Border

Indian Air Force Wing Commander Bajwa briefs his squadron that they will fly Hawker Hunters to support the Indian Army in the Jaisalmer sector. Bajwa and Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri discuss the prospect of a Western front in light of the East Pakistan conflict. The unit moves to a forward airbase in the Rajasthan desert and prepares for operations near Longewala.

Kuldip's company takes up a remote outpost in the Rajasthan desert and begins to expand the rudimentary BSF post. They broaden observation toward the border with Pakistan. The outpost is joined by the local BSF Commander Bhairon Singh, who demonstrates fierce desert patriotism.

During a night patrol, Kuldip, Dharamvir, and Bhairon confront insurgents who had infiltrated and betrayed the post. Dharamvir hesitates to shoot the surviving insurgent, revealing his fear of killing in combat. Kuldip rebukes him and Dharamvir carries out the action, leaving him shaken.

A wireless operator spots a spy transmitting from a nearby area. Dharamvir volunteers to investigate and ambushes the spy, bringing the body back to the post. The incident deepens Dharamvir's resolve to overcome his fear of killing.

Letters from home arrive, lifting spirits as soldiers imagine life back home. Das is granted leave to attend to his ailing wife and children. The moment underscores the personal stakes driving the men to endure the harsh desert.

Subedar Ratan Singh arrives with two 105 mm Jonga-mounted RCL guns to bolster anti-armor defense. The extra firepower boosts morale despite the looming threat of tanks. The post now has a credible plan to stall an armored assault.

On the evening of 3 December 1971, Pakistani Air Force bombs Indian airbases and Indira Gandhi declares war. Kuldip and his men brace for the expected invasion along the Western front. News of the declaration elevates the soldiers' resolve and fear in equal measure.

The next day, Pakistani artillery begins shelling Longewala and nearby villages. Evacuation orders go out as the Pakistanis push closer to the post. Dharamvir realises that the assault aims to cover a larger invasion.

Dharamvir's patrol spots Pakistani tanks (Type 59) and infantry crossing into Indian territory under the cover of shelling. He reports back to Kuldip and is ordered to follow the tanks covertly rather than engage immediately. The tension in the post deepens as the threat becomes concrete.

Kuldip radios Bajwa who sadly explains there can be no air support at night because the base lacks night-capable ground-attack aircraft. Bajwa promises to be on the battlefield at first light if they can hold the post. Kuldip informs the unit that they must defend Longewala at all costs.

As Dastagir's tanks close in, the Indians' anti-tank mines slow the assault and Jonga-mounted guns knock out several enemy vehicles. Das is wounded while trying to assist Bhairon in defending the anti-tank lines; he remains alive but gravely hurt. The defenders hold, buying time for the final stand.

Bhairon is mortally wounded in the fighting; he dies after valiantly holding his position. Das dies soon after, dying in Bhairon's arms while attempting to retrieve a recoil spring for Bhairon's MMG. The defense loses two key men but the post endures.

Subedar Ratan Singh sacrifices himself by throwing away an exploding tank shell, saving several of his men from a fatal blast. His act galvanizes the remaining troops to continue fighting. The loss deepens the resolve of Kuldip and his men.

Dharamvir fights his way back through the enemy cordon to rejoin the post, only to find that his entire patrol has been wiped out. He and Kuldip acknowledge the heavy price paid by their comrades. The men steel themselves for a final, desperate defense.

Dastagir orders a last-ditch bayonet assault to break the Indian defense, but Kuldip rallies the remaining soldiers for a suicide counterattack with anti-tank weapons. Dawn breaks as Bajwa's squadron finally takes off, targeting Pakistani tanks and helping to stall the invasion. The Indian forces manage to repel the assault and force the Pakistanis to retreat back across the border, securing a hard-won victory.