On the morning of December 12, 1947, General Mehta's forces had reached an extraordinary momentum.
The Indian Army, driven by the relentless mandate set forth by Prime Minister Rohan Varma, had made rapid advances, cutting through the heart of Pakistan's defenses with surgical precision.
Morale among the troops was at an all-time high.
Reports from the battlefield filled every officer with a hope and honour and Mehta knew they were on the cusp of achieving something historic.
Rohan's vision for taking Gilgit-Baltistan and crippling Pakistan's major cities had sparked a fire within the ranks.
The General felt that expectations upon him, but also a determination to meet his Prime Minister's expectations.
In the forward command post, Mehta gathered his officers around a large map of the northern territories.
Kohistan, Abbottabad, Manshera, Malkand, and most of Gilgit-Baltistan were now under Indian control, and only the high-altitude region of Chitral remained.
"We've achieved more in seven days than we anticipated," Mehta began, his voice steady but intense. "But now, Chitral stands between us and full control of this strategic region. The enemy is battered and on the run, but we can't give them any space to regroup."
Colonel Rao, who had been by Mehta's side since the offensive began, nodded. "Our troops are moving fast, General. The logistical support we've received has been exceptional, and the reinforcements are pouring in from the south. We'll be able to push deeper into Chitral within the next 48 hours."
Mehta glanced over the reports on his desk, his mind working through the possibilities. "Good. I want a clean, decisive strike. No drawn-out siege. We hit Chitral hard, and we take it before they even have a chance to realize what's happening."
As he spoke, more reports arrived.
The Indian Army, having secured Abbottabad, was now laying siege to Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
This bold move had further disoriented Pakistani forces, leaving them scrambling to reinforce their collapsing lines.
With Islamabad and Rawalpindi under siege, Pakistan's military was facing a logistical nightmare, cut off from critical supply routes.
"We've thrown them into chaos," Rao remarked, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. "Every time they try to react, we're already one step ahead."
Mehta smiled grimly. "And we'll stay that way. Keep up the pressure."
Meanwhile, in Punjab, General Singh had carried out a similarly audacious maneuver.
His forces had stormed through the outskirts of Lahore, but instead of getting slowed down in a long, grueling battle for the city, Singh had split his troops, sending a detachment to swiftly capture Faisalabad and Gujranwala, effectively isolating Lahore from all possible support.
With its supply lines severed, Lahore was on the brink of being encircled entirely.
General Singh's voice crackled over the radio in Mehta's command post. "We've cut off Lahore's resources," Singh reported, his tone calm but filled with happiness.
"They're holed up in the city, but they won't last long. The troops I sent to Gujranwala and Faisalabad have secured both cities. Now we just need to break through Lahore's outer defenses."
Mehta's eyes lit up. "Good work, Singh. Once Lahore falls, Pakistan will have no choice but to redirect whatever forces they have left. They're about to find themselves fighting on multiple fronts with no way to win."
But it wasn't just in the north and Punjab where the Indian Army was making astonishing progress.
In the deserts of Rajasthan, Colonel Sam forces, having pushed deep into Pakistani territory, had launched a surprise assault on Multan.
Though Multan was heavily defended, the speed and coordination of the Indian offensive had left the Pakistani defenders in disarray.
The desert sands had become a battleground, with Indian troops advancing relentlessly, forcing Pakistani forces into a defensive posture they hadn't anticipated.
To add to the chaos, Sam forces had pushed even beyond their original objectives, laying siege to Hyderabad and Karachi simultaneously.
The coastal city of Karachi, Pakistan's most important port, was now surrounded by Indian forces, its naval assets vulnerable and exposed.
Sam in coordination with the Indian Air Force, had requested air support to strike the Pakistani navy stationed there, crippling their ability to resupply or evacuate forces from the south.
The air force responded swiftly.
As Indian soldiers continued to tighten their grip around Karachi, bombers roared overhead, targeting naval vessels docked at the port.
The sound of explosions echoed across the city as the Pakistani navy was caught off guard.
Ships were left burning in the harbor, and panic spread through the ranks of Pakistan's defenders.
By the seventh day of the offensive, the world was stunned by the scale and speed of India's military operations.
Nearly every major city in Pakistan was either under siege or at risk of falling.
Gilgit-Baltistan, the initial target of the Indian operation, was now almost entirely in Indian hands, with only Chitral standing as the last bastion of Pakistani control in the north.
Islamabad and Rawalpindi were facing the real possibility of capitulation, while Lahore, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala were cut off and surrounded.
Multan was under siege, and Karachi, the lifeline of Pakistan's economy and military, was on the verge of falling.
International observers struggled to comprehend how such a complex, multi-front operation had unfolded so quickly.
News reports around the world were filled with headlines declaring the unprecedented success of India's military campaign, while in Pakistan, there was widespread confusion and fear.
Pakistani generals were struggling to coordinate their defenses, unable to respond effectively to the simultaneous threats on multiple fronts.
In his war room in New Delhi, Prime Minister Rohan Varma received constant updates from the field.
As each new report came in, detailing another Indian victory or another Pakistani retreat, Rohan remained composed.
The plan was working, but the hardest part was yet to come.
"Mehta's forces have taken Abbottabad and Manshera," Neeraj Kumar said, looking up from the latest briefing. "They're pushing into Chitral now, but the terrain is slowing them down."
Rohan nodded, his gaze fixed on the map of Pakistan spread out before him. "We need to take Chitral quickly. Once that falls, Gilgit-Baltistan is ours."
Neeraj looked at him with a mixture of awe and concern. "Sir, what you've done here... no one expected this level of success. In just seven days, we've turned the tide of the war. But we need to be cautious. The international community is starting to take notice. They won't stay quiet for long."
Rohan knew Neeraj was right.
The world was watching, and while India's rapid advances were impressive, they also carried the risk of international intervention.
But Rohan was determined.
His goal wasn't just to win battles it was to reshape the region's geopolitical landscape, and Gilgit-Baltistan was the key.
"We've come too far to stop now," Rohan said, his voice steady. "Mehta will take Chitral, Singh will break through Lahore's defenses, and Karachi will fall. Once we have those cities, we'll be in a position of strength, and we can dictate the terms of any negotiation."
Neeraj nodded, understanding the weight of his Prime Minister's words. "I'll inform the generals. They'll know what to do."
As the sun began to set over New Delhi, the sounds of war continued to echo across the battlefields of Pakistan.
General Mehta's forces, having secured most of Gilgit-Baltistan, were now preparing for the final push into Chitral.
In Lahore, General Singh's forces were tightening their grip on the city, preparing for the decisive assault that would bring it under Indian control.
And in the south, Colonel Sam troops were on the verge of taking Multan, while Karachi lay under siege, its defenders struggling to hold on against the overwhelming Indian assault.
The world waited with bated breath, wondering what the next move in this unprecedented conflict would be.
But for Rohan and his generals, the path was clear: victory at all costs.
As Rohan looked out at the city from his office.
The decisions he had made were already reshaping the future of the subcontinent, but there was still work to be done.
The battle wasn't over, but the end was in sight.
"Send the order to Mehta," Rohan said quietly to Neeraj. "Tell him to take Chitral. And once he's done there... send him to Islamabad. This isn't just about defending India anymore. This is about securing our future."