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An American and a Pakistani
Thursday, July 16, 2009
By Adnan Gill
Believe it or not, there was a time when Americans and Pakistanis were actually allies in letter and in spirit. It was the time when Gitmo and suicide bombers were not part of the lexicon. It was the time when the Cold War was at its height and Pakistan and the US were both members of SEATO and CENTO. The stage was Calcutta and the year was 1971. That's when a young US marine sergeant saved the life of a young Pakistan army captain on the run for his life. On July 16, 1971, he had just escaped from an undeclared Indian Prisoner of War (PoW) Concentration Camp at Panagarh, about 100 km west of Calcutta. It turns out that he was the first ever PoW to have escaped from Indian PoW camp. If it wasn't because of the marine sergeant, the hunted Pakistani would have been shot at sight 38 years ago today.
In a sea of Indians, the young captain navigated his way to the American Consulate General in Calcutta. The consulate was only a stone's throw away. But it's as if the lady luck was bent on making an ugly example out of the escapee. Anything that could have gone wrong, did. The hunted young man had to quietly pass by the consulate, because all the access points to it were blocked by the police. The young captain hadn't escaped the concentration camp to give-up. Dusk was approaching fast. Dusk meant curfew time. He sat in a park to contemplate his next move. Something had to be done fast. Somehow, the Pakistani manages to call the American consulate from a nearby Post Office. A young American marine sergeant answers the phone. The marine comes to the rescue of the hunted Pakistani and comes out to meet him.
With no time to spare, the duo decided to go through the gauntlet armed with confidence only. Both men walked through the police checkpoints, the gamble paid off; both entered the consulate safely. Even though, it looked like the worst was over, the Pakistani wasn't out of the woods yet. He still had some way to go before he reached safety in Pakistan. To cut a long story short, loaded with courage and ingenuity, and with the help of Americans, the Pakistani was able to beat the odds stacked against him.
No, it's not fiction. As thrilling it may sound, the story is true. The name of the Pakistan army captain is Ikram Sehgal, and the name of the marine sergeant is Frank Adair.
While the American didn't think much of it; the Pakistani couldn't forget the chance encounter. The Pakistani would spend next three decades looking for the American, he never forgot the man who saved his life. Finally, his perseverance pays off. Yet one more time, the US marines would help out Sehgal. Thanks to an American general, the Pakistani tracked down the American in California; the very same American who saved his life 38 years ago.
Ikram Sehgal went on to become not only a top businessman but one of the most well-known media persons in Pakistan. For his part, after serving his country with honours, Sgt Frank Adair joined the Los Angeles Police Department from where he retired as a detective.
I am the lucky one who enjoys the trust of heroes in their own right. And best of all, I walked away with a true story of luck, valour and courage, thanks to the American and the Pakistani; Sgt Adair and Capt Sehgal.
The writer is a US-based freelance contributor.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
By Adnan Gill
Believe it or not, there was a time when Americans and Pakistanis were actually allies in letter and in spirit. It was the time when Gitmo and suicide bombers were not part of the lexicon. It was the time when the Cold War was at its height and Pakistan and the US were both members of SEATO and CENTO. The stage was Calcutta and the year was 1971. That's when a young US marine sergeant saved the life of a young Pakistan army captain on the run for his life. On July 16, 1971, he had just escaped from an undeclared Indian Prisoner of War (PoW) Concentration Camp at Panagarh, about 100 km west of Calcutta. It turns out that he was the first ever PoW to have escaped from Indian PoW camp. If it wasn't because of the marine sergeant, the hunted Pakistani would have been shot at sight 38 years ago today.
In a sea of Indians, the young captain navigated his way to the American Consulate General in Calcutta. The consulate was only a stone's throw away. But it's as if the lady luck was bent on making an ugly example out of the escapee. Anything that could have gone wrong, did. The hunted young man had to quietly pass by the consulate, because all the access points to it were blocked by the police. The young captain hadn't escaped the concentration camp to give-up. Dusk was approaching fast. Dusk meant curfew time. He sat in a park to contemplate his next move. Something had to be done fast. Somehow, the Pakistani manages to call the American consulate from a nearby Post Office. A young American marine sergeant answers the phone. The marine comes to the rescue of the hunted Pakistani and comes out to meet him.
With no time to spare, the duo decided to go through the gauntlet armed with confidence only. Both men walked through the police checkpoints, the gamble paid off; both entered the consulate safely. Even though, it looked like the worst was over, the Pakistani wasn't out of the woods yet. He still had some way to go before he reached safety in Pakistan. To cut a long story short, loaded with courage and ingenuity, and with the help of Americans, the Pakistani was able to beat the odds stacked against him.
No, it's not fiction. As thrilling it may sound, the story is true. The name of the Pakistan army captain is Ikram Sehgal, and the name of the marine sergeant is Frank Adair.
While the American didn't think much of it; the Pakistani couldn't forget the chance encounter. The Pakistani would spend next three decades looking for the American, he never forgot the man who saved his life. Finally, his perseverance pays off. Yet one more time, the US marines would help out Sehgal. Thanks to an American general, the Pakistani tracked down the American in California; the very same American who saved his life 38 years ago.
Ikram Sehgal went on to become not only a top businessman but one of the most well-known media persons in Pakistan. For his part, after serving his country with honours, Sgt Frank Adair joined the Los Angeles Police Department from where he retired as a detective.
I am the lucky one who enjoys the trust of heroes in their own right. And best of all, I walked away with a true story of luck, valour and courage, thanks to the American and the Pakistani; Sgt Adair and Capt Sehgal.
The writer is a US-based freelance contributor.
