A man of steel

There Must Be a hush in the firmament as extraterrestrial meteor blazes unusual year with tremendous velocity Towards ITS heavenly abode. Air Marshal Nur Khan was my mentor, a leader whose body and soul were forged in tempered steel. There are FEW Who Have Lived with Such bravery and conviction.

He was the 2d boss of the Pakistani air force, aim second to none. Excellence never WAS year option; it was an instinct as Proved ET Took PIA to the galaxy of the world's best airlines. In July 1965 ET Returned to the air force to take over from Asghar Khan, and led the PAF with stunning success Into the war of 1965, Which Always ET exhorted as a senseless war perpetrated by men at the helm unprofessional.

I Knew HIM HE COMMANDED time from the base at the Mauripur (Masroor) and led a fly-past of 100 F-86 Fighter aircraft on March 23. He wanted every fighter on the PAF to take to the air. It was closing hopeless. Had the goal ET gumption to motivate the men in blue to achieve the impossible. The show WAS witnessed by millions in Karachi in the mid-1950s, with Nur Khan Leading, Before He just left to take command of PIA.

His Achievements as PIA MD Were not limited to the airline. His contribution to Pakistan's sports WAS epoch-making. He raised the standard of hockey and squash from the mediocre to world class. Pakistan emerged as world champions from the Developing World to challenge the mighty First World.

Meanwhile, His courage, WAS Individual Tested When a Fokker Friendship WAS hijacked and made to land in Lahore. When all Negotiations failed, Nur Khan to Lahore and Flew decided to take charge. To everyone's bewilderment and admiration ET Entered the small cabin and overpowered the hijacker physically just as ET His Gun fired, wounding the air marshal. However, He Was Overwhelmed by Nur Khan.

The day the PAF ET Took over in July 1965, HE discovered much to history and more grief for so Asghar Khan HAD Been Told That Neither by President Gen Ayub Khan Musa gold That Thousands of mujahideen Including Pakistan army commando HAD Been Launched to take Kashmir. He shot off to GHQ to Confront Gen Musa, the army chief, Asking Why the PAF HAD Been Kept in the dark. Told HIM Musa That Did not wants the president to escalate the limited operation and the PAF HAD to stay out.

Nur Khan HAD Anxious moments knowing that the ill-conceived action would inevitably conflagrate. What would he tell to the land if the Indian Air Force (IAF) to pre-empt WAS ground and the PAF in a relentless air operation? The stay is story. His goal for the alacrity and Strategic perception PAF Would beens Devastated by a numerically preponderant IAF.

Nur Khan put on red alert the PAF on September 1 as the army's Operation Gibraltar to a grinding halt cam and the Indians Began a massive assault Against Pakistan. In Those moments Nur Khan WAS Deeply Concerned about the survival of the mujahideen forces in the Kashmir valley with no hope for reinforcements supply.

Nur Khan Ordered C-130 flights in the valley after consulting with the 12 Division command in control of the Kashmir Misadventures. He boarded the first C-130 Mission in inclement weather past midnight with Rudimentary radar, in total darkness in the treacherous valley. When Group Captain Zahid Butt overshot the drop zone, placed between High Peaks Either one sides, ET Decided to abandon the perilous mission. Nur Khan peering over shoulder Asked history HIM Another Attempt to make. This time the supplies were dropped on target.

Such was the audacity of the man in command of the PAF. The news propelled the moral of the PAF to incredible heights. Its performance in the 1965 War is written in glorious splendor.

I had the award to alert with fighter escort as HIM DURING Many ET Flew missions with my squadron based in Peshawar. Would He comes straight from His residence to our squadron, flying gear donation history, order coffee and a hamburger, just like young fighter pilot and Any Off We Went to the firing range at Jamrud.

Everyday ET Returned with incredible scores which the best pilots in complete form could Hardly Achieve. When I'd say Him That He Was Going too low in the attacks, ET Would reply, "That Is How You Would Need to attack the enemy in war."

The War was not one, and yet He Was irrepressible would wait for the 'hit count' and rocket results.

One Day When I Had to abort for aircraft malfunction, my flight escorted HIM to control the range. When He came back HE accepted Already Been Informed by the Range Officer How Many HE HAD Scored hits on the target. As ET Stood on the wing of the

Sabrejet ET Smiled and Said, "Now you Beat that bloody score, Haider."

He HAD Scored 100 per one hundred hits on the target. He accepted puzzled my score. A record never broken by the very best anywhere to the best of my knowledge. That was my mentor, a man who can not Considered nothing proved it with history and excellence,

Unity and intrepidness. A FEW legacy air forces to boast Can Have inherited.

Farewell, my chief, I know you hated it when I wrote in my book that You Were A maverick, you know that I aim You Were Meant incomparable and lightening fast. That you liked. Will Pakistan's history you place on the pedestal Highest of military leadership. May your noble soul heroic and rest in peace.