Flight of the Falcon Read online

  FLIGHT OF THE FALCON FLIGHT OF THE FALCON

  By

  S SAJAD HAIDER

  V

  VANGUARD BOOKS Lahore/ Karachi/ Islamabad

  Copyright: © 2010 by Vanguard Books Pvt Ltd and S Sajad Haider

  All rights reserved This book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, including illustrations and pictures, in any form without written permission from the author and publisher

  Revised Third Edition ISBN:

  V

  Vanguard Books (Pvt) Ltd 72-FCC Gulberg-4, Lahore, Pakistan Ph: # 92-42-5875622 Fax: # 92-42-5751025 email: [email protected]

  Printed at:

  Banquet Printing Press, Lane No 28-A, Nisbat Road, Lahore Phone No 92-42-7245590

  Copyright: © 2010 by Vanguard Books Pvt Ltd.,

  All rights reserved This book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, including illustrations and pictures, in any form without written permission from the publishers & author.

  Revised Third Edition ISBN : 978-969-402-526-1

  V

  Vanguard Books (Pvt) Ltd.

  72-FCC Gulberg-4, Lahore, Pakistan Ph: # 92-42-35875622 Fax: # 92-42-35751025 email: [email protected]

  Printed at:

  Maktaba Jadeed Press 14-Empress Road, Lahore Phone No. 92-42-36307639-40

  T R I B U T E

  To my parents who taught us the meaning of integrity, honour and courage, silently through their indomitable personal example.

  And… To my gallant comrades who were martyred defending this nation, laughing in the face of death; and to those who fought with courage and survived; neither knew that their sacrifices were in senseless wars perpetrated by helmsmen with defeated minds.

  C o n t e n t s

  Preface ix

  Abbreviations xii

  Acknowledgements xiv

  Author’s Note xv

  Foreword xxi

  Prologue xxiv

  Chapter 1 In the Shadow of My Father 1

  Chapter 2 Chasing a Pilot’s Dream 9

  Chapter 3 First Jet Squadron in Pakistan 23

  Chapter 4 Westward Ho! 38

  Chapter 5 Coming of Age 48

  Chapter 6 Command of a Fighter Squadron 68

  Chapter 7 Rann of Kutch Skirmish 79

  Chapter 8 Ayub Khan Blunders – Kashmir Lost 87

  Chapter 9 PAF Blunts Indian Invasion 119

  Chapter 10 Success Turns to Failure 143

  viii |

  Flight of the Falcon

  Chapter 11 The Drift After 1965 War 187

  Chapter 12 The Gathering Storm 216

  Chapter 13 War of 1971 – Another Betrayal 230

  Chapter 14 Shameful Capitulation and the Aftermath 270

  Chapter 15 Beginning of the End 286

  Chapter 16 Attock Conspiracy 304

  Chapter 17 High Command Crumbles 352

  Chapter 18 New Lease for the PAF 361

  Chapter 19 In the Shadow of Myself 377

  Epilogue 407

  Index 427

  Appendix 435

  PREFACE TO REVISED THIRD EDITION

  When confronted by fairytales, I am compelled to tell the whole truth and not a monosyllable less. I have been prompted to say this by certain observations that were made on my version of history which I feel need to be addressed. It would be prudent to mention that I went ahead and wrote this book despite the opinion of some of my peers that raw truth, even if it is backed by evidence and corroborated by impeccable sources, will not change opinions, let alone demolish myths or half-truths that have endured for decades. They argued that the nation has been nurtured on lies and fantasies which are as pervasive as they are toxic and hence my quest to unveil facts would have little market potential and major publishers would be reluctant to publish my work.

  My resolve remained unshaken and I am glad I persevered. Flight of the Falcon was a leap of faith and a labour of love. I am humbled and honored by the interest generated in Pakistan and the feedback received from countries ranging from Australia and UK to USA (Los Angeles), all the way up to Canada. Flight of the Falcon is in fact soaring to heights far beyond my expectations. This freshly revised version is the third edition to hit the shelves in five months. I am overwhelmed by the response, some uplifting others poignantly cynical. These include a preview by Anjum Niaz (DAWN), articles and reviews by Dr Shireen Mazari (The News), book reviews by Raza Rumi (TFT) and the author of Crossed Swords, Shuja Nawaz (DAWN Books and Authors), articles by Afrah Jamal (The News), and interviews by Ahmed Faruqui (DAWN TV), Naeem Bokhari (HUM TV), SAMAA TV, and Sultan Hali (PTV). All this publicity has acted as a catalyst in the surging sales and is responsible for the astonishing success of this book.

  The objections raised were brought to my attention by respected senior officers and one by a former colleague. One concerned the 6th of September 1965, referring to a tactical failure of the strategic pre-emptive plan which was botched that day and its bearing upon air superiority claims the next day. A candid analysis based on irrefutable empirical data had been chronicled in Chapter 10, which has again been reiterated to discard any notions that complete air superiority was achieved by the PAF by 7th September 1965. In reality, we had a good measure of air superiority over our vulnerable assets and desired air superiority over crucial battle areas in Kashmir and later over Punjab. Maximum IAF aircraft shot in the air (3 Hunters against the claim of 7) and destroyed on the ground (13 against the claim of 12) were on 6th September, not the 7th September. On 7thSept the IAF launched about 60 sorties but only 33 came through. A total of four IAF fighters were destroyed and 29 went back safely. Sargodha had 75 fighter aircraft sprawled on the ground when the first IAF raid arrived. They were in a hurry and showed very poor marksmanship. The 33 IAF raids only destroyed one PAF fighter on the ground. Resultantly, the insalubrious performance by the PAF air defence command and its elements did not justify calling 7thSept the “Greatest Day” by our historians. The 7thSeptember performance against the Indian raid not withstanding, all the elements of the Pakistan Air Force operational command put up a stunning performance throughout the 1965 War. My only intent in this candid, if brutal synopsis of these two Indo-Pak Wars (1965 and 1971) was to help the present generation of commanders to avoid the same pitfalls of yore. No lessons were brought out then or at any other time. The Armed Forces have always remained above reproach sans accountability owing to incompetent political leadership.

  The other critique was about the treacherous planning and attempted hijack by the Bengali pilot Flt Lt Mati ur Rehman in 1971. The redoubtable Gp Capt Zaheer Hussain, President of the Air Investigation Board, who had conducted the investigation, was indignant at the way his findings had somehow become tainted. The edited version of the botched hijack attempt of 1971 on page 220 has been replaced with the one attested by Gp Capt Zaheer Hussain.

  This brings me finally to the issue chronicled in the Epilogue about the people of Pakistan and the quagmire they find themselves in at the hands of the political mafia, their despotic leaders and dictators. A lot has happened in the past year, so a comment is needed to recapitulate the misery of the poor masses and the dwindling middle class.

  Never has the slogan of ‘ Roti, Kapra aur Makan’ (‘Bread, Cloth and Home’) jarred so much as now when women die for a sack of flour and a bowl of sugar. The great Quaid had said, “If you want to make this great state (sic) of Pakistan happy and prosperous we should wholly and solely concentrate on the well being of the people, and especially of the masses and the poor.” His vision has been destroyed by successive governments, especially by unscrupulous politicians who under a façade of democracy, have started selling what shreds of national dignity that remained. They were facilitated by a dictator through his ignominious NRO that legitimized and legalized corruption. Now all corruption by the power elite will be above the law. Is there any wonder that the masses silent protests are resounding in the words of Barack Obama and the solution being offered through the stringent small print in the Kerry-Lugar bill is to keep the hyenas of the establishment from pulling Ayub Khan and Zia ul Haq type of tactics in the future.

  What an irony that the hunger pangs of the nation mean flourishing business for the plunderers who are the cartel mafia of sugar, cement and flour. The big fish, 99 % of the top elite (military, bureaucrats and politicians) are all guilty of financial and moral crimes. I doubt if this democracy can stand up to the exacting standards of the West. Sovereignty is a precious thing, but only those born in the 1930s, who witnessed Pakistan emerge as a proud nation but also saw it wither away into oblivion soon after the father of the nation died, will mourn for what they lost and know what is at stake. The power to change lies with the young generation. Only by stoking the fire in their heart can they show power and demand their dignity and sovereignty back in a mighty blitzkrieg.

  Abbreviations

  Ack-Ack Anti Aircraft

  ADC Air Defence Centre

  ADGES Air Defence Ground Environment System AGL Above Ground Level

  AHQ Air Head Quarters

  AOC Air Officer Commanding

  ASI Air Speed Indicator

  ATC Air Traffic Control

  C-in-C Commander in Chief

  CAS Close Air Support

  CAP Combat Air Patrol

  CAS Chief of Air Staff

  CENTO Central Treaty Organisation CO Commanding Officer

  COC Command Operations Centre COAS Chief of Army Staff

  ELINT Electronic Intelligence

  GOC Gener
al Officer Commanding GOC-in-C General Officer Commanding in Chief HJ Hilal-e-Jurat

  AHQ Air Headquarters

  IAF Indian Air Force

  OC Officer Commanding

  ORP Operation Readiness Platform

  In the Shadow of My Father | xiii

  PAF Pakistan Air Force

  POW Prisoner of War RAF RoyalAirForce

  RPAF Royal Pakistan Air Force SAM Surface to Air Missile

  SASO Senior Air Staff Officer

  SEATO South East Asian Treaty Organisation SJ Sitara-e-Jurat

  TOT Time Over Target

  USAF United States Air Force

  VCAS Vice-Chief of Air Staff

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  This book would not have been possible had the late Air Marshal Rahim Khan not encouraged me to pursue it with enduring commitment. It took me years to finally get down to start the writing, but the resolve to complete it is owed to the remarkable guidance,patience, and support from the living legends, Air Marshals Asghar Khan and Nur Khan, and many former air force colleagues. Words would be inadequate to describe my gratitude to Air Cdre (R) Bill Latif whose relentless support, long hours of diligent editing and authentication of my dissertation with incredible attention todetail, kept me immersed in the endeavour. Until one fateful day, having completed 80% of the work, he was felled by a stray bullet during an evening stroll in Islamabad’s F8/4 Sector. The bullet penetrated above his right jaw and was lodged in his left cheek bone. Tragically, he lost his right eye and after the bullet was removed he suffered a stroke. This unforeseen tragedy brought my project to a near halt, for I was emotionally shaken beyond belief. I owe to him the outcome of my story which he had read through twice before he decided to edit it. May Allah restore his health. I also owe my jump start to a young lady called Eeman Malik who composed as I dictated for over 8 months. Thanks are also due to my comrade Sqn Ldr (R) Nisar-ul Haq who provided me reference books, excerpts and innumerable contacts with persons I needed to interview. Surely, I could not have put the élan in the presentation of my effort, especially the intricate photo work, without the diligence of my daughter-in-law Sophiya Haider. I am thankful to my children, Adnan, Zohare and Zaiena, and especially to my sister Kausar, for their unflagging support through out the years. Lastly, despite all this support, the book became a reality owing to the resilience and dedication shown by Rina Saeed Khan. Most fortunately, Air Cdre (R) Kaiser Tufail joined in at the end and offered to edit the final manuscript incisively. To the two of them I owe my deepest gratitude.

  Air Cdre (R) Sayed Sajad Haider ISLAMABAD

  1st March 2009

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  They say those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it. In Pakistan, I can safely say that history has been murdered by those who have come to power. It is now time that history is re-written and the truth is told. The lessons of past wars need to be brought out for Pakistan’s survival. Today, as I enter the twilight of my life I have surfed through my past, recapturing exciting events, especially the spectacular episodes during my 28 years in the Pakistan Air Force. I have also chronicled the trials and tribulations which I had to face. I feel it should be my legacy to leave behind a detailed account of not just the battles in which I fought, but the circumstances that led to these senseless conflicts with India and the leaders responsible for the wars. I want to present an honest exposé of what really happened in Pakistan’s history.

  I inherited a strong sense of patriotism from my father who was a staunch devotee of Mohammad Ali Jinnah and a pioneer of the Muslim League in Baluchistan. My notions of Azadi(Freedom) and loathing for the colonialists were nourished in this embryonic stage. As World War II ended, the movement for freedom from the colonial powers gathered impetus. Then came the Partition with all its fury and the inferno of hatred and unjustified revenge on a religious basis, which tore apart the fabric of communal unity of the Sub-continent. My young mind could not comprehend the velocity of events as we sat numbed from the loot, plunder and human carnage that followed. Many Hindu women and children who were known to my parents were sheltered in our modest house for days before all of them left Quetta. Time evaporates bad memories, as gradually all of us children grew out of the trauma of the Partition and got on with life dreaming about the future, in which the Quaid-e-Azam was the symbol of hope for our young minds.

  The more I heard about the Quaid-e-Azam from our parents, the more my adoration for him grew. Names like Lord Mountbatten, Radcliff, Nehru and the Indian Congress were an anathema to our young minds because in our understanding this nexus had taken Kashmir, Hyderabad Deccan, Junagarh and other Muslim princely states from Pakistan by brute force and the connivance of the British Indian Governor General, Lord Mountbatten. Emotions ran high as many of us friends joined the Muslim Students Federation, where we were indoctrinated as the future

  xvi | Flight of the Falcon leaders of Pakistan. The first expression of our teenage political motivation came in a massive dose as I sat an arm’s length away from the Quaid-e-Azam when he was invited to my old school. I sat on the floor of the stage and gaped at the founder in sheer awe and somewhat enviously watched my younger brother, Bunyad Haider, shake hands with him and receive four prizes for academic excellence. My father had rejected my imploring to shake hands with the Quaid-e-Azam, declaring that it was only the privilege of those who excelled in studies to deserve such a good fortune. Bunyad, who is now a top cardiologist, was also selected to give a speech about Pakistani patriotism and he delivered a fiery one that he still remembers today.

  The Quaid addressed us in English and every one listened in rapt attention; he said something about young men joining the proud profession of the military to defend the motherland. In those propitious moments the seed of becoming an air force pilot was planted in my mind. That was the dream I chased with intense commitment for nearly three decades of my youth along with many other trail blazing comrades. We reached for the sky to be ‘second to none’ as the Quaid had ordained when he addressed a handful of officers who comprised the core of the emerging air force in those early days.

  The PAF indeed rose to the challenge when war was thrust upon the nation by the first dictator Ayub Khan in 1965. The PAF made the headlines of the national and international media. We were seen on the BBC by friends and foes alike, as young fighter pilots fighting the war of 1965 against India. Those clips of pilots being interviewed by the BBC war correspondent can still be seen on You Tube even after 43 years. That euphoria lasted a long whileuntil one day decades later I discovered that the nation and its defenders had been emotionally black-mailed into believing that the enemy India had invaded our motherland unprovoked.1That was a pack of lies told by President Ayub Khan and his compliant Army Commander-in-Chief, General Musa. The nation has been kept in the dark about the colossal failure of high command and about the strategic blunders of the 1965 War. Hence, the much touted contrived victory to keep buried the criminal incompetence of those who were at the helm.

  Every year the 1965 War is celebrated remorselessly by our ill-informed and gullible nation. I feel patently cheated and enraged at the loss of many gallant men who were martyred believing they were fighting for a sacred cause. The 1971 War was a corollary to the 1965 War. Shallow personal interests were projected as national interests by two dictators. Both wars proved to be catastrophic for the economy and security of Pakistan. Were these conflicts avoidable? If not, why were they not planned and directed with professional dexterity? Had there been genuine political will and wisdom, could the nation and armed forces been saved

  1 Field Marshal (self-proclaimed) Ayub Khan in his speech on 6thSeptember 1965, from General Musa’s book, My Version.

  Author’s Note | xvii

  from the humiliation of capitulation in the East and near defeat in the West in 1971? Such questions have hardly been addressed candidly. Resultantly, Pakistan goes through an endless cycle of power plays, wars with India and internal conflicts, without any signs of a metamorphosis. The question on every Pakistani mind is: why is the present so chaotic and the future so grim? It is my conviction that an honest study of the past can throw up the answers to our perpetual national morass. The root cause of our misfortunes has to do with the bankruptcy of leadership. I have sifted through the water sheds of history to uncover the reasons why we have suffered ignominy under corrupt, incompetent and dishonest leaders. I shall present facts without malice and chronicle them as accurately as the accessible historical record has enabled me to do so.