[7] After Indian forces invaded Pakistan in an attempt to halt the Pakistani advance in the disputed Kashmir region, the No.

On 19 September, Squadron Leader Azim Daudpota and his three wingmen (Flight Lieutenants SM Ahmed, Mujtaba & Saiful Azam) flying North American F-86 Sabres were performing air strikes on Indian army positions at the Phillora area when they were intercepted by 2 Indian Folland Gnats of the IAF's No.

In the ensuing Dog fight, Flight Lieutenant Azam shot down one of the IAF Gnat while the second one managed to escape.

In another strike mission, Squadron Leader Azim Daudpota with Flying Officer Qadir and two more F-86 pilots performed a strike mission on Indian army artillery batteries around the Jallo and Attari sectors which were bombing the Lahore District, the formation managed to destroy several artillery guns.

However, Five Sabres of the squadron were damaged due to enemy fire while one was lost in an accident when it suffered an engine flameout, the pilot Flight Lieutenant Nayyer Iqbal was fatally injured.

23 Squadron "Talons" was put on air defence alert after a surge in aerial intrusions by Afghan and Soviet warplanes during the Soviet-Afghan war.