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Pakistan attacks Indian Airfields
Yahya Khan keeps his word "I will be fighting a war in ten days time"

Dec 03, New Delhi: At approximately 5.47 pm in the evening, Pakistan had launched air attacks against Indian Airfields across the western border. The airfields of Srinagar, Pathankot, Amritsar, Ambala, Agra, Jodhpur, Faridkot, Avanitpur, Uttarlai, Jamnagar and an area near Ferozepur were attacked by aircraft of the Pakistani Air Force.

The President, Mr. V V Giri had proclaimed a national emergency folloiwng Pakistani Aggression. The Emergency was declared under Article 352 of the Constiution after the central cabinet met in a special session soon after the return of Mrs Indiara Gandhi to the capital from Calcutta. Parliament was requested to assemble tommorrow (Dec 4) for a special session.

It may be recalled that Gen Yahya Khan, the dictator running Pakistan had told reporters before he left for China on Nov 25th that "In 10 Days, I might not be here in Rawalpindi, I will be off fighting a war". True to his word, hardly ten days have elapsed

before this attack on India had surfaced.

In an obvious attempt to shift the blame on India, Radio Pakistan announced at 6.15 pm that Indian troops have launched an attack in the Western Sector. The New China News Agency also made a similar announcement at about the same time.

Effectiveness of the air raids

The Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Air Marshal Minoo Merwan Engineer, PVSM, DFC had said that the Pakistani Air Raids have failed to achieve thier objective. The Indian Air Force had been expecting such raids for some time and had taken care to protect its aircraft and disperse them in Interior airfields. Subsequently except for damage to a light aircraft at Amritsar, no significant loss of air assets took place.

Atleast Three of the raiders have been shot down or damaged by Airfield defences.

A Surface to Air Missile at a forward Air Base in Punjab. One such missile was used to shoot down a PAF B-57 Bomber today evening

At the Halwara airbase, the Base Commander Air Commodore C V Gole was injured when a delayed action bomb was set off by the enemy aircraft.

The enemy aircraft that attacked the airfield,

a B-57 bomber was targettted by three of the Surface to Air Missiles in the airfields defences. The aircraft was hit by one of the missiles and was last seen limping back across the border trailing smoke. No damage occurred at the Amritsar or Srinagar airbases. At Pathankot, the Station Commander was not available for comment, but an officer of No.27 Hunter Squadron, spoke on condition of anonymity that "The attacks have not done any damage to the runway or our aircraft".

At Uttarlai, the main runway seemed to have been hit, but the Base Commander, Wing Cdr Murthy has said that operations will not be curtailed and the base will carry out its operations as usual.

Prime Minister's Broadcast

The Prime Minister , Smt. Indira Gandhi addressed the nation just before midnight. She condemned the attack on our airfields and said that the Nation will fight back with fortitude and determination.