Armoured Warfare

BATTLE OF BASANTAR

The Battle of Basantar was a decisive engagement fought during the 1971 Indo–Pakistan War in the Shakargarh Bulge region near the Basantar River. Indian forces crossed heavily mined areas, repelled repeated Pakistani armoured counterattacks and destroyed a large number of Patton tanks. The battle protected the vital Jammu–Pathankot axis and prevented Pakistan from threatening India’s land link to Jammu and Kashmir. It became one of the largest tank battles after World War II and highlighted exceptional bravery, especially that of 2nd Lt Arun Khetarpal of the Poona Horse, who was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra.