)|first=Col J. Francis|date=2013-08-30|publisher=Vij Books India Pvt Ltd|isbn=9789382652175|language=en}}</ref>

Pakistani flag]], in response to [[Hari Singh|Maharaja Hari Singh]]'s accession to [[India]]. This prompted the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2wG8SgAACAAJ|title=Military Plight of Pakistan: Indo-Pak War, 1947-48|last=Gulati|first=M. N.|date=2000-01-01|publisher=Manas Publications|isbn=9788170491231|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kv0VAQAAMAAJ|title=The Pakistan Review|date=1963-01-01|publisher=Ferozsons Limited|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vuhtAAAAMAAJ|title=In the Wonderland of Asia, Gilgit & Baltistan|last=Baloch|first=Sikandar Khan|date=2004-01-01|publisher=Sang-e-Meel Publications|isbn=9789693516142|language=en}}</ref>

When Muslims soldiers of 6 [[Jammu & Kashmir Rifles|Jammu and Kashmir State Forces]] defected and killed [[Sikh]] soldiers, Major [[Sher Jung Thapa]], stationed at [[Leh]], was promoted as [[Colonel (India)|Lieut. Colonel]] and asked to proceed to [[Skardu]] for its defence. On reaching Skardu on 3 December, he realised that his position was untenable and immediately sought permission to withdraw the garrison and the civil administration to [[Kargil]] and also requested reinforcements. The request for withdrawal was turned down and he was asked "to hold to last man and last round". Thus began the defence of Skardu.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/comment/spare-a-thought-for-those-defenders-of-skardu/121327.html|title=Defenders of Skardu|website=Tribune India|publication-date=19 August 2015}}</ref>

The Indian forces, along with the non-Muslim [[Civilian|civil population]] of Skardu, withdrew into the [[Skardu Fort]] where they were besieged. The volunteers from Chitral were entrusted with the siege.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tsw5AQAAIAAJ|title=India, 1947-50: External affairs|last=India|date=1959-01-01|publisher=Oxford University Press|page=493|language=en}}</ref>

Meanwhile, [[Srinagar]], under the control of the [[Indian Army]], assembled 3 successive Skardu relief columns, but they were not successful in reaching Skardu. With [[Gilgit]] under Pakistan’s control, the besieging forces appeared on their way to take control of Skardu and the entire region leading to [[Kargil district|Kargil]] and [[Leh]]. However, Skardu had become the stumbling block. In the face of ineffective relief, including air dropping of ammunition, it was a matter of time before the end neared. By mid-August 1948, the Skardu garrison was in beggarly shape. On 14 August 1948, outnumbered five to one, and with the last box of the reserve ammunition used, the garrison surrendered.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/comment/spare-a-thought-for-those-defenders-of-skardu/121327.html|title=The Battle of Skardu|newspaper=The Tribune (India)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZWXfAAAAMAAJ|title=Thimayya: An Amazing Life|last=Khanduri|first=Chandra B.|date=2006-01-01|publisher=Knowledge World|isbn=9788187966364|language=en}}</ref>