Brigadier ® Nisar Ahmad Khan passed away on 30 July 2019 in Michigan; United States. He was nick named ‘Kaka Nisar’. A fine officer and gentleman who was instrumental in a very important holding action of armor in 1965 Indo-Pakistan War faded away into the fog of history. He was born on 28 March 1920 at Bassi Pathana near Sirhind in Patiala state. This Muslim Pathan colony was established during Mughal era. This small Muslim enclave in a Sikh state provided soldiers to the Maharaja of Patiala. Several generations of Nisar’s ancestors proudly served Patiala state. According to Maharaja Patiala Captain ® Amarindar Singh, Kaka Nisar was sixth generation of the family to serve Patiala state. He followed the family tradition, joined 1st Patiala (Rajindra) Lancers and commissioned on 21 March 1943.
Nisar as a young man heading to profession of soldiering.
In 1947, on partition of India, he opted for Pakistan army. He received regrant of his commission on 28 August 1948 and assigned Pakistan Army number PA 959. He joined Probyn’s Horse (5th Horse) of Pakistan army. He was Officer Commandant (OC) of School of Armor in Nowshera from March 1954 to July 1955. In June 1956, when 20th Lancers was raised under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Nasrullah Khan with Major (later Major General) Jahanzeb Khan as Second in Command, Nisar was posted to 20th Lancers during the raising of the regiment. He raised 25th Cavalry on 09 June 1962 and commanded it from the day of raising to 22 September 1966. He was promoted Brigadier and served as Commandant of Armored Corps Center and Record Wing from 02 September 1971 to 01 October 1972. He commanded an ad hoc Changez Force in 1971 Indo-Pakistan War.
Nisar as a young cavalry officer
Nisar’s role in 1965 war was crucial in stopping an Indian armored threat in Chawinda. 25th Cavalry had two squadrons with M-47s and one squadron with M-48s tanks. Regiment was integral part of 15th Division, however for operational purposes, it was put under 24th Brigade commanded by Brigadier Abdul Ali Malik. 24th Brigade had two infantry battalions (2 Punjab and 3 FF) and an armored (25th Cavalry) regiment. On 07 September, twenty hours after Indian forces crossed the international border, Brigadier Ali met Nisar and told him, “Nisar, the enemy has come, do something”. Opposing 25th Cavalry was Indian Ist Armored Brigade commanded by Brigadier K. K. Singh. 16th Cavalry was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Kartar Sidhu-Brar and 17th Poona Horse was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Ardesher Burzorji Tarapore (nick named Adi). Later 4th Hodson Horse commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Madan Mohan Bakhshi also joined the fray.
Nisar as CO of 25th Cavalry
Nisar handled his unit with professional calm and led in a jeep guiding his squadrons into battle. Most Indian and Pakistani military analysts agree that 25th Cavalry was instrumental in blunting Indian armor thrust in that theatre. History of 1965 Indo-Pakistan War by two eminent Indian military historians; Lieutenant General ® Tajindar Singh Shergill and Captain ® Amarindar Singh, Monsoon War is full of praise for calling Nisar’s actions as ‘brave and professional’ and with his ‘energetic response in leading his squadrons’ slowing down Indian thrust. It concluded that ‘His courage and quick reactions brought him luck’. General Shergill praising Nisar’s conduct states that ‘the quickness with which he personally deployed A Squadron followed by the other two squadrons blunted the thrusts of 16th Cavalry and Poona Horse bringing 1st Armored Brigade to a halt and then recoil. A cool and calm head and courageous, Lieutenant Colonel Nisar displayed the best qualities of a cavalry commander’.
Most battles of 1965 War were fought at company/ squadron and battalion level with no finer higher direction of war on both sides. In such a scenario, usually individual units are fighting without knowledge about the other side. Blissful ignorance about the odds can propel an active and creative battalion commander to embark on an adventure and his energy can be rewarded. This was the case of Nisar. On the other hand, ignorance about opposing force can make a battalion or brigade commander edgy from an unexpected flank movement. This exaggerated threat perception makes commander to abandon original plan and even pull back. This was the case of brigade commander of Indian 1st Armored Brigade. After the baptism of fire in 1965 war, a newly raised 25th Cavalry could stand proud next to old cavalry regiments with hundred years old regimental histories.
Receiving Sitara-e-Jurat award from C-in-C General Muhammad Musa
In 1971 Indo-Pakistan War, Nisar was given command of an ad hoc force named ‘Changez Force’ in western theatre in the same operational area where he had ably led his regiment in 1965. This force consisted of two tank regiments; 20th Lancers & 33rd Cavalry and an infantry battalion;13th Punjab. The role of this force was of covering troops to fight a delaying battle at two minefield belts between the two strong points; Zafarwal on the east bank of Degh Nala and Shakargarh on the west bank of Bein Nala. This strategy slowed Indian advance in this theatre. 1971 war was mainly fought in eastern theatre where defeat and successful secession of East Pakistan made battle on western front a side show.
Brigadier Nisar Ahmad Khan
Adi Tarapore of 17th Poona Horse and Kaka Nisar of 25th Cavalry were both originally from state forces and not regular Indian army. Adi had joined Hyderabad State Forces first serving with 7th Hyderabad Infantry and later Ist Hyderabad Lancers. After 1947, with absorption of state forces in Indian army, he joined 17thPoona Horse. Nisar was originally from Patiala State Forces. Adi and Nisar had served together during Second World in Aden when their respective regiments were deployed there as part of Indian Imperial Service Brigade. Both regiments have great respect for the opposing Commanding Officer considering them outstanding and thoroughly professional officers who gave the best performance.
Dilemma of partition for individuals is highlighted by the story of another officer of 25th Cavalry. Risaldar Major Annu Khan was the legendry Viceroy Commissioned Officer (VCO) of 17th Poona Horse. His two sons Risaldar Yunus Khan and Daffadar Mehboob Khan also served with their father’s regiment. In 1947 when India was divided Annu Khan and Yunus Khan decided to stay in India but Mehboob Khan decided to come to Pakistan. Mehboob’s son Shamshad Ahmad joined Pakistan army. Shamshad’s maternal grandfather Risaldar Kale Khan served with 16th Cavalry. In 1965 war, Shamshad was serving with 25thCavalry of Pakistan army and his regiment fought against both his maternal and paternal family regiments; 16th Cavalry and 17th Poona Horse. If Mehboob had decided to stay in India, it was very likely that his son Shamshad would have joined one of his family regiment and fighting against 25th Cavalry.
Those who served under Kaka Nisar remember him as a thorough professional and ‘fully devoted to the well being of all under his command’. With Kaka Nisar’s passing, another chapter of the old generation of officers is closed. He was one of the oldest armor officer of Pakistan army. Rest in peace Kaka Nisar.
| Lest the young soldiers be strange in heaven, God bids the old soldier they all adored Come to Him and wait for them, clean, new-shriven, A happy doorkeeper in the House of the Lord. Lest it abash them, the strange new splendor, Lest it affright them, the new robes clean; Here’s an old face, now, long-tried, and tender, A word and a hand-clasp as they troop in. “My boys,” he greets them: and heaven is homely, He their great captain in days gone o’er; Dear is the friend’s face, honest and comely, Waiting to welcome them by the strange door. |
Acknowledgements:
Thanks to Lieutenant Colonel ® Zahid Mumtaz for biographic details of Brigadier Nisar’s career and pictures, Brigadier Asif Kamal Mirza ex 25 Cavalry; who served under Nisar and Major ® Agha H. Amin for encyclopedic details of operations of 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pakistan Wars in the theatres where Kaka Nisar operated.
