RIAF C-47 Dakota of No.12 Squadron supply dropping in the Tangdhar Valley of Tithwal Sector in June 1948.(Historic photograph taken by Col Harwant Singh).
During the last week of May and first week of June 1948, the (Royal) Indian Air Force made heroic sorties to supply Indian Army troops who had recaptured Tangdhar in the Tithwal Valley during the summer offensive.
The spearhead was 163 Infantry Brigade of Sri Div (later 19th Infantry Division) which under stout leadership of then Brigadier Harbaksh Singh covered some 45 miles through very difficult hilly jungle terrain which included the crossing of the Nastachhun Pass (Ht-10264 feet) all covered with snow. 1st battalion of the Sikh Regiment, (which had already secured Srinagar in the initial battles of October-November 1947), led the advance against major resistance of enemy forces. The capture code was ‘Eagle’, as flashed on 23 May 1948.
Maps by KBK
It was indeed a remarkable military operations- a test of physical endurance and fighting qualities of the troops. Only a jeepable track then existed from Kupwara to Chokibal and supplies were carried by porters, ponies, buffaloes, donkeys, even goats, to transport vital supplies at Chokibal, over the Nastachhun pass to 163 Brigade headquarters at Chhamkot, close to Tithwal, the effort taking 3-4 days. As the troops deployed atTithwal area were running short of ammunition, rations and medical supplies, airdrops were then carried out by Dakotas of No.12 Squadron RIAF which continued for weeks till the jeepable road from Chokibal to Tangdhar was completed by 3 Field Engineers and 3 Pioneer Companies of the Indian Army in September 1948. Till then Indian troops were supplied continuously by the RIAF.
The Tithwal salient was the scene of severe fighting during the December 1971 conflict as depicted by the map. As in 1948, 19 Infantry Division was responsible for the actions with its constituent Brigades (104 with 3 Bihar, 6 Rajput, 8 Raj Rif and 9 Sikh and 161 with 7 Sikh LI and 8 Sikh taking part). They were faced by Pakistan’s 12 Infantry Division.