I am sixty something now but on that fateful September l was a 11 year old school boy whose father was a Lt.Col in the army posted at the GHQ pending his posting to Azad Kashmir.
The whole family father, mother , my two sisters and myself had gone shopping that evening on the 1st of September in my father's Triumph Herald 1200, and on the way back my father disclosed to the whole family that his posting had come through and he had to leave for kotli in Azad Kashmir within 24 hours. I could see the tension on my mother's face as she gripped my father's arm. He smiled at her and said it will be okay don't worry and to quickly inject some morale he addressed me saying kaka our airforce today shot down four Indian vampires without loss. I was cock a hoop, jumping up and down on the back seat of the car. My mother just smiled knowing quite well the dangers her husband was going to face in a few days time. Both my sisters were too young to understand what was going on.
We got home on church road in lal kurti near the presentation school for girls and I got out of the car and hugged my dad tightly, he was my hero along with any uniformed person during those fateful days.
My father's batman jumma Khan was ordered to pack my dad's kit that evening as the jeep to pick him up was due early next morning for the journey to kotli to take command of his unit (Punjab regt ).
Our dinner table was very quiet that evening. I went to my bedroom to complete my homework and around 9pm my father came to my room, hugged me and put me to bed. To me he was invincible in his dashing khaki uniform and green beret of the Punjab regiment.
Next morning he was long gone before l woke up and went to school, St Marys on Murree road where the talk of the day was the downing of the four vampires by the PAF. We were supremely confident in the capabilities of our army and airforce that day.
Soon war was declared as both adversaries faced each other across the CFL and the international border.
That evening FM Ayub Khan addressed the nation informing us of the state of war. Meray Aziz humwatano he blurted in his deep voice which sent shivers down my spine. I was dancing and completely delerious.
Schools were closed which was the added benefit of war (that's how l felt ) and no homework. I was in heaven.
My father's batman quickly dug up a L shaped trench in our garden to be used during air raids.
Radio pakistan was our only means of live news and l was glued to the radio every top of the hour. The morning paper the Pakistan times was eagerly awaited to read the news of the exploits of our forces along with the pictures of the war.
The first air raid warning took place that night at around 9 or 10 pm. Jumma Khan quickly ushered us into the trench as we heard the ack ack open up along with a couple of huge thuds as bombs landed nearby (we lived close to the GHQ and there was an ack ack gun nearby which made a hell of a noise ). Both my sisters started crying and I felt my legs shaking. I tried to put up a brave face but l couldn't stop my legs from shaking. War had finally hit home and l quickly realised why my mother acted the way she did the last few days.
The war carried on with both sides claiming victories upon victories. The airwaves were full of propoganda some true some not. Patriotic songs blurted out all day and night during those fateful days.
Close to the end of the war, my father called us on the telephone to let us know that he was ok and we should not worry at all. I cannot forget the relief on my mother's face as tears ran down her face. I hugged her. I hugged jumma Khan who told me that my father was a brave man, a ghazi. There was no dancing or delirium on my part, just pure relief that I will be able to see my father again soon.
After about 4 weeks the schools opened, my father came home on a 2 day pass. He was a fit man before he left for the front but he had lost weight. I remember him sleeping most of the 2 days and my mother made sure I didn't disturb him too much.
I heard him tell jumma Khan that he was proud of his regiment as they held their own against heavy odds.
What was surprising to me was his admiration for the way the Indian unit opposite him fought (Rajputana regt).
He returned to the front as the ceasefire had been finalised as the armies slowly returned to their peace time locations. My father's regiment was ordered to return to jehlum and we joined him a few weeks later.
He never discussed what happened in detail except to say that the regiment did well and that was good enough for me.
My father also took part in the 71 war but this time he was posted at GHQ in military intelligence. He retired in late 72. He passed away in 2006.
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