White-clad horsemen, bomb catchers: The myths Pakistan relied on during 1965 war with India

On the fateful night of September 6, 1965, Indian Army forces crossed the border into Pakistan's Punjab region, launching an assault on Lahore and Sialkot. The intention was not to capture the cities themselves, but to intimidate Pakistan into disengaging from the ongoing war in Jammu and Kashmir, thereby reducing pressure on that front.

While Pakistan had its own plans to invade Indian Punjab, the surprise Indian strikes from multiple directions caught the country off guard. As word of the attacks spread, religious figures and the Pakistani military propagated tales of divine intervention and miraculous events to boost morale. One such legend involved a silent shah in Lahore who suddenly began shouting that Allah would grant victory.

Other rumors included sightings of white-clad horsemen with swords, claiming they were on their way to battle. These fantastical stories spread through newspapers, fueling a dangerous delusion that had no impact on the outcome of the conflict. Despite these fabrications, the Indian Army advanced towards Lahore and Sialkot, eventually securing positions just outside the cities, ultimately winning the war.