Pakistan Navy Day is being observed today (8th September) to acknowledge the sacrifices and contributions of the Naval heroes who fought with determination, courage, and valor during the 1965 War.
The Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi said that “The day reminds us of the heroic deeds and daring achievements of our Ghazis (who returned from the battle with pride) and Shuhada (martyrs) who fought gallantly with absolute faith in Allah SWT.”
History
In the naval history of India and Pakistan, the 8th of September is Pakistan Navy Day, which is observed with zeal to honor the services and sacrifices of war veterans who revolutionized the battle aspect at sea with their remarkable strategies and maneuverings.
On this day, the Pakistan navy successfully planned, maneuvered, and carried out military action in India’s maritime zone.
The code name of this operation was ‘SOMNATH’ which was given by the strategist commanders of the Pakistan navy because of two reasons:
- It was intended to evoke the spirit of Mehmood Ghaznavi’s attack on the temple known as “SOMNATH,” which served as a symbol of Hindu religion and domestic tyranny.
- Dwarka port was the target of the operation which is in Gujrat and serves as the home ground of the same temple.
This operation is also referred to as ‘Operation Dwarka’ in archives of India Pakistan naval history.
The operation was launched to target the Indian port of Dwarka in the Indian district of Gujarat, which was crucial to the Indian forces. The seven-ships fleet of the Pakistan Navy set out on the night of 7/8 September with the intention of destroying harbor and coastal infrastructure to cripple Indian naval control and communication systems and to contain Indian fleet movement.
This operation was carried out by the 25th squadron of the Pakistan Navy. Pakistan Navy was successful in attaining its objectives which included the destruction of the radar stations and radar beacons. The installation of the radar and beacon served as the guiding tool for the Indian Air Force for bombardments in Karachi.
Pakistan Navy’s submarine “Ghazi” also played an important role in attaining the objectives of the Pakistan Navy. The Ghazi besieged the harbor, limited the Indian navy within their seas, and prevented Indian Navy ships and aircraft carriers from advancing their maneuvers and operations, resulting in India’s defeat at sea.
Due to the prevalent sea-blindness in Pakistan and lack of understanding of the importance of the Marine and its role in managing warfare, this day could not receive a popular projection. The main reason for the forgetfulness was that Pakistan consists of farming lands and most policies are influenced and shaped by continental mentality.
Pakistan’s naval arm diligently assesses and exercises its mission to protect the complete spectrum of dangers against the changing dynamics of classic and non-traditional security threats. This day should be commemorated with zeal and enthusiasm to highlight the bravery put forth by the Pakistan Navy.
