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Lesser Known Fact:
Althought the ceasefire during the 1st Kashmir war took place on 5th Jan ‘48,
There was a group of independent rebels from northern Pakistan who didn’t know of the ceasefire and fought for 6 more months.
Thread on the Padum Party. 1/n
Althought the ceasefire during the 1st Kashmir war took place on 5th Jan ‘48,
There was a group of independent rebels from northern Pakistan who didn’t know of the ceasefire and fought for 6 more months.
Thread on the Padum Party. 1/n
Much of the 1st Kashmir war was fought by independent rebels and militias on their own. One such Militia consisted of 95 irregulars who were divided into 3 groups; one towards Drass, one towards Ladakh and the other towards the villages of Padum in the Ladakh Himalayas.
The Pro Pak Militia initially made great gains into Ladakh. Padum was first occupied by Subedar M. Yasin of Shigar. Then relieved by Havildar Ali Haider of Nagar months later. As communications with HQ were severed many headed back but defence for Padum was made.
Padum used to send out patrolling parties, one of which got under severe attack of the enemy and some were taken prisoner.
On 7th Jan, the Indians advanced towards Padum and on 9th Jan they had completely surrounded the entire village region.
On 7th Jan, the Indians advanced towards Padum and on 9th Jan they had completely surrounded the entire village region.
The Naib Subedar in charge named Mohammad Ali didn’t know that the war had been ended, So he dug a trench around the entire village and started defending his area. Multiple battles and incursions were fought. The supplies were minimal. At time’s food was only boiled flour.
Even in such conditions the war for them didn’t stop. Indians used grenade warfare to draw them out but at no avail. The defence and battles in Padum went on for months and went deep into July 1949. At this point the Padum party wished to contact the HQ.
3 volunteers were sent to Kargil where they contacted HQ to inform them that the Padum Party were safe only to discover that the war had been over for 6 months!
The people in HQ were astonished to find out the Padum party was still fighting. Contacts with the Indians were made
The people in HQ were astonished to find out the Padum party was still fighting. Contacts with the Indians were made
And the Padum party were safely brought back to Pakistan. Even the Indians have said to have commended the Padum party for fighting for months behind enemy lines with such valour.
Liaquat Ali Khan visited Gilgit and met the party.
Liaquat Ali Khan visited Gilgit and met the party.
