On the evening of September 6, 1965, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) launched a successful attack on the Indian Air Base at Pathankot. Squadron No. 19 of PAF neutralized the Indian Air Force's Squadron No. 23 in just 23 minutes.
The operation, which began at 5:30 PM, targeted the Pathankot Air Base located 257 kilometers from Peshawar Air Base. By 6:00 PM, the Indian air base was significantly damaged.
During the aerial engagement, PAF destroyed 13 Indian fighter jets, including seven MiG-21s, on the runway. The attack rendered Pathankot Air Base inoperable for the duration of the war, with PAF suffering no losses.
Indian Air Marshal Raghvendran reported that the sudden and intense attack forced Indian pilots to seek shelter in trenches rather than attempting to take off. He noted that PAF aircraft continued their assault despite heavy anti-aircraft fire.
This operation demonstrated PAF's strategic capabilities and had a significant impact on the 1965 war's air campaign.
