Print

    Non-Muslim Heroes of the Armed Forces: Representing the White Portion of Pakistan's Flag

    Written by: Shaharyar Ahmed
    Posted on: September 06, 2024 | | 中文

    Non-Muslim Heroes of the Armed Forces

    Every year, Pakistan celebrates the sacrifices of its armed forces in the various battles it has fought with neighboring India, with special emphasis on the 1965 war, which took place on the 6th of September, 1965. However, little attention is shown to our Non-Muslim heroes, who have shown an equal commitment towards fighting for the country. It’s strange how faith can overshadow the achievements of individuals who have sacrificed to protect the sovereignty of our nation. Enlisted below are a few heroes, who represent the white portion of the Pakistani flag:

    Major General Akhtar Hussain Malik

    Major General Akhtar Hussain Malik

    Major General Akhtar Hussain Malik (source: Bushra Nasir Ahmed)

    Major General Akhtar Hussain Malik, part of the “Ahmadiyya” community, was inducted to the 16th Punjab Regiment of the Indian Army, later opting for the Pakistani Army after partition in 1947. The General was a man of striking intelligence, and was responsible for conducting the famous Operation Grand Slam of the 1965 War, where the Akhnoor Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir was the prime target. The plan of action was laid by the General, however, during the second day of the operation, in a surprising turn of events; the command was handed over to General Yahya Khan by the then Commander in Chief, General Ayub Khan. People still speculate about the reason for this transfer; however strategically getting Akhnoor was critical to whole war and it is claimed that General Akhtar Malik was transferred so that General Yahya could get the accolades. For his contributions, he was awarded the Hilal-i-Jurrat, the second highest military award.

    Major General Iftikhar Khan Janjua

    Major General Iftikhar Khan Janjua

    Major General Iftikhar Khan Janjua (source: FamousFix)

    Major General Iftikhar Khan Janjua, another Pakistani hero, who was also a part of the “Ahmadiyya” community, has the distinction of representing the Pakistan Army in both the wars of 1965 and 1971. He is known as the hero of Rann of Kutch, where the Pakistan Army managed to capture a very critical post, leading to the demoralization of the Indian Army to such an extent that it started retreating from various positions. The success of Rann of Kutch proved to be vital in Pakistan’s future operations of the 1965 war. He died in the Battle of Chhamb in a helicopter crash in 1971.

    Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry

    Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry

    Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry (source: Geo TV)

    Whenever we think about the heroics of the Pakistan Air Force in the 1965 war, Air Commodore Muhammad Mahmood Alam (commonly known as M.M. Alam) always comes to mind, who managed to take down five Indian aircrafts in less than a minute. However, not far behind are the efforts of Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry, a member of the Christian community, who took an active part in the 1965 war. He, along with a few other pilots, managed to destroy the Amritsar Radar station, which was a great setback for the Indian Air Force. He was awarded with the Sitara-e-Jurrat, Tamgha-e-Jurrat, and President’s pride of performance award for his services in the wars of 1965 and 1971.

    Air Vice Marshal Eric Gordan Hall

    Air Vice Marshal Eric Gordan Hall

    Air Vice Marshal Eric Gordan Hall (source: Wikipedia)

    Air Vice Marshal Eric Gordan Hall, also a member of the Christian community, played a vital role, along with Major General Iftikhar Janjua, in the operation of Rann of Kutch, where his out of the box thinking helped Pakistan achieve significant gains. As a bomber, his brilliant idea of using a C-130 cargo aircraft to bombard the area was an unprecedented move. The Indians were left astounded and had a significant amount of casualties.

    Wing Commander Mervyn Leslie Middlecoat

    Wing Commander Mervyn Leslie Middlecoat

    Wing Commander Mervyn Leslie Middlecoat (source: My Voice Unheard)

    Wing Commander Mervyn Leslie Middlecoat, again a member of the Christian community, was awarded the Sitara-e-Jurrat for his courageous efforts in the 1965 war. Having received training from the United States, he commanded the 9th squadron of the Pakistan Air Force, where he was able to neutralize key Indian Army locations, in 17 missions.

    Besides the contributions of these major fighters, other prominent notables include Squadron Leader Peter Christy, Major General Julian Peter and Air Commodore Balwant Kumar. These heroes remind us of what a significant role our minorities have played in the wars of Pakistan and their contributions should be widely acknowledged by our people, and we should proudly proclaim them as our “National” Heroes.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021