The Battle of Basantar
or the Battle of Barapind
(December 4 - December 16, 1971) was one of the vital battles fought as part of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
in the western sector of India. The Indian troops won a hard fought battle that secured this area in the Punjab/Jammu sector.The name Battle of Basantar actually encompasses the entire gamut of battles and skirmishes fought in the Shakargarh sector.
Location of battle
Basantar river is a tributary of the Ravi River
that flows in the states of Punjab
and Himachal Pradesh
. This battle took place in the Shakargarh Sector or the Shakargarh Bulge that includes Jarpal and surrounding areas. The bulge is a protrusion of Pakistan boundary into Indian territory. It was a strategic area for both sides as it comprised road links to Jammu
from Punjab, which could be cut off by Pakistan if it wished to launch an offensive. It was also economically vital for both sides as it straddled the fertile area of the Indus
Reasoning behind the battle
As the war began on the eastern front, Pakistan decided to open up the western sector to divert Indian troops from the Eastern front in Bangladesh
and prolong the war. Shakargarh bulge was a key strategic area for India as it comprised road links between Jammu
and Indian Punjab
. Therefore, securing the region was crucial for India as Pakistan had a military base nearby in Sialkot
and therefore could have easily launched a massive invasion of the Shakargarh region, cutting Jammu......