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Battle of Phillora
Part of Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Date September 7 – September 11, 1965 Location Phillora near Sialkot (Punjab, Pakistan) Result Decisive Indian victory
Belligerents
India	Pakistan
Commanders and leaders
Ardeshir Tarapore	Unknown
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown 66 tanks destroyed

The Battle of Phillora was one of the largest tank battles fought during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. It was the first major engagement between the two nations in the Sialkot sector and coincided with the Battle of Asal Uttar.

Battle

The battle started on 10 September, when Indian troops launched a massive attack at the Phillora sector. Its 1st Armoured Division was on the offensive in that area. Equipped with four armoured regiments, this division faced stiff opposition from the Pakistani 6th Armoured Division. The initial Indian drives were pushed back towards Gadgor for a loss of 15 tanks. Pakistani air attacks did little damage to the tank columns and more to lorry and infantry columns. For the next two days intense fighting continued and the outnumbered Pakistani troops made a tactical retreat towards Chawinda. At this point India claimed to destroyed 67 Pakistani tanks. However, military historian Steve Zaloga regarded the Indian claim as "ludicrous".

Conclusion

On September 12, 1965, the tank battle at Phillora ended in an important decisive victory for the Indian Army with the Pakistani forces retreating and regrouping to put up a last stand at Chawinda. A day before, the Indian Army had experienced another victory at Asal Uttar when they successfully thwarted Pakistani offensive in the Khem Karan sector. The continued thrust by the Indian Army into Pakistani territory finally culminated in the Battle of Chawinda, where Indian army was decisively defeated, and on 21st September with the retreat of Indian first armored division, all the offensives were ceased on that front. On 22nd September the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed a resolution that called for an unconditional ceasefire from both nations.The war ended the following day.

References

1. ^ Wilson, Peter. Wars, proxy-wars and terrorism: post independent India. Mittal Publications, 2003. ISBN 8170998905, 9788170998907. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
2. The Cambridge history of India. S. Chand. ISBN 0521267277, 978-0521267274. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
3. Saxena, K. C. Pakistan, her relation with India 1947-1966. Vir Pub. House. ASIN B003GB2IFU.
4. Sainik samachar: the pictorial weekly of the Armed Forces, Volume 28. Directorate of Public Relations, Ministry of Defence. ASIN B0000CRWSD.
5. Berindranath, Dewan. The war with Pakistan: a pictorial narration of the fifty days which rocked the sub-continent. Asia Press. ASIN B0007JEFFA.
6. Zaloga, Steve (1999) The M47 and M48 Patton tanks ISBN 1855328259 pg.34.
7. Zaloga, Steve (1999) The M47 and M48 Patton tanks ISBN 1855328259 pg.35.
8. Zaloga, Steve (1999) The M47 and M48 Patton tanks ISBN 1855328259 pg.35.
9. Barua, Pradeep (2005) The state at war in South Asia ISBN 0803213441 pg.192.
10. Pradhan, R.D. 1965 war, the inside story. Atlantic Publishers & Distributors, 2007. ISBN 8126907622, 9788126907625. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)

• Battles of Indo-Pakistani wars
• Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
• 1965 in India
• Tank battles