Dear Readers,
Counted among the handful of larger-than-life personalities in Pakistan, the late Air Marshal (Retd) Asghar Khan had reached a pinnacle of Success in both his life and in his profession that very few man-age to attain and maintain with respect and dignity. He was known and admired for his exceptional qualities, his abilities and for his achievements through his personal and professional life. Among those who became a legends in their lifetimes, he will continue to live on in the memory of the millions who admired and respected him. The Air Marshal led an extremely eventful life, leading by example in his chosen profession by dint of hard work and his talents but his candid and honest views on many issues could not find acceptance with the brand of political practices that have become so fashionable in Pakistan.
Defence Journal (DJ) is uniquely privileged to have had Air Marshal (Retd) Asghar Khan as its Chief Patron, a capacity in which he helped lend more credibility as the magazine changed owner ship, undergoing slow changes in keeping with the times. Looking for a respected ex-Serviceman of stature to take over the mantle of Chief Patron of Defence Journal, I was fortunate in having from a choice among a number of very respected senior officers of the Armed Forces who I have always looked up to. In the end, considering everything, there was only one choice for me, the Air Marshal, a man blessed with honesty, integrity, strongly held convictions and independence who remained steadfast to his principles to the very last, never compromising on them, even when confronted with the harshest of conditions. His was, and will remain, a really tough act to follow. He was born to lead and destined to greatness by faithfully following what he believed in, not deterred by his skeptics or what society thought, leaving many in a state of envy and awe. It was only befitting to see the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) recognising the Air Marshal’s contribution to the evolution of PAF as a fighting force of high caliber and his leadership throughout his lifetime and honoured him with a deeply solemn State funeral, the national flag flying at half-mast the day he died. This was a right that he had earned by serving his with distinction. Was it an ironic coincidence that Asghar Khan died on the day that followers of Z.A. Bhutto observed the 90th anniversary of their executed leader, the two having had serious political differences as adversaries?
Starting his military career as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Indian Army, Asghar Khan started active duty from the Royal Deccan Horse in 1940. A passion for flying was his real love and when the opportunity came, he obtained his transfer to the British Royal Air Force. Because of his sheer dedication and commitment, he was given command of the No. 9 Squadron, also commanding and directing aerial missions in the Burma Campaign against Imperial Japan. An exceptional pilot and a trend setter in many ways, he became the first Indian Air Force officer to fly a fighter jet when just 25 years old. Destined to greatness, his was an eventful life, by dint of hard work and outstanding abilities he grew up in his profession to dizzying heights but his candid and honest views on many issues could not find acceptance with the brand of political practices fashionable in Pakistan.
As an ode to the Air Marshal, the special issue of DJ being dedicated to his loving memory contains only articles and essays highlighting the many aspects of Asghar Khan’s personality, his life, his achievements, his triumphs and also some failures as a politician, for despite his fine accomplishments, he was only human. Despite being a beacon of strength and hope for many he consistently failed on the political front only because of his integrity, honesty and his forthrightness this particular combination of qualities is rarely found among our political elite. Perhaps his conscience did not allow him to just stand by and see how Pakistan’s politics was being dragged through the mud. All said and done, the positive points of his career far outshine the negatives and have left a significant mark on national life as a soldier, administrator, and politician who never shied away from difficult decisions and lived his entire life with dignity and honour. This is how we Would like to remember the great man and convey our deepest respect to DJ’s Chief Patron. I also hope that the DJ special issue will be cherished by people who love and admire Asghar Khan enough to keep and own the same in memory of a man who was an institution in his own right, having mentored many in his professional career. Asghar Khan’s vision, courage, integrity, honesty and dedication to his mission are qualities that very few are blessed with. Undervalued by a nation that was held hostage to the manipulation of our politicians and also a few in uniform, Asghar Khan was a man of integrity.
Asghar Khan was an exceptional individual, one who felt deeply about his beliefs, always ready to take risks even when the odds were stacked against him, he chased his dreams with passion and an unwavering tenacity. His composure allowed him to maintain a certain stillness in the face of life’s changes. In his passing away, Pakistan has lost one of its most outstanding soldiers, a person who never compromised on his principles and values and an honest politician a rarity in Pakistan a patriot and a great human being.
“The opinions/views expressed in Defence Journal are entirely those of the writers and cannot be construed to reflect the official views of Defence Journal”.
