Army Museum preserves war memories

The Army Museum is preserving key chapters of Pakistan's military history, including the 1965 and 1971 wars and the country's long fight against terrorism, through dioramas, accounts of fallen soldiers and captured enemy tanks.

When Indian forces crossed the international border and attacked Pakistan in September 1965, Pakistani troops, despite limited resources, halted the enemy's advance and defended the country's territory. The museum's war galleries preserve scenes from several fronts of the conflict, offering visitors a glimpse into the battles fought during the war.

The 1965 War Gallery features dioramas depicting the Lahore, Sialkot, Khem Karan and Rajasthan fronts. It also highlights the command post of Major Aziz Bhatti Shaheed and the roles played by the Pakistan Air Force and Navy.

According to a senior museum guide, the gallery presents important events from different sectors through detailed dioramas. Historical background information is displayed alongside each scene to help visitors understand the events.

One of the significant episodes of the war was the Battle of Chawinda in the Sialkot sector, where Pakistani forces stopped the advance of the Indian 1st Armoured Division.

According to the Army Institute of Military History, a relatively smaller Pakistani force succeeded in preventing the Indian armoured formation from advancing further. A breakthrough at Chawinda could have opened a route towards the Grand Trunk Road for the Indian forces.

Four tanks captured from the Indian Army are also displayed at the entrance of the museum. Available information indicates that three of these were captured during the Battle of Chawinda in 1965, while another is linked to the 1971 war.

Among them is an Indian Centurion command tank associated with the commanding officer of the 17th Poona Horse regiment. Another exhibit is a T-54 identified as an Indian 18 Cavalry tank, which is described as having been destroyed during an operation involving Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed in 1971.

The tanks serve as historical evidence of the battles fought in 1965 and 1971. The exhibits also highlight that battlefield outcomes depend not only on weapons and equipment but also on training, strategy, discipline and the morale of soldiers.

The 1971 War Gallery features dioramas from different fronts, with exhibits dedicated to Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed and Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz Shaheed.

According to an intern at the museum, Syeda Maryam, the gallery also documents Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed's actions in the Sulemanki sector. He fought Indian forces in an intense combat and engaged in a close confrontation with an officer, Major Narain Singh, killing him before continuing to resist advancing enemy tanks. Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed was later martyred during the fighting.

The museum also has a dedicated gallery on the war against terrorism, displaying weapons, historical material and accounts related to counterterrorism operations and the sacrifices of Pakistan Army personnel.

Visitors said the war dioramas provide a useful way of introducing younger generations to the country's military history and the importance of national defence. Rana Ahmed Hassan said the tanks and battle scenes offered an insight into the difficult circumstances faced by soldiers defending the country.