Cutting Edge PAF. The Book

[Windjammer]

Cutting Edge PAF: A Former Air Chief’s Reminiscences of a Developing Air Force
By Air Chief Marshal (retired) M Anwar Shamim Vanguard Books; Pp 345

Of late, there have been numerous occasions to visit the hallways of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) history. Pioneers adorn the walls while historians glower from a corner, trying to reconstruct these men’s stories. Men who went up in a blaze of glory, men who left a trail of controversy, and men who went on to lead quiet lives in the suburbs, they are all in there somewhere. Missteps aside, each of them contributed towards making the air force what it is today.

Written under duress, the air chief marshal buckled under his daughter’s pressure and broke his silence about life in the PAF. The title suggests that his autobiography focuses more on the professional achievements of the service than the controversial aspects of his tenure. However, the slew of allegations and ‘bizarre rumours’ about him and his wife have been duly addressed at the end.

The tone is circumspect; the prose is simple; and the story follows the evolutionary path of a PAF initially composed of 222 officers and 2,342 airmen moulded into a cutting edge force that became the pride of the nation and the talk of the town. He commanded 33 Fighter Wing during the 1965 War, served as air adviser to His Majesty King Hussein Bin Talal, planning and developing a modern Jordanian Air Force, and rose to become the second longest-serving PAF chief in 1978.

Cutting Edge PAF is divided into pre-war reminiscences and post-war contributions of the man who helped shape a modern air force. It is also about the vicissitudes of life experienced as a young air force officer and the boy who was first to go solo from No 2 University Air Squadron, the graduate from Royal Australian Air Force College, Point Cook, raving about the Aussie way — their honesty, cleanliness and habit of giving host teams a thundering good time one day before a match — and the pilot who ferried a fleet of F-86s from Paris to Karachi only to make a harrowing discovery near Rome that the air traffic controller’s knowledge extended to just two words, ‘Continue approach’!

An analysis of both wars is embedded within to complete the look of a period piece. Mostly, it serves as a platform to restore his image as a forward-thinking leader with the foresight to choose F-16s for Kahuta — indefensible and eight minutes away from the PAF, but only three minutes ride from the Indian Air Force. A man credited with three Tactical Commands, thus decentralising tactical operations, one ‘Institute of Air Safety’ that trained Air Safety Specialists, seven ‘Jet Stream’ exercises in seven years designed to test preparedness, which also laid the seed of inter-services cooperation and a nine hole golf course in every base, leading the PAF to become inter-services champs in 1980. Sound investments — all of them, yes, even the golf courses.

This impressive list of achievements can only be rivalled by an equally formidable string of allegations that plagued his career. Stigmas are easily attached and impossible to remove. The writer tries nevertheless. His book reproaches Defence Journal for pitting a group captain against his air chief by allowing Cecil Chaudhry’s views to be aired without investigation and wonders at the PAF for letting them go unchallenged. He attaches an excerpt from Profiles of Intelligence by Brigadier Syed Ali Tirmizi (1995), which gives a new twist to the story, bringing up Cecil Chaudhry’s links with the Soviets. He cites the ‘Legion of Merit’ given by the US government as proof against drug conspiracy charges and describes the foolproof process of Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to counter the kickback story where he saved, not cost, his country millions.

He also goes to great lengths to clear his wife’s name. Ms Tahira Shamim is said to have revamped the entire Pakistan Air Force Women’s Association (PAFWA) on modern managerial lines and started the Mujahida Academy, now affiliated with the Air University. He attributes suggestions of impropriety to natural prejudice against women taking initiatives at a time when it was not fashionable. A neat explanation — a little too neat some might say.

This carefully drawn sketch is set to dazzle. And in this group portrait, incidents have been arranged to showcase not just the expanding firepower and might of the service but also the initiative and ability of its officers — one in particular — Anwar Shamim, who as the air chief took on the challenge of absorbing F-16s in one year when the usual timeframe was three; who claims his testimony as a witness during the PAF witch-hunts got several innocents off the hook; and whose stories of command decisions range from improving the morale of his men where needed to fixing the discipline within ranks when required — like the uppity airman on probation who started walking when ordered to double march and took to running when told to halt.

Past familiar landmarks of history, through corridors of power lies the room where policies are made, decisions are taken and fates are sealed. Cutting Edge PAF provides an engrossing look at the duties of the air board, functions of the AHQ, etc., during the transformative phase of a service striving hard to achieve a higher state of operational readiness. The book shines a blinding light on the good, hoping to banish the bad and the ugly. And it works. For a while. Cutting Edge PAF is due out by April 2010.

 

[Windjammer]

ISBN: 9789694025407
Price: $9.46 / Rs795.00
Hardback

Ordering & Shipping Info

CUTTING EDGE PAF
A Former Air Chief's Reminiscences of a Developing Air Force
by Air Chief Marshal M. Anwar Shamim (Retd)

Publication Date: 2010
Extent: 351 pages

The Book:
"Cutting Edge" is Air Chief Marshal M Anwar Shamim’s account of experiences in the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). He writes from the vantage point of a former head of the service. The interesting aspect is that the account coincides with the emergence of Pakistan on world map as an independent entity. This makes the author’s story synonymous with the development of the nascent state. PAF is one national institution that can rightly claim an unblemished past, present and future. The author gives credit to the founding fathers for their visionary leadership and highlights the contributions of all key players who were instrumental in shaping the destiny of the aerial defenders. It is a story as much of equipment as it is of people; rather it presents a blending of the two. The author takes pride where pride is due but without any rancour or ill feeling. Herein we get to know ACM Shamim as a man and as a professional officer. Anecdotal in structure, the narrative is full of facts and we have a book available for consultation and study. It is a must-read for all.

The Author:
Air Chief Marshal M Anwar Shamim graduated as a pilot from Point Cook, Australia in 1954. After his jet conversion on Vampires in Australia, he was posted to PAF’s first jet unit, No 11 Squardon, which he later went on to command in 1963. In 1964, he was given charge of PAF’s elite 33 Wing, which he commanded during the 1965 War. He led the famous raid on Amritsar’s radar, which earned him a Sitara-i-Jur’at. In 1968, he was sent to Jordon as Air Adviser to King Hussein. On return to Pakistan, he took over as Air Defense Sector Commander - South, in which capacity he controlled air defense operations in 1971 War. He had the privilege of commanding Sakesar, Korangi Creek and PAF’s largest, Masroor, Air Bases. He was appointed Assistant Chief of Air Staff in 1975. In 1978, he was selected to be the Chief of Air Staff, an appointment he held till 1985. He was instrumental in two important developments in the PAF that have helped it remain second to none: Introduction of Regional Commands to decentralise command and control and ensure better liaison with the Army and Navy field formations; secondly, the induction of F16s which redressed the imbalance against the traditional adversary India over the years.

"An Air force facing multiple threats cannot mature and become a self-assured fighting force overnight. Air Chief Marshal Shamim inherited an air force, a large part of which had yet to be operationally trained and fully tested in its fighting mettle. He therefore set himself the goal of attaining the highest possible level of operational preparedness for the PAF within the resources, which the nation could make available. This was no easy task. Taking into consideration our grave security situation, he drove himself and all of us hard and relentlessly."

CUTTING EDGE PAF - A Former Air Chief's Reminiscences of a Developing Air Force by Air Chief Marshal M. Anwar Shamim (Retd)

 

[Cent4]

where can I get this book in LONDON

 

[sonicboom]

Cutting Edge PAF: A Former Air Chief’s Reminiscences of a Developing Air Force
By Air Chief Marshal (retired) M Anwar Shamim Vanguard Books; Pp 345

Of late, there have been numerous occasions to visit the hallways of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) history. Pioneers adorn the walls while historians glower from a corner, trying to reconstruct these men’s stories. Men who went up in a blaze of glory, men who left a trail of controversy, and men who went on to lead quiet lives in the suburbs, they are all in there somewhere. Missteps aside, each of them contributed towards making the air force what it is today.

Written under duress, the air chief marshal buckled under his daughter’s pressure and broke his silence about life in the PAF. The title suggests that his autobiography focuses more on the professional achievements of the service than the controversial aspects of his tenure. However, the slew of allegations and ‘bizarre rumours’ about him and his wife have been duly addressed at the end.

The tone is circumspect; the prose is simple; and the story follows the evolutionary path of a PAF initially composed of 222 officers and 2,342 airmen moulded into a cutting edge force that became the pride of the nation and the talk of the town. He commanded 33 Fighter Wing during the 1965 War, served as air adviser to His Majesty King Hussein Bin Talal, planning and developing a modern Jordanian Air Force, and rose to become the second longest-serving PAF chief in 1978.

Cutting Edge PAF is divided into pre-war reminiscences and post-war contributions of the man who helped shape a modern air force. It is also about the vicissitudes of life experienced as a young air force officer and the boy who was first to go solo from No 2 University Air Squadron, the graduate from Royal Australian Air Force College, Point Cook, raving about the Aussie way — their honesty, cleanliness and habit of giving host teams a thundering good time one day before a match — and the pilot who ferried a fleet of F-86s from Paris to Karachi only to make a harrowing discovery near Rome that the air traffic controller’s knowledge extended to just two words, ‘Continue approach’!

An analysis of both wars is embedded within to complete the look of a period piece. Mostly, it serves as a platform to restore his image as a forward-thinking leader with the foresight to choose F-16s for Kahuta — indefensible and eight minutes away from the PAF, but only three minutes ride from the Indian Air Force. A man credited with three Tactical Commands, thus decentralising tactical operations, one ‘Institute of Air Safety’ that trained Air Safety Specialists, seven ‘Jet Stream’ exercises in seven years designed to test preparedness, which also laid the seed of inter-services cooperation and a nine hole golf course in every base, leading the PAF to become inter-services champs in 1980. Sound investments — all of them, yes, even the golf courses.

This impressive list of achievements can only be rivalled by an equally formidable string of allegations that plagued his career. Stigmas are easily attached and impossible to remove. The writer tries nevertheless. His book reproaches Defence Journal for pitting a group captain against his air chief by allowing Cecil Chaudhry’s views to be aired without investigation and wonders at the PAF for letting them go unchallenged. He attaches an excerpt from Profiles of Intelligence by Brigadier Syed Ali Tirmizi (1995), which gives a new twist to the story, bringing up Cecil Chaudhry’s links with the Soviets. He cites the ‘Legion of Merit’ given by the US government as proof against drug conspiracy charges and describes the foolproof process of Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to counter the kickback story where he saved, not cost, his country millions.

He also goes to great lengths to clear his wife’s name. Ms Tahira Shamim is said to have revamped the entire Pakistan Air Force Women’s Association (PAFWA) on modern managerial lines and started the Mujahida Academy, now affiliated with the Air University. He attributes suggestions of impropriety to natural prejudice against women taking initiatives at a time when it was not fashionable. A neat explanation — a little too neat some might say.

This carefully drawn sketch is set to dazzle. And in this group portrait, incidents have been arranged to showcase not just the expanding firepower and might of the service but also the initiative and ability of its officers — one in particular — Anwar Shamim, who as the air chief took on the challenge of absorbing F-16s in one year when the usual timeframe was three; who claims his testimony as a witness during the PAF witch-hunts got several innocents off the hook; and whose stories of command decisions range from improving the morale of his men where needed to fixing the discipline within ranks when required — like the uppity airman on probation who started walking when ordered to double march and took to running when told to halt.

Past familiar landmarks of history, through corridors of power lies the room where policies are made, decisions are taken and fates are sealed. Cutting Edge PAF provides an engrossing look at the duties of the air board, functions of the AHQ, etc., during the transformative phase of a service striving hard to achieve a higher state of operational readiness. The book shines a blinding light on the good, hoping to banish the bad and the ugly. And it works. For a while. Cutting Edge PAF is due out by April 2010.

Following is the rest of the article:

Air Marshal Anwar Shamim in his book Cutting Edge has attacked Cecil Choudhry and questions PAF for not countering Cecil Choudhry.

Below are some interesting intercepts pertaining to Cecil Choudhry on Anwar Shamim:---


Q. Please tell us about your service profile from 1971 till retirement?

After the war I returned to my parent unit the Fighter Leaders School and was soon reposted as its Chief Instructor till 1973 when I was detailed to attend the Staff College Course. It was during that course, quite surprisingly, I was promoted to the rank of a Wing Comd. After the course I took over the command of No. 9 Mirage Squadron at PAF Shorkot in 1974. During my stay the base was renamed as PAF Base Rafiqui. In January 1976 I was posted as the Deputy Director Operations (Tac Ops) in the Operations Directorate in Air Headquarters Peshawar. I really enjoyed that posting after very hectic field jobs for 13 years. I enjoyed it more because if one was well organized you needed to work for just a couple of hours a day. I really found out at AHQ as to what was meant by the expression "look busy do damn all," because that is what most officers seemed to do. However, my joy was short-lived as the Chief hand picked Gp. Capt. Hakimullah (later to become the Air Chief) and myself to set up the most super advanced fighter-training unit, The Combat Commanders' School (CCS), and I was then posted to Sargodha in April 1976. In January 1978 I took over the Command of CCS. In January 1979 I was stopped just one day before my departure, from proceeding to UK as the Air Attache on some very flimsy grounds. All I was told by the Chief, Air Chief Marshal Anwar Shamim (the worst ever yet the longest, thanks to the despot General Zia) that the Government had not cleared me to precede. I asked for an immediate release from service and was told by him "look you are one of my finest officers I cannot let you go." What a laugh! I offered to proceed on an immediate deputation to Libya which I declined. I was then detailed to proceed to Iraq on deputation and I kept dragging my feet till September 1979 when I decided to take my family and myself away from the prevailing madness in the country for a few years. I returned from Iraq in December 1983 after a very enjoyable and a professionally satisfying experience. After a short posting in AHQ I was deputed to Shaheen Foundation and moved to Lahore in April 1984 from where I retired in July 1986.

Q. Does sycophancy and intellectual dishonesty play a major role in promotion to higher ranks?

Not as a matter of routine at least in the PAF though that became the order of the day during the tenure of Air Chief Marshal Anwar Shamim. Officers who had earlier been superseded at lower ranks rose to higher ranks. Some who had been removed from command of a squadron as failures rose to command bases. Credit goes to dedicated young field commanders for keeping the PAF on track despite very poor leadership. It was highly professional Chiefs like Hakimullah, Farooq Feroze Khan and Pervaiz Medhi Qureshi who were able to get the PAF back on track.

Q. What is your opinion about the F-16 deal?

Though the finest aircraft of its kind we should never have gone for the F16s. Like I said earlier we never learn from our past mistakes. The Americans have a very poor political track record with us; they let us down in 65 and 71 despite we being members of their CENTO pact. On the other hand France has been a reliable friend, we should have gone for the Mirage-2000 instead. I don't know but we hear about kickbacks in the F16 deal but NAB does not seem to think so or they don't want to go that far. But I do know of a number of ex PAF officers who could not afford a car, now own flats in England — thanks to British weekly lottery I guess.

Q. You also served as a Defence Attache abroad. How was that stint?

I served in Iraq from September 1979-83 on deputation and took over as the Head of the Pakistan Military Mission in 1980. As I mentioned earlier I enjoyed working with the Iraqis as I found them to be very cultured people. Shamefully, I have to admit I got more professional respect from the Iraqi Leadership than our own. Oh! The whole family enjoyed the stay in Iraq.

Q. What do you have to say about the assertion that our Intelligence agencies indulge more in petty reporting and in settling personal scores rather than solid intelligence gathering?

What can one say about something that is almost God's truth. My personal experience during both the wars was that the way these agencies were being made to function was a complete waste of resources. We had no authentic information about our targets that we could rely on in our planning. We were provided information that was 10 years old.

Q. Who was the finest air force professional that you saw in your entire service?

This is a very difficult question to answer because we are covering a wide spectrum. The finest was Sarfraz Rafiqui. The finest Chiefs were Air Marshal Asghar Khan and Air Chief Marshal Zulfiqar Ali Khan in that order. Most professional officers I worked directly under, Syed Mukhtar Ali, Hakimullah and (late) Masroor Hussain. Highly professional officers I worked with were P.Q. Medhi (ex Chief), Aliuddin (present DGCAA) and late Hashmi.

Q. How would you compare the PAF with IAF in 2001 in terms of operational efficiency?

In terms of operational efficiency the PAF certainly has an edge over the IAF, but we need to get them the badly needed equipment to enhance that edge. This is the only factor that can neutralize the numeric imbalance/inferiority.

Q. How would you compare the PAF of 1965, 1971 and 2001 in terms of operational efficiency?

As I mentioned earlier the PAF has remained a highly professional fighting force despite having gone through many crises. I have full confidence that it continues to remain one of the most operationally efficient Air Force in the world.

Q. What recommendations do you have in mind to make the PAF more effective and combat worthy?

Provide it with the badly needed replacement of the undelivered F16s and other equipment.

Q. Is the system of training in the PAF in line with requirements of modern warfare?

Oh! Absolutely beyond any doubt.

Q. Which Head of State had the finest understanding of airpower as an instrument of national strategy?

No doubt it was General Zia-ul-Haq who really did support PAF modernisation but unfortunately his energies remained diverted towards perpetuating his rule through his so- called Islamization process. This resulted in doing damage to both the country as well as Islam.

Q. What has been the negative contribution of the First Ladies in erosion of professionalism in the PAF?

Actually there has not been any negative contribution of the First Ladies in erosion of professionalism in the Air Force. On the contrary most of them have had a positive contribution. This sort of thing has only taken root because of just one First Lady, Begum Anwar Shamim. She ran the Air Force while her husband twiddled his fingers in the office. But then, that is all he was expected to do as the Chief because from the time I came across Squadron Leader Shamim and had the opportunity to observe him from close quarters all he did was twiddle his fingers. Twiddling twiddling he became the Chief! There may have been some magic in it ! I don't know !!!!

PAKISTAN OBSERVER: PAF DOG FIGHT -CECIL CHOUDHRY VERSUS ANWAR SHAMIM

 

[Windjammer]

Ahmed Mukhtar eulogizes the services of PAF in peace or war

ISLAMABAD, May 27(APP): Minister for Defense Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar Thursday eulogized the services of Pakistan Air Force during the peace or war situation and that the government is resolved to strengthen the air force enabling it to face modern challenges. He expressed his views while addressing as chief guest at launching ceremony of the book, "Cutting Edge - PAF". Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar said the PAF is close to the hearts of the Pakistani people and the book authored by retired Air Chief Marshal Anwar Shamim, is the embodiment of the autobiography and short history of Pakistan Air Force. He said in every situation, the PAF made the country feel proud due to its sense of patriotism, high morale and passion to ensure country's security. He applauded the contributions of the author rendered while on job in PAF and said the most crucial achievement he made was the induction of F-16 in PAF fleet. Anwar Shamim said the `purpose' and `meaning' were two factors which led him to put his life with PAF into words, adding PAF's performance always kept Pakistan in favorite position. He said "Cutting Edge - PAF" is the history though his own eyes and hoped that the institution will grow as per expectations of the people. Eulogizing the services former PAF chief, former Speaker National Assembly Gauhar Ayub Khan said Sahmim's book is well documented that gives a brief picture of his life and experiences with the PAF. He said it was Anwar Shamim who had insisted the induction of F-16 in PAF fleet instead of proposed A-5 and succeeded too in his strife, saluting the foresightedness of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who, had not agreed to the proposal of Pak-India joint military and training centers. Retired Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mehmood said "Cutting Edge- PAF" is written in typical language of air force, provides the first-hand information about the performance of PAF. He said during any difficult situation, PAF faced challenges with high morale, be it 1965 war or other untoward situations between Pakistan and India. Admiral Iftikhar Sirohi said the book sails us through the developments in PAF and its achievements and performance during 1965 war and Kargil situation. APP/Zaheer/nsr

Category: GENERAL

Date:2010-05-27 13:11:18

APP Video Preveiw

 

[fatman17]

anwar shamim may have been a cracker jack pilot but his reputation as ACM leaves much to be desired.

the book is available locally and will read it as i collect books on the PAF

 

[umair86]

anyone has any idea that it is easily available on big book stores or not.

 

[Jazzbot]

thanks for sharing

 

[Windjammer]

PAF was not informed beforehand of 1965 operations
By Iftikhar A. Khan
Sunday, 30 May, 2010

ISLAMABAD, May 29: The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) was not taken on board during the planning stages of Operation Gibraltar in 1965, which was planned in haste and launched in even greater hurry.

This has been disclosed by a former air chief, Air Chief Marshal (retd) M. Anwar Shamim, in his recently launched book titled “Cutting edge PAF”.

He writes that during a visit to the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, Air Commodore A. Rahim Khan, the-then assistant chief of air staff operations, was informed in passing of major operations being planned in Chamb-Akhnur sector in held Kashmir in retaliation to Indian attacks in vital Haji Pir and Bharat Gali areas.

The operations were named as ‘Gibraltar and ‘Grand Slam’ and were to be launched in tandem. This was one of the typical cases of lack of trust between the army and air force during planning stages of major operations.

It was also a clear case of lack of interaction and understanding for joint planning of operations between the three services, ministers of defence and foreign affairs to formulate a comprehensive defence policy.

No proper planning in advance was done to arrange safe places for personnel where they could get shelter, arms and ammunition. And most importantly, insufficient time was allowed to organise a cadre of able-bodied sympathisers and opinion leaders in held Kashmir.

Those who took part in the operations neither knew the local language nor were familiar with the terrain. It was simply assumed that by sudden appearance of these persons, there will be a spontaneous uprising in Kashmir. The process of induction was also too rapid.

India countered with the capture of Haji Pir, the high ground salient, to break the link between northern and southern parts of Azad Kashmir.

Operation ‘Gibraltar was a total flop; all those air-dropped or sent into held Kashmir were either caught or killed and a few were lucky to make it back to Azad Kashmir.

Extremely dangerous low-level air drops were carried out in the night in the valleys by the PAF C-130 transport aircraft to supply the entrapped men.

The report of the commander of the first mission --- a daring pilot, Wing Commander Zahid Butt --- is part of the book in which the hardships faced during the operation have been described. The pilot said normally he would not fly in such weather even in daylight, but it was an emergency.

“Soon after take-off we entered into clouds at about 1200 feet emerging on top at about 26000 feet and we did not see the ground before decent… Even Nanga Parbat was not visible and the Shardi turning point had to be recognised, found and identified by dead reckoning and interpretation of the radar picture.” He said from the Shardi which is entry point to Srinagar, they were required to descend 14000 feet within two minutes, speeding up to 200 knots.

Digressing from the flow of events, Air Chief Marshal Shamim mentioned the case of dropping of guerrillas in enemy area in South Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh, the president of North Vietnam advised his Army Commander General Vo Nguyen Giap to launch guerrilla fighters in South Vietnam.

The general replied that he required ten years to plan and place guerrilla force in occupied territory. He said first there was a need to prepare safe places for them so they were absorbed in local population and could get the necessary arms and ammunition for their tasks. Otherwise, he said, they would be like fish out of water and would be caught and butchered.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect...as-not-informed-beforehand-of-1965-operations