How Pakistan Runs Propaganda That They Won the 1965 War: The Indo-Pak War of 1965 was one of the most significant military confrontations between India and Pakistan after their independence. While historians, military analysts, and even international observers have largely concluded that the war ended in a strategic stalemate or tilted in India’s favor, Pakistan has consistently maintained — both in public discourse and institutional narrative — that it was a clear victory for them.
This discrepancy between historical facts and national rhetoric is the product of a carefully constructed and sustained propaganda campaign within Pakistan. This article explores how Pakistan has promoted the narrative of victory in the 1965 war through various means.
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Table of Contents
Historical Context of the 1965 War
The war broke out in August 1965, following Pakistan’s launch of Operation Gibraltar, a strategy aimed at infiltrating forces into Jammu and Kashmir to incite rebellion against Indian rule. The plan failed, and India responded with full military force, leading to a large-scale conflict across the western front.
After intense fighting and thousands of casualties on both sides, the war ended with the Tashkent Agreement, brokered by the Soviet Union on January 10, 1966. Neither side gained significant territory, and both armies returned to their pre-war positions, which technically made it a military stalemate.
Why the Truth Was Inconvenient for Pakistan
For the Pakistani establishment, especially the military leadership under Field Marshal Ayub Khan, admitting that the war did not result in victory would have had political consequences. The Pakistani Army had projected itself as a powerful institution capable of defending — and even liberating — Kashmir. Acknowledging failure would have undermined that image and shaken public confidence.
Textbooks and Education System
One of the most powerful tools of shaping public opinion in Pakistan has been its school textbooks. Generations of Pakistani students have grown up reading history books that claim Pakistan decisively won the 1965 war. These textbooks often omit key facts, downplay India’s military response, and highlight selective accounts of battlefield engagements that favor Pakistan.
State-Controlled Media and National Broadcasts
During and after the war, Radio Pakistan and other state-controlled media outlets were used to broadcast exaggerated reports of military successes. Fictional numbers of enemy casualties and destroyed equipment were shared widely to create the impression of overwhelming superiority.
Every year on September 6, Pakistan celebrates Defence Day with parades, documentaries, and speeches honoring their “victory” in the 1965 war. The state-controlled narrative glorifies military achievements while failing to provide a holistic or balanced view of the conflict.
Selective Commemoration and Hero Worship
Pakistan has institutionalized the memory of certain battles, especially the defence of Lahore, as symbols of national heroism. While it is true that Pakistani forces held their ground effectively in several instances, these selective commemorations ignore the fact that Indian forces had advanced well into Pakistani territory in multiple sectors, including the capture of strategic positions in Lahore and Sialkot sectors.
Suppression of Dissenting Voices
In Pakistan, academics, journalists, or historians who challenge the state narrative often face censorship or persecution. Critical analysis of the war, its failures, or the flawed strategic assumptions of the time is rarely allowed in public discourse.
This lack of intellectual freedom has led to a historical echo chamber, where only one version of events is permitted to circulate.
Use of Cultural Mediums
From television dramas to war songs, the 1965 war is portrayed as a glorious chapter in Pakistan’s military history. Patriotic songs like “Aye Watan ke Sajeelay Jawano” became tools of emotional appeal. Films and serials produced decades later also reinforce the idea of Pakistani valor and victory, further solidifying the state-sponsored myth.
The Contrast: True Narrative
The propaganda surrounding the 1965 war in Pakistan is not accidental. It is a calculated strategy driven by political necessity, military pride, and institutional control of historical narrative. By using education, media, and cultural tools, Pakistan has built a collective memory of victory that is deeply embedded in national identity.
However, the objective military outcome tells a different story. India not only repelled Pakistan’s offensive in Kashmir but also captured strategic territory deep inside Pakistani Punjab, including areas near Lahore and Sialkot. The Indian Army showcased superior mobilization, air dominance, and logistical resilience.
Though the war ended in a ceasefire under international pressure, India emerged with a clear upper hand, both militarily and diplomatically. Most neutral observers, including Western analysts, agree that India had the advantage and Pakistan’s objectives — particularly in Kashmir — were decisively thwarted. Therefore, despite Pakistan’s internal narrative, history records India as the actual winner of the 1965 war.
How Pakistan Runs Propaganda That They Won the 1965 War: Conclusion
As access to global information increases, younger generations in Pakistan may begin to question these one-sided accounts. Only time will tell whether truth will eventually catch up with the narrative.
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