Chachro

Chachro is a taluka (tehsil) in the Tharparkar District of Sindh, Pakistan. It is located in the southeast corner of Pakistan, in the Thar Desert, along the Pakistan-India border.

Geography

Chachro is divided into three areas: Khahor, Kantho and Parkar. Residents speak the Dhatki language, as well as Sindhi, Urdu and Gujarati. The majority of the population is Muslim, the Hindu migrated to India after the independence of Pakistan in 1947.

Chachro town situated in between 70’ & 72’ longitude and 24’ & 26’ latitude in the district Tharparkar of Sindh province forms a part of Pakistan since 14th August 1947. During the Indo-Pak war in the year 1971, a portion of Tharparkar including Chachro, was occupied by the Indian Army and the area remained under the control of Indian Army till 22nd December 1972. It really happened when India was attacked by Pakistan at about 5.45pm, on 3rd December 1971. Pakistan Air Force attacked a number of airfields in both the Western and Eastern Parts of India, including Amritsar, Pathankot, Srinagar, Awantipur, Jodhpur, Ambala and Agra. The same evening the Pakistani army attacked on Kashmir and Punjab. It also launched armored infantry operation to secure Ramgarh, Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. In Kashmir, the operations were concentrated on two key points, Punch and Chamb. The Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi was in Calcutta at that time she returned immediately to New Delhi. The President Shri V V Giri declared Emergency. At midnight Smt. Indira Gandhi in a broadcast to the nation declared that India was at war with Pakistan. Here, I am narrating the story of Chachro only. Chachro town was a very important communication centre of Pakistan. Its history is traceable from 644 A.D. Early on 4th December 1971, India launched its attack into East Pakistan and on 5th December 1971 into West Pakistan. Elite Commando troops of the Parachute regiment raided on Chachro on the night of December 5th. The Unit was based at Sarupkatala, south west of Barmer town. By the day light, the commandos neutralized all threats and cleared the enemy from Chachro. It was discovered that a major chunk of the Pakistani force had escaped earlier. However 17 prisoners and a huge number of small arms were captured. After that one group proceeded to raid the town of Virawah. By evening Virawah was taken over. Actually this was the biggest territorial conquest in terms of territory. On 16th December a ceasefire was enforced in the Eastern theatre when Pakistani Forces in East Pakistan surrendered to the Indian Army. On the same evening a ceasefire was also enforced in the Western theatre. Immediately after the ceasefire, India claimed the occupation of about 3600sq. kilometers of West Pakistan territory in the district of Tharparkar in the Province of Sindh. Soon thereafter, an Indian Sub Post office was opened at Chachro being EXPTL. P.O. No. J-519. The Postal Index Number (PIN) was introduced in India on & from 15th August 1972. Therefore a PIN was allotted to Chachro being No. 344503. . There also existed Army Post office (F.P.O. 1932) and Armed Postal Services was responsible for carrying mail in between Chachro and India than Gujrat Postal Circle of India Posts was responsible for carrying male to rest of the world .