Dated: November 10, 1998

Dear Editor

You are doing a great service to the cause of military history in Pakistan. You are significantly reversing and denouncing the old policy of remaining tight-lipped about our future. There are certain suggestions however which may be of some use.

The cause of military history should be properly served but the writer should be above petty regimental rivalries and should not indulge in too much of self-glorification.

An article which challenges or refutes previously prevalent facts which were actually merely myths, misconceptions or distortion of history must be followed by a final summing up by the editor or some other expert in the same or next issue. I will give the example of the excellent article by Sqn Ldr Shuaib Alam Khan in issue No 5 Vol Two. The Sqn Leader exposed certain previously widely propagated and believed myths about the infallibility and invincibility of our air force. I don't know whether the controversy he had arised was synthesised or not.

In issue No Two Vol. Two in an article on page 36 it was written that in 1971 on the western front the Pakistan army did not go on the offensive in any sector. Factually this is not correct. Offensive by Pakistani or Indian standard is merely going 5 to 6 miles inside and keep on attacking frontally. If we adhere to this factual standard the Pakistan army did go on the offensive in one sector i.e. Chhamb where the 23 division was brilliantly led; actually spurred and goaded into action by the indomitable general Iftikhar Janjua; alas had he lived many cowards who later on rose to great heights in our army; could not have prospered. three armoured regiments were employed in this battle by Pakistan; supported by some five infantry brigades. The division accomplished its objective i.e. capture of Chhamb; and could have accomplished more; had the indomitable general Iftikhar lived. His exit due to a helicopter crash was followed by sheer suspension of action in the war. It may be noted that the 23 division suffered as many casualties as the 6 armoured division at Chawinda. We went to the offensive in another sector i.e. Longanewala.

In an article in March 1998 issue on page 40 an author states that the Indians possessed T-80/72 tanks! This is a new discovery! The same author on page 39 mentions a Pakistan army offensive across River Ravi, this is a new discovery, hitherto unknown. There was one offensive across the Rohi Nullah and one across Tawi river. If this is a proof reading error then it is a serious one. The same worthy author states on page 40 that in 1948-49 most of the units of Pakistan army were carrying out occupation duties for the allies; this I understand is not true. The Pakistan army I believe was back from overseas duty as part of old Indian army by 1946 or 1947, at least the bulk of it. And it took part in the 1948 War, in 1949 hardly any fighting took place. There was major Pakistan Army involvement in the capture of Pandu, at Punch, Bhimbhar; in the launching of the projected Operation Venus by the 14 Para Brigade supported by 11 Cavalry etc. One of my teachers in Saint Mary's Lalazar, Major Tim's was in an artillery battery in the 1948 War. The Qayyum Brigade as it was known played a limited role in the war. The major role was played by the Tribal Lashkars composed of the Mahsud Wazir and Afridi tribes ably guided by General Akbar Khan. Gilgit was liberated single-handedly by Gilgit scouts without any Pakistan Army help; an independent republic was proclaimed in Gilgit and an envoy sent to Pakistan to join it voluntarily. Later on the golden opportunity to advance toward Srinagar from Zojila was lost because Major Qureshi from Pakistan Army (which joined the battle at a later stage) violated the basic principle of Concentration and Maintenance of Aim by dividing the force between capture of Leh and holding of Zojila Pass; as a result of which we failed to do the former and lost the latter which gave us the direct approach to Srinagar from the northeast. It must, however, be remembered that all the militias in 1948 had a very large proportion of trained soldiers who had been demobolized following WWII. These men like Aslam Khan MC, Colonel Kiani of INA and Brig Akbar Khan (the DSO of Burma) as well as Sudhans of the Qayyum Brigade had fought in Burma as part of the Indian army or the J and K state force units.

Lastly a word about 11 Cavalry which has been projected in a very negative light by certain gentlemen. Putting the record straight this regiment is one of the very few Indian armour units which fought all the three axis powers in WWII. After 1947 this regiment is the only unit of at least Pakistan Armoured Corps which went inside India in all three wars i.e. 1948 (purely because of the initiative of its co the erstwhile Brig Tommy Masud), 1965 in Chhamb and Jourian and in 1971 in Chhamb. The facts speak for themselves; this information is only for those civilians or ignorant army officers who start reading military history.