Intelligence failures Indo-Pakistani War of 1965

telegram embassy of united states in karachi: continuing propaganda regarding achievements of pak forces seems have convinced pak forbearance saved indians disaster.

the pakistani army failed recognize indian policy makers order attack on southern sector in order open second front. pakistan forced dedicate troops southern sector protect sialkot , lahore instead using them support penetrating kashmir.

operation grand slam , launched pakistan capture akhnoor, town north-east of jammu , key region communications between kashmir , rest of india, failure. many pakistani commentators criticised ayub khan administration being indecisive during operation grand slam. these critics claim operation failed because ayub khan knew importance of akhnur india (having called india s jugular vein ) , did not want capture , drive 2 nations all-out war. despite progress being made in akhnur, general ayub khan relieved commanding major general akhtar hussain malik , replaced him gen. yahya khan. 24-hour lull ensued replacement, allowed indian army regroup in akhnur , oppose lackluster attack headed general yahya khan. enemy came our rescue , asserted indian chief of staff of western command. later, akhtar hussain malik criticised ayub khan planning operation gibraltar, doomed fail, , relieving him of command @ crucial moment in war. malik threatened expose truth war , army s failure, later dropped idea fear of being banned.

some authors have noted pakistan might have been emboldened war game – conducted in march 1965, @ institute of defence analysis, usa. exercise concluded that, in event of war india, pakistan win. other authors stephen philip cohen, have consistently commented pakistan army had acquired exaggerated view of weakness of both india , indian military ... 1965 war shock .

pakistani air marshal , commander-in-chief of paf during war, nur khan, later said pakistan army, , not india, should blamed starting war. propaganda in pakistan war continued; war not rationally analysed in pakistan, of blame being heaped on leadership , little importance given intelligence failures persisted until debacle of indo-pakistani war of 1971.