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Title: Flight of the Falcon - Demolishing myths of Indo-Pak wars 1965 & 1971
Author: Air Commodore S Sajad Haider
Publisher: Vanguard Publishers, Pakistan 2009
Autobiographies by their very nature are highly suspect. Usually convenient facts are mentioned or embellished while inconvenient episodes are left out, glossed over or entirely missing. However Nosy Haiders autobiography , like the man, is a straight shooter that grabs you from the time he volunteers and is accepted into the Pakistani Air Force. Haider makes no bones about the way he is and calls himself a proud , passionate , Pakistani. The passionate part is very readily visible in the way in which Haider always goes for the jugular , be it leading a demonstration for visiting dignitaries or his out of uniform experience of chasing the fairer sex which he readily admits as his weakness.
For the Indian reader there are many interesting vignettes of life in Pakistan and its Air Force . Some of these facts ,can be summarized as below :
1.
He takes a critical look at the Pakistani experience of his generation and how Zia and gang perverted Pakistani society . Haider calls him outright an evil dictator. He holds both Ayub Khan - for starting the lies and Zia for perpetuating the myths and lies. Zia comes under opprobrium for killing Bhutto for whom Haider has lot of respect as Bhutto was one of Haiders consistent supporters.
2.
Struts, lauds his beloved PAF. Quoting extensively from the Indo-Pak Air War by PVS Jagan Mohan and Samir Chopra, he has nothing but derisive contempt for the IAF of 1965 but grudgingly accepts that in 1971 the performance of the IAF was far ahead of what it had been and most importantly had learned from its 1965 mistakes while the PAF hadnt and continued to repeat the same mistakes of timid commanders leading aggressive pilots. Haider sneers at some of the people who greased their way to the top and whose main qualifications are knowing the right people surely this is not something that is confined to Pakistan and it has echoes in India and the Indian Armed Forces.
3.
Haider once and for all debunks the 5 aircraft in 23 seconds story of Alam. He claims that the PAF performed much better than has been popularly known and saved Pakistan many times over. His famous Pathankot raid is mentioned in extensive detail and is clear example of fine leadership transforming into a devastating attack. He also acknowledges that everyone ended up claiming Migs while there were lesser Migs than was claimed.
4.
There is many a mention of institutionalized corruption. Here Haiders autobiography holds resounding echoes for Indians in that he characterizes the deep malaise of Pakistani society in practically every arms deal how millions had been siphoned off while well meaning Pakistanis are blissfully unaware of the facts. Replace Pakistan and Pakistanis with Indians and the truth is far closer to home.
5.
No holds barred colorful life married three times, liaisons galore and he openly talks about it without any hesitation or malaise.
6.
Superb arrogant confidence in his abilities as a fighter pilot and great glimpses of the other side of the hill. Here Haider cant be faulted in the way in which he describes the hard training that the PAF did and how he escaped death by whisker in his first jet, the Supermarine Attacker.
7.
He has derision for the IAFs refusal to press home attacks and overall timid performance in 1965 and gloats as to how on many an occasion benefited Pakistan and how it held out against the combined might of IAF on both fronts . The Kalaikunda raid is also mentioned to prove the overall aggressive spirit of the PAF.
8.
The biggest opprobrium is reserved for Zia ul haq and Ayub Khan . The former is roundly and perhaps justly condemned as the man who institutionalized much of Pakistans current explosive combinations of mullahs-drugs-submissive judiciary-homegrown taliban while the latter is painted out to be a plain and simple coward. He calls Zia an evil dictator while Ayub is mentioned as vain despot. This is where Hyder scores strongly for he wants the blatant lies of the 1965 and 1971 wars to be swept away and history to be presented as it is to the people of Pakistan. Again strange echoes for us too except for us knowledgeable guys , how many of the aam janta know or even care about 1965 or 1971?
9.
Proclaims himself to be a rabid, passionate Pakistani and yet in spite of that , it is possible to see through it and sometimes even admire his moral courage in standing up to his superiors who try to frame him in the Attock conspiracy . This chapter smacks of cynicism for he suddenly discovers that Allah has been with him and decides to acquit him along with some others. However the descriptions of mental torture and him breaking down on seeing his son all ring true. Samba Spy case anyone?
On the whole this is not a bad book and I would heartily recommend it for a look at the Other side of the hill . It praises the PAF and Pakistan sky high , yet shows the deep rooted rot and malaise that has affected both. Echoes again ?
The subtitle of the book is also very revealing "Demolishing the Myths of the 1965 and 1971 Indo-pak War". Here Haider goes all out to demolish many myths including the Alam episode and the mistaken Gnat landing at pasrur which Pakistan always claimed that it was because of the vaunted F104 forcing it down.
Once and for all he puts to rest that the entire 5 aircraft in 23 seconds story is purely a myth because Alam himself was shifty when Haider questioned him about the episode.
Here Haiders ire knows no bounds as he says this was the start of the pervasive corruption that ended up claiming the country and then its Air Force Haider traces this corruption to the economy of facts and inability to deal with the truth. His mention of the 1971 events are more revealing he is probably the only Pakistani who would readily acknowledge that the Bengalis of East Pakistan were given a raw deal and it was no wonder that they rose up aided by treacherous Indians.
For India and Indians , Haider has nothing but pithy adjectives maybe this is the passionate Pakistani talking. For any Indian reading the book, this consistent ranting against India/ Indians sticks out like a sore thumb.
Keeping that aside, the book is entirely balanced and takes a highly critical look at the way in which the PAF performed in both the 1965 and 1971 wars. The conclusion of the book mentioned the 2002 parliament attack in passing and hints that this has been done deliberately by Indian agents to garner support for anti-Pakistan feelings and swiftly concludes that Pakistan and its air force is ready for any Indian misadventures.
Haider sometimes has the hallmark of an innocent in a dangerous jungle but he is candid enough to admit that his innocence goes by the name of honesty. He wonders why trouble always precedes him wherever he goes , not having learned the fine art of pointing out that the emperor is not wearing any clothes. In any hierarchically controlled organisation, especially the strictly hierarchical military, this is bound to cause trouble and Haider attracts trouble in the same way he attracted flak in his combat attacks. It is also a hallmark of his honesty that he admits that he doesn't know the fine art of diplomacy and much like the thorough fighter pilot that he is , he shoots straight throughout the course of the book and this quality is thoroughly admirable.
Though the book is about Pakistan there are many echoes for the Indian reader and one can easily identify with Haider as he fights against pervasive nepotism and corruption all around. Its clear that his personal integrity is intact all the time that he was in Air Force . In sum this is not such a bad book barring the Anti Indian sentiments and feelings , this is a good description of the PAF and its wartime performance in the 1965 and 1971 war, told by an insider who was there and had seen it all and done it all. In short , very much readable and enjoyable.
Reviewed by K V Ramesh
Author: Air Commodore S Sajad Haider
Publisher: Vanguard Publishers, Pakistan 2009
Autobiographies by their very nature are highly suspect. Usually convenient facts are mentioned or embellished while inconvenient episodes are left out, glossed over or entirely missing. However Nosy Haiders autobiography , like the man, is a straight shooter that grabs you from the time he volunteers and is accepted into the Pakistani Air Force. Haider makes no bones about the way he is and calls himself a proud , passionate , Pakistani. The passionate part is very readily visible in the way in which Haider always goes for the jugular , be it leading a demonstration for visiting dignitaries or his out of uniform experience of chasing the fairer sex which he readily admits as his weakness.
For the Indian reader there are many interesting vignettes of life in Pakistan and its Air Force . Some of these facts ,can be summarized as below :
1.
He takes a critical look at the Pakistani experience of his generation and how Zia and gang perverted Pakistani society . Haider calls him outright an evil dictator. He holds both Ayub Khan - for starting the lies and Zia for perpetuating the myths and lies. Zia comes under opprobrium for killing Bhutto for whom Haider has lot of respect as Bhutto was one of Haiders consistent supporters.
2.
Struts, lauds his beloved PAF. Quoting extensively from the Indo-Pak Air War by PVS Jagan Mohan and Samir Chopra, he has nothing but derisive contempt for the IAF of 1965 but grudgingly accepts that in 1971 the performance of the IAF was far ahead of what it had been and most importantly had learned from its 1965 mistakes while the PAF hadnt and continued to repeat the same mistakes of timid commanders leading aggressive pilots. Haider sneers at some of the people who greased their way to the top and whose main qualifications are knowing the right people surely this is not something that is confined to Pakistan and it has echoes in India and the Indian Armed Forces.
3.
Haider once and for all debunks the 5 aircraft in 23 seconds story of Alam. He claims that the PAF performed much better than has been popularly known and saved Pakistan many times over. His famous Pathankot raid is mentioned in extensive detail and is clear example of fine leadership transforming into a devastating attack. He also acknowledges that everyone ended up claiming Migs while there were lesser Migs than was claimed.
4.
There is many a mention of institutionalized corruption. Here Haiders autobiography holds resounding echoes for Indians in that he characterizes the deep malaise of Pakistani society in practically every arms deal how millions had been siphoned off while well meaning Pakistanis are blissfully unaware of the facts. Replace Pakistan and Pakistanis with Indians and the truth is far closer to home.
5.
No holds barred colorful life married three times, liaisons galore and he openly talks about it without any hesitation or malaise.
6.
Superb arrogant confidence in his abilities as a fighter pilot and great glimpses of the other side of the hill. Here Haider cant be faulted in the way in which he describes the hard training that the PAF did and how he escaped death by whisker in his first jet, the Supermarine Attacker.
7.
He has derision for the IAFs refusal to press home attacks and overall timid performance in 1965 and gloats as to how on many an occasion benefited Pakistan and how it held out against the combined might of IAF on both fronts . The Kalaikunda raid is also mentioned to prove the overall aggressive spirit of the PAF.
8.
The biggest opprobrium is reserved for Zia ul haq and Ayub Khan . The former is roundly and perhaps justly condemned as the man who institutionalized much of Pakistans current explosive combinations of mullahs-drugs-submissive judiciary-homegrown taliban while the latter is painted out to be a plain and simple coward. He calls Zia an evil dictator while Ayub is mentioned as vain despot. This is where Hyder scores strongly for he wants the blatant lies of the 1965 and 1971 wars to be swept away and history to be presented as it is to the people of Pakistan. Again strange echoes for us too except for us knowledgeable guys , how many of the aam janta know or even care about 1965 or 1971?
9.
Proclaims himself to be a rabid, passionate Pakistani and yet in spite of that , it is possible to see through it and sometimes even admire his moral courage in standing up to his superiors who try to frame him in the Attock conspiracy . This chapter smacks of cynicism for he suddenly discovers that Allah has been with him and decides to acquit him along with some others. However the descriptions of mental torture and him breaking down on seeing his son all ring true. Samba Spy case anyone?
On the whole this is not a bad book and I would heartily recommend it for a look at the Other side of the hill . It praises the PAF and Pakistan sky high , yet shows the deep rooted rot and malaise that has affected both. Echoes again ?
The subtitle of the book is also very revealing "Demolishing the Myths of the 1965 and 1971 Indo-pak War". Here Haider goes all out to demolish many myths including the Alam episode and the mistaken Gnat landing at pasrur which Pakistan always claimed that it was because of the vaunted F104 forcing it down.
Once and for all he puts to rest that the entire 5 aircraft in 23 seconds story is purely a myth because Alam himself was shifty when Haider questioned him about the episode.
Here Haiders ire knows no bounds as he says this was the start of the pervasive corruption that ended up claiming the country and then its Air Force Haider traces this corruption to the economy of facts and inability to deal with the truth. His mention of the 1971 events are more revealing he is probably the only Pakistani who would readily acknowledge that the Bengalis of East Pakistan were given a raw deal and it was no wonder that they rose up aided by treacherous Indians.
For India and Indians , Haider has nothing but pithy adjectives maybe this is the passionate Pakistani talking. For any Indian reading the book, this consistent ranting against India/ Indians sticks out like a sore thumb.
Keeping that aside, the book is entirely balanced and takes a highly critical look at the way in which the PAF performed in both the 1965 and 1971 wars. The conclusion of the book mentioned the 2002 parliament attack in passing and hints that this has been done deliberately by Indian agents to garner support for anti-Pakistan feelings and swiftly concludes that Pakistan and its air force is ready for any Indian misadventures.
Haider sometimes has the hallmark of an innocent in a dangerous jungle but he is candid enough to admit that his innocence goes by the name of honesty. He wonders why trouble always precedes him wherever he goes , not having learned the fine art of pointing out that the emperor is not wearing any clothes. In any hierarchically controlled organisation, especially the strictly hierarchical military, this is bound to cause trouble and Haider attracts trouble in the same way he attracted flak in his combat attacks. It is also a hallmark of his honesty that he admits that he doesn't know the fine art of diplomacy and much like the thorough fighter pilot that he is , he shoots straight throughout the course of the book and this quality is thoroughly admirable.
Though the book is about Pakistan there are many echoes for the Indian reader and one can easily identify with Haider as he fights against pervasive nepotism and corruption all around. Its clear that his personal integrity is intact all the time that he was in Air Force . In sum this is not such a bad book barring the Anti Indian sentiments and feelings , this is a good description of the PAF and its wartime performance in the 1965 and 1971 war, told by an insider who was there and had seen it all and done it all. In short , very much readable and enjoyable.
Reviewed by K V Ramesh
