Written by: Shaharyar Ahmed
Posted on: September 06, 2018 | 
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, 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, 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.
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, 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, 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.
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