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Beneath the Ice, the last ‘Salam’

Xestan

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Beneath the Ice, the last ‘Salam’

Tabish Qayyum | PKKH Exclusive

It’s been few days, already. No sign of survivors, No indication of life, not a single body, not a single voice. Hundreds of soldier’s frantically search for their lost fighters buried deep down in worlds highest battle ground ever heard in the history of Mankind.

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The worst enemy, weather continues to threaten what could be the most miraculous survival for any of Pakistan’s 6th Northern Light infantry valiant soldier, if he eventually makes it. Apparently, it’s becoming a futile effort on top of the ground, and to add insult to the injury the weather dims the hope with each passing moment.

I was wondering, what these soldiers mean to us, away from home in places we would not even think of in wildest of imaginations, these men defend us. I had been involved in many of the past relief efforts in natural calamities that we as a nation have gone through; Earth quakes of 2005 or Floods in 2010-11, our men in uniform were there, digging people out from debris and cutting the beams to pull them out of fallen roofs in Balakot, perhaps providing shelters and food to families stranded on mountain tops.


They were among the first ones who held the hands of those drowning in flood water, In short, these sons never gave us a reason to complain when they were called or looked upon.

Today, they remain hidden beneath layers and layers of Snow and Ice, some already departed and some still fighting their way out in areas where none of us can reach. The way they sprang to our help when we needed them, we are unable to even take a single step in their direction. Let’s for a second, try to dig few feets of this 80ft snow with bare hands and have a look at the adversity that struck them.

It was 5 Am when the avalanche struck, most of them would already be on their praying mats, some of them on guard and many of them still in their sleeping bags. A sudden impact and ground shaking sound would have alerted few only for few seconds before the actual tragedy unfolded. Having no idea of the technicalities of the speed and gravity of an avalanche in such conditions, I can only assume that it wouldn’t be less than, any mountain falling directly over head.

Beneath the snow when it was them and their lord, many stories of courage and determination will also remain unheard. Virtually making the barracks a large grave covered with tons of snow, many of these men would have instantly given up on their breath and only few might have been allowed a little room to add few hours or may be days before they will finally succumb to harshness of their trial. Some of them would have made an effort for a while and some might still be fighting their way out.

As I write these lines, in the comfort of my room, I am unable to represent the true agony, in fact no one can describe what these men embraced. Given one second, minute, hour, day or perhaps weak by the remaining life, what would these, once father, brothers, sons be thinking?

Faces of their loved ones would be popping in their minds the most, the lovely tricks children play when they used to return home from duty, how passionately siblings loved and took pride in them telling their friends about how metal-hard their brother was; how shockingly parents used to hear their tales of courage and they would be thinking how their wives looked at them with shyness and innocent complains in their eyes, for being so late at home. Yes, all of this would have spinned their brave minds.

Then, they would have looked upon their lives, how they were inspired by the courage of 1965 and how hurt they were on the events on 1971, how enthusiastic they were for Kashmir and how immensely they loved – Pakistan; first day at Military academy, first day they wore uniform and the first day they held the gun with an oath to protect the land carved in the name of Islam.

One can only assume the mesmerizing communication that would have taken place between them and their lord, the one the loved the most in the freezing night, the one they trusted the most, the one who never left them alone when they were literally cut off from the place called World. They would have been compassionate for their job was near done. They proved true to their oath, honest to their commitment and dedicated to their desire of martyrdom that would have been inches away.

When thinking about their visions and dreams, they would have certainly tried to raise their hands or at least positioned them in a way a supplication is made, they would have prayed for our prosperity and security and they would have hoped that their fallen guns will be picked up, and the enemy will not dare to cross an inch from where they stood guarding the dreams of Pakistan. They wouldn’t have regretted the loss of their lives; in fact they would be only yearning for the defense of Pakistan, for which they were buried alive. When they will meet their Lord on the Day of Judgment, they will request him to be allowed to return and die again in his way. Yes, these will be the martyrs with an unending resolve.

I could not possibly hold back my mind from flashing these painful last moments, as tear roll down, I feel worthless when my defenders lay undefended. What worries me is not the coldness that surrounds them, instead it’s the coldness of our hearts that fears me, fashion shows never stopped, no mourning and national unity witnessed, no patriotic atmosphere seen.

It’s just like another day for us, I ask myself, were these normal lives that went away? No life is less valuable, but these sons were priceless. How many of us have raised hands once since this news broke? Let’s be honest, if anyone of us has had the opportunity to read a will of martyrs, do see it. Most of them write a famous line at the end, “Hamari Shahadat ki Qabooliat ki dua kijeay ga…” – Pray for the acceptance of our Martrydom.

In the most testing and closing moments of their lives, beneath the Ice, a moment would have come when seconds away from freezing to death they would have said their last ‘Salam Sar Zameen e Pakistan’ – I wish, we learn what Pakistan, meant for them.

Walaikum assalam, my 135 brothers, we owe you nothing less than our lives.

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http://www.pakistankakhudahafiz.com/2012/04/10/beneath-the-ice-the-last-‘salam’/

http://www.aaj.tv/2012/04/beneath-the-ice-the-last-‘salam’/
 
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Salam to our brave soldiers. May they RIP and may Allah fulfill the mission they have laid their lives for.
 
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O Allah! Grant them protection, and have mercy on them, and keep them in good condition, and pardon them, and make their entertainment honourable, and expand their place of entering, and wash them with water and snow and hail and cleanse them of faults as a white cloth is cleansed of dross.
 
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Beneath the Ice, the last ‘Salam’

Tabish Qayyum | PKKH Exclusive


I could not possibly hold back my mind from flashing these painful last moments, as tear roll down, I feel worthless when my defenders lay undefended. What worries me is not the coldness that surrounds them, instead it’s the coldness of our hearts that fears me, fashion shows never stopped, no mourning and national unity witnessed, no patriotic atmosphere seen.

It’s just like another day for us, I ask myself, were these normal lives that went away? No life is less valuable, but these sons were priceless. How many of us have raised hands once since this news broke?
Because we have been corrupted, we have more time for material desires and western/indian culture, but not a minute of silence or pause for those brave men who stood guarding our nations frontiers and in the process made the biggest sacrifice of all.

May Allah give them eternal peace in Heaven, Ameen!
 
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May all my soldier brethren be blessed always...Aameen!
 
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I feel we did not do enough , fast enough and given up hope too quickly
A nation with 1 million resources at disposal only sent in 200-400 rescue workers
30,000 workers and we would have turned Himalayas upside down

Response was/is too late ..

If we had necessary helicopters sure in first 5 hours we could have transported 5,000-10,000 workers when ice was soft

We could have asked for thermal sett-elite based assistance from foreign parties if we lacked (and we do lack) it

I think its a operational failure and shows our inefficient rescue effort plans which are always apparent when ever we have a situation where helicopters are needed.

I think the families of Soliders have the right to get every single one of them back even if that means after 3 days (when most supplies will last or end) if they get even some part of their loved ones back
 
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And the 'symbol of federation' and the 'supreme commander' was off on a private visit to a shrine (where he could hav gone ater ...since it was a private visit) even after hearing about this tragic loss of life ... that's what i call a 'supreme commander' ... with the medal of NRO embellished on his chest .
 
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RIP, but i have a question, I am sure it would be well known where the 150 people were, you know either a bunker or just out in the open in a one particular area. Why is it so dificult to pinpoint location ? acnt we use some imaging equipment which can pentrate ice.
 
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Well any decent metal detector would have been useful , or Satellite Thermal Imagery to peer deep below ice levels
We know approximate location of the "bunker base" , I mean we see people coming on TV giving ideas well how about you use these ideas and not speculate on TV

We know it was night time , so people were inside the base probably asleep so they were insulated if anything they must have been swept away by the moving ice (above them) and under them the base may have been shifted but 100% berried in ice

The movement would be vertical direction

Sure there is 20-25 feet of snow , I know 5 feet of snow is challenging but increase your resource to 10,000 -15,000 soldiers
in all pictures I saw , 4-10 people digging and one lone crane


Well Increase the number of people to 10,000-15,000 workers and bring in 3 cranes

There is no reason that with 10,000-15,000 Soliders and 3-4 cranes , and some metal detection equipment we cannot pinpoint the base and get to it ....


a) There had been no decent coverage this should have been live coverage 24 hours
our media only showed some updates 3 days later

b) Media was more focused on Gilani's Son's scandal and how he escaped to UK and Zardari's visit
to India

Pakistan+army+as+they+use+heavy+machinery+to+search+for+avalanche+victims


PS the fact it takes us 3 days to get machines in place three average bulldozers and one crane is no achivement at all this can be done by Civilian contractors , for Army one would expect a more "proper process" with 15,000-30,000 workers from first hours ...NOT AFTER 3 DAYS have passed


Normally in Western Countries , these small cranes and bulldozers are rented by private companies to clean snow - for Pakistan Army SURELY , I would have expected us to come up with 40 machines on urgent basis ...

BOTTOM LINE , we had race against time , we failed 3 machines in 3-4 days .. pretty horrible performance that is my personal opinion

With all of our resources ... that is all we can come up with 1 Crane and 3 light construction machines and 4 soliders
 
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it will be a miracle if anyone survives. i hope this happens although im "enemie" , it will be a great human survival case.
 
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I am sure with proper Transport helicopters we would have been able to transport 30 bulldozers from near by cities and 10 cranes in first 9 hours pretty certain

But because this was urgent matter , probably , in first 3.5 hours the rescue should have started when snow was very soft

Day 1
6:00 am Avalanche occurred
7:00 am Team would have been assigned to handle it
10:00 am 10-20 bulldozers flown in
11:00-3:00pm ...crane + diggers + ice melting chemicals + salt etc
4:00-6:pm night flood lights flown in ... more workers ...

Night shift:
6-8 fly in flame throwers to help melt excess ice sheets faster ....
Ice melting chemicals ... keep spraying it

We should have been able to clear 25% (suspected site location)

Look when you are not equipped for rescue missions it is what it is ...

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If we had 10 of these helicopters , we could have easily airlifted 30 bulldozers from near by cities Islamabad or Rawalpindi even ... in first 3-5 hours

And then same helicopters would have flown in 1,000 workers per hour from near by cities continuously !!! into Area - in and out

Or flown in 15,000 workers , plus 2000 volunteer give then jacket & shovel

The least I expect from our Army is to come out and say it , as it is

"We are not equipped to handle Rescue Missions involving Helicopters"

And I don't expect anything form Civilian Gov (Zardari OR Gilani expect if they are sent to Jail)

But from our Army I do expect some sincerity and just say it look we have a weakness and we will fix it so it will not happen again ...
 
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Sikorsky_with_Dozer.jpg


I am sure with proper Transport helicopters we would have been able to transport 30 bulldozers from near by cities and 10 cranes in first 9 hours pretty certain

But because this was urgent matter , probably , in first 3.5 hours the rescue should have started when snow was very soft


Looks when you are not equipped for rescue missions it is what it is ...

galerie14.jpg


If we had 10 of these helicopters , we could have easily airlifted 30 bulldozers from near by cities Islamabad or Rawalpindi even ... in first 3-5 hours

And then same helicopters would have flown in 1,000 workers per hour from near by cities continuously !!! into Area - in and out

Or flown in 15,000 workers , plus 2000 volunteer give then jacket & shovel

The least I expect from our Army is to come out and say it , as it is

"We are not equipped to handle Rescue Missions involving Helicopters"

And I don't expect anything form Civilian Gov (Zardari OR Gilani expect if they are sent to Jail)

But from our Army I do expect some sincerity and just say it look we have a weakness and we will fix it so it will not happen again ...




we don't need 19-12 heavy lift helo, we just need strong will power. we need to understand value of life. Resources will come with will
 
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I give condolences for the loss of your soldiers. For once I think the harsh words for your government are unwarranted, it seems they got people and even heavy equipment up the glacier at a phenomenal rate, but there is little to be done in such a situation. Hopefully they will do right by those who lost family in this tragedy.
 
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