New Delhi, Dec. 31 -- At the cusp of 1965, the balance of armour and air power was stark:
* Pakistan possessed 15 armoured regiments, bolstered by M-48 Patton tanks courtesy of its SEATO and CENTO alignments. It also had advanced aircraft such as F-86 Sabres and F-104 Starfighters.
* India, by contrast, fielded 17 regiments. Its inventory included Stuart and Sherman tanks, AMX-13s, PT- 76s, and one regiment of Centurions. The Indian Air Force relied on Hunters and the nimble Gnats.
* When Pakistan commenced operations in the Rann of Kutch, its armour manoeuvred with agility, exposing India's underdeveloped road infrastructure and lack of availability of armour along the border.
* The bigger issue that surfaced was not about numerical de...