“Well, what the hell! What's the harm in trying? ” He said to himself and attended the exam, then again promptly forgot about it until the day he received a letter informing him that he had passed the written and was required to attend the second round for face to face interviews and physical tests. In good physical condition, he cleared the physicals easily but was shown the door in one of face to face interviews. Piqued and puzzled by his disqualification at almost the last round, he discussed the matter with one of his college mates whose elder brother was a Colonel in the army. The Colonel was gracious enough to listen and give him as much guidance as he could in his limited time. Although in meanwhile, he had managed to land another job that paid better than the previous one, he applied again for the SSB. Even though he still had doubts about clearing the exam, much to his own surprise he did so in second attempt.
His father was both proud and slightly amused while his mother showed more of a horrified surprise than pride. Both had been in government service their whole lives and idea of their only son joining the army had never crossed their mind. They had expected him to complete his studies, get a job somewhere, preferably in government sector and start his own family within a few years, just like the rest of the extended family. He was even well on the expected path and now this army thing! What with its risks and postings to remote places that no one even heard about.
The very concept was alien to them, but they had to give in to his wishes. Sure there was a little danger but it's not that everybody died. Private sector job was okay but was boring as hell and he had loved the NCC. He even won two awards, didn't he? Additionally, even army was paying a competitive salary after the 6th Pay Commission. Who else in the whole family had the honour of wearing the olive green uniform? And most importantly, finding a girl for marriage wouldn't be hard now.
He resigned from the job next day and reported to the IMA for his training which he passed respectably. His first tour of duty in Punjab was peaceful and routine in every aspect and lasted four months. After which he was transferred to J&K, which everybody rightly expected to be his first brush with real action. He had arrived at his post known only as Point 4431 in two weeks as an almost fresh Lieutenant still learning the ropes.
Point 4431 was just one of countless mountain peaks that formed the rugged landscape on the India-Pakistan Line of Control in J&K. Like with every other mountain peak right on the border, this one too had army posts manned all year round. Maintaining round the clock vigil all through the year was tough in summers and murderous in winters. The process was exhausting, expensive and most of all, took its toll on the soldiers who considered a posting like this akin to a punishment tour. Cut off from rest of the civilization, except for the field radio in small bunker high up in a god forsaken mountain, all the while keeping constant vigil was nobody's idea of fun. But still, the work had to be done. Neither side was sparing any effort to better or at the very least, keep up with the other side.
Conditions had not always been like this. Prior to Kargil war in 1999, most of the posts high up in the mountains were vacated during winters and reoccupied in summers by both armies. Both India and Pakistan had a gentleman's agreement on the issue and neither side tried to occupy others empty posts. The truce between two sworn enemies had held in spite of some hiccups till 1999, when Pakistani army broke the agreement and occupied numerous Indian posts while they were empty during winters. Intruders were regular Paki army personnel disguised as “mujahedeen”. Indian intelligence and armed forces were caught with their pants down. A limited, yet bloody war ensued with Indian Army throwing waves of infantry and artillery attacks against a well established enemy in an impossible terrain. The war took its toll on both sides. India lost more than 600 soldiers and 5 aircraft in a war that lasted just more than three weeks. Losses on Pakistani side were much higher. Indians claiming more than 1400 while Pakistanis claiming no more than 300. Pakistanis owned up some of their dead 11 years later. They had to do it sooner or later, especially since loss of a whole army unit; NLI was difficult to hide anyway.
One of the effects of that war was a halt on the practice of abandoning posts during winters. All along the LOC, new bunkers were constructed, existing ones fortified with more supplies and armies on both sides started their round the year watch.
But Point 4431 differed from rest of the peaks. It had immense strategic value for both sides. It had been in Indian control since 1947 and unlike many other peaks, its posts were never abandoned during winters even before 1999. Much of its strategic value came from its unique position. It was directly on the top of Bahu pass, which connected India’s territory with Pakistan. Although the pass had been in disuse for six decades, it was still a vital feature for both the sides. It was the only place in the sector which allowed tanks from either side to cross over in to the other. Both sides had realised the possibility and constructed roads that could support heavy armour movement right up to the opening. But Pakistanis had a major disadvantage in the fact that whoever controlled Pt. 4431 effectively controlled the pass and the control was in Indian hands.
One other advantage that controller of the peak enjoyed was the strategic view it offered, on both sides of border, especially Pakistani. While terrain on Indian side behind the peak was still uneven and covered with smaller mountains, Pakistani was more or less flat with only a small series of hillocks that actually marked the end of the mountain range in this area. Although it gave Pakis an easier and faster terrain to move their convoys, control of the peak in Indian hands negated much of their advantage. Any movement they made was difficult to hide from the Indians. Even the small 130 mm field guns and 81 mm mortars on top of the mountain were deadly and had extended range due to the altitude advantage. Additionally, they could always call for backup from the heavier 155mm Bofors guns which were placed only a few Km back.
The importance of the pass was further increased after an old but disused route connecting Poonch to Shopian in Kashmir was activated. In earlier times, the route was used by Mughals to travel to Kashmir. It passed through Jammu, Rajauri, and Poonch and terminated in Shopian in Kashmir. The new road, formally named as Mughal Road was less than 1 hours drive from the pass and the side controlling it had a very easy route to reach both Kashmir as well as Jammu in a short amount of time.
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