Page 12 - Seniors Today - May21 Issue
P. 12
War & History
The Real Heroes of
Kashmir
Late Sati Sahni recounts the stories of three brave soldiers sans uniform
from the far-flung border areas of the erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir
Here are three unlikely heroes of Kashmir. estimated that out of a
The well-known adage goes that “not all population of 14,000-
heroes wear a uniform” is apt for these 15,000 of the town only
three people whose stories of valour and 3,000 or so survived.
how they acted as saviours must be told They plundered, looted,
and popularised. All three belong to far- raped and simply
flung border areas of Jammu and Kashmir ravaged the town. This
(bordering Pakistan). The boundaries of the fact is written in a book
erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir (which “Raiders in Kashmir”
included Ladakh too) can be divided into by the main Pakistani
three distinct geographical areas - Jammu, commander Brig. Akbar Khan overseeing
the valley of Kashmir and Ladakh. Wars the entire operation.
were fought with Pakistan for these strategic The Muslim League’s high command
areas in 1947-48, 1965, 1971 and 1999. Our had tasked Mian Iftikhar ud Din, Minister
heroes hailed from these areas and played for Refugees. to prepare a plan aimed at
pivotal roles in 1947, 1971 and 1999. Here are ensuring that the Muslim majority state of
their stories which are not so well-known Kashmir should join Pakistan. Brigadier
even though two out of the three were Akbar Khan then serving in the Pakistani
honoured by the government. GHQ wrote an appreciation ‘armed revolt
inside Kashmir ‘ on Mian Iftikhar ud
Maqbool Sherwani – Baramulla, 1947 Din’s request. It appears that Mr Jinnah
The “Tribal” raid in Baramulla by the had tasked Liaquat to handle the Kashmir
“kabailis” sponsored by the state of Pakistan business. Liaquat in turn earmarked Mian
started on October 26, 1947. 20,000 unruly Iftikhar ud Din. Iftikhar requested Sardar
tribals (lashkars) entered the peaceful town Shaukat Hayat and Brigadier Akbar Khan
of Baramulla on the Srinagar –Muzaffarabad for advice. A conference presided by
road. What followed was a massacre. It is Liaquat was held at Lahore in September
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