For the Strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the Strength of the Wolf is the Pack

[Dawood Ibrahim]

Written By: Maj Malik Yasir Fareed

This story is from the pen of an officer who survived a suicide attack by the terrorists (Hilal).



It is said that heroes give their lives for something bigger than oneself as the soldiers give their lives for their country. After becoming a soldier, from civil to military transition among others, a major transformation taking place in a personality is the boost in the level of confidence due to comradeship. Apart from the factors like honor of being part of a prestigious institution, a high level of training, endurance for hardships, agility and fitness, self-discipline and integrity, an admirable factor I saw, when I joined an infantry regiment, was devotion of insurmountable soldiers to their leaders till the very last breath, which makes them stronger by becoming part of each other, just as a pack of wolves where strength of the pack is wolf and strength of a wolf is the pack, who travel and hunt in group, and protect each other. Such an impression was already dwelling in my sub-conscious when one fine morning I saw a practical manifestation of spirit of soldiers to sacrifice their lives for motherland side by side with their leaders.


It was March 2010. In R.A. Bazaar Lahore, the sun was at its peak, hot air was blowing, market was crowded with grocery buyers, students going back to homes, people gathering for Friday prayers, my valiant soldiers were patrolling the area as Garrison Security Force and I was in my regiment located adjacent to it when I heard a big blast sound. Immediately silence prevailed, heart started beating fast and a curiosity for the safety of my soldiers in the area occupied my thoughts. I rushed towards them with Quick Reaction Force of undaunted soldiers who were the sons, brothers, husband, father and sole bread earners of their families. I saw there was not a bit of hesitation on their faces while accompanying me and were anxious to reach to their comrades with no fear of death. It was the call of duty, the time to die hard, their morale and espirit de corps was my strength. Sun Tzu, a Chinese General once said: “Solider will be constantly on the qui vive; without waiting to be asked, they will do your will; without restrictions, they will be faithful; without giving orders they can be trusted.”


When I arrived near the spot, it was in few seconds of time that another blast hit my vehicle. Whistle started ringing in my ears, at once calmness prevailed, blood spattered all around from our wounds, necks were chocked, flesh and blood was scattered around the vehicle, fire and red smoke was the background and cries of pain in the surroundings were very clear, every movement was seized. At the same time in the vehicle, a gallant soldier Sepoy Rabnawaz on the driver seat was breathing slowly with his eyes closed. I had never seen anyone with such a contentment in his last moments, there was no agitation and distress on his face and very peacefully he put his head over the steering and, in defence of his motherland this son of soil achieved martyrdom, the highest glory for a believer. Another gallant soldier Sepoy Javaid was severely injured and was full of blood. When he was being transported to the ambulance, I saw his anxiety to get his rifle lying in the tail boat with him was more than his concern about his own life. When we both were put into ambulance he was sitting next to me and looked upon me with a calmness over his face. Throughout the journey in ambulance with blood all over his face from his bleeding eye, he kept holding his rifle and put his head over its muzzle; the damaged rifle he knew was his responsibility which he could never shed in the face of death.


To defend motherland is the responsibility of every soldier which they would never flinch even if the cost is their lives. I pay tribute to my comrades from 22 Frontier Force Regiment, Lance Naik Inayat Ullah Naizi Shaheed, Sepoy Zahid Shaheed, Sepoy Rabnawaz Shaheed, Sepoy Javaid Shaheed, Sepoy Zamiruddin Shaheed and Sepoy Karamat Shehzad Shaheed for their glorious sacrifice in the line of duty. This pack of wolves made me feel stronger in that critical time and sacrificed their lives for motherland. Their service and sacrifice was selfless and their blood would be the guiding light for the nation in the times of anguish

http://hilal.gov.pk/index.php/layou...wolf-and-the-strength-of-the-wolf-is-the-pack