Battle of Chunj

Battle of Chunj
Part of the Indo-Pakistani war of 1947–1948
Chunj on a Map
Chunj
Chunj

Chunj feature on a map
Date25 June-9 July 1948
Location
Tithwal, Jammu and Kashmir
Result Pakistani victory[2]
Territorial
changes		 Pakistan takes control over various Points[a] including Chunj feature[3][4]
Belligerents

 India

 Pakistan

Commanders and leaders
Gen. K. S Thimayya
Brig. Harbaksh Singh
Brig J. C. Katoch		 Lt. Nausherwan Khan
Capt. Rao Farman Ali
Maj. A. M. Sloan  †[b]
Maj. Ghulam Rasul
Units involved
163 Brigade
1 Sikh
1 Madras
3 Royal GR		 4/16 Punjab
3/12 FF

The Battle of Chunj, or the Chunj Operation, was a military engagement between Pakistani and Indian forces, during the Indo-Pakistani war of 1947–1948 from 25 June-9 July.[3] The Indian 163rd Brigade launched an offensive in Tithwal, raising a threat to Muzaffarabad, and the forces advanced from Handwara to Tithwal and from Uri to Urusa; it caused much panic and despair to the Pakistani High command.[5] The capture of Domel[c] was the main objective of the Indian offensive, since Domel was only eighteen miles from Tithwal. Tithwal had been captured by Indian forces previously and Domel was a key position for the Pakistani command.[5]

The 10th Brigade of the Pakistani Army, under Brigadier Haji Iftikhar Ahmad, was tasked to stop the Indian advance, and defend Muzaffarabad at all costs.[6] It was considered necessary by Pakistani command to drive out the Indian troops from the heights of the Chunj range and push the Indian troops back into the left bank of the Kishanganga.[7] With the evacuation of all the advanced positions across the river, the Indian command considered it a major loss.[8]

The Indian forces had gained success by capturing Tithwal before, but with the fall of the Chunj to Pakistan, the summer offensive of the Indian army from Tithwal to Muzaffarabad failed and was halted.[9] It added a huge area to the Pakistani controlled side on the left bank of Kishanganga.[10] Major Sloan was praised for his actions which lead to the capture of crucial peaks in the Tithwal sector in July 1948.[11] The Pakistani forces switched their focus towards the Chakothi area after achieving victory in Tithwal which later also included another victory in Pandu by pushing out the Indians from the Pandu feature, which overlooked the other features; due to this reason, it was noteworthy.[12] Stalemate ensued afterwards in this sector until ceasefires occurred.[13]

  1. ^ Prasad (1987), pp. 196–199
  2. ^ Prasad (1987), p. 202
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :9 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Prasad (1987), pp. 196–199
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference :7 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference :10 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference :11 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Ali (2022), p. 1
  12. ^ Prasad (1987), p. 202
  13. ^ Suharwardy (1983), p. 189 : Cheema (2014), p. 48


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