yeah mehnaz i find that stuff interesting too, what roles did the ppl of subcontinent play in eastern and westen theatres during WWII and also WWI...
great post 5Abi!! thanks!! you must be proud of your dad!
:k: 
5Abi bhai - wow… :k: i’m speechless… thanks for sharing…your dad is truly great…
Khatana, Gohan, Haris Zuberi, Fret Wizard, outlaw - thanks for sharing… amazing accounts…:k:
PAK FAUJ ZINDABAD 
PAKISTAN PAINDABAD
I forgot to also mention that my Khala husband was a military doctor, and took part in the 71 war. He passed away of a heart attack shortly after marriage.
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*Originally posted by Haris Zuberi: *
yeah mehnaz i find that stuff interesting too, what roles did the ppl of subcontinent play in eastern and westen theatres during WWII and also WWI...
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Indian soldiers were used in WWII by the brits. The Brits had promised (covertly?) the Indian leadership that if they support the war, they would gain independence. So all were encouraged to join the effort. A lot of people from villages in Punjab and NWFP joined the army to earn a few bucks. There were a few Indians though who decided to side up with the enemy (Japanese and Germans) to fight against the Brits. They were caught, tried for treason and hanged!!
The Indians fought on many fronts through the war. They were even used to send supplies to the russians. But many Indians used to freeze to death in that extreme weather- it was only after many of them died that the Brits realized that we were not designed for that kind of weather!! My Grandfather fought in Italy so they went that far into Europe- maybe farther but I am not sure. Towards the end of the war, the main role of the Indians was to fight the Japs and they did that mainly in Burma. The Japanese were advancing towards India/Burma so there was a front opened in that area. Not sure about Singapore - I think there must have been a high Indian presence there too.
An interesting fact about WWII- in order to support the British troops in Burma, the British govt decided to control all the food supply in West India (mainly Bengal). All the available rice and wheat etc was stored by the Brits for the troops - esp as they thought at the time that there may be a lot more troops/time required to fight the Japanese. The effect of that was that there was a massive food shortage which then became a drought in Bengal. Hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of Bengalis died in Calcutta alone!! This was toned down and kept a secret for a long time till it all got out of hand. I saw a TV documentary on it a year or so ago. If the Brits had lost, maybe they would have been tried for war-crimes and we could have played on our misfortune in the same way as the jews did !!!
Thanks Khattana!
inetersting info! :k:
uncle in pakistan was in the 71 war. never heard any war stories.
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*Originally posted by Khattana: *An interesting fact about WWII- in order to support the British troops in Burma, the British govt decided to control all the food supply in West India (mainly Bengal). All the available rice and wheat etc was stored by the Brits for the troops - esp as they thought at the time that there may be a lot more troops/time required to fight the Japanese. The effect of that was that there was a massive food shortage which then became a drought in Bengal. Hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of Bengalis died in Calcutta alone!!
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True, but bear in mind that by 1940 the Japanese army was close enough that they were firing artillery shells into East Bengal.
Something had to be done to remedy the situation. Given how extremely racists the Japanese were in the late 30s/early 40s, I simply cannot see how anything other than a British victory in the Burma campaign would have been the best possible outcome.
My grandad has an enormous repertoire of stories and experiences from his time in the Burma campaign... everything from meeting the young Idi Amin through to being fed a 100-course meal by grateful civilians that the unit he commanded liberated (the trick was to take just one or two bites from each course... the local culture considered that finishing the food on your plate meant that you were unsatisfied with your host's hospitality.
One of his stories is how he we went away without leave to get married during the war, and only later realised that he had technically deserted the army during an armed conflict and could theoretically be shot. He ended up having to beg the authorities in Calcutta to send him back to the front without noting his desertion...
And, of course, the countless stories of amusing characters by grandad met and occasionally befriended during the war, most sadly ending with "Ah, poor chap, a Japanese sniper/machine gunner/artillery strike/bomber got him at......"
I once asked my grandad how many men he killed, and his reply was "I lost count".
cousin is in the Pak military. leads a very adventurous life.
:)
Great topic.
Has anybody else heard the stories of divine intervention (angels I think it was) during the 1965 war, or are those just old wives tales?
I had a granduncle that fought in the war who told stories like that, but I don’t recall the details.
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*Originally posted by elahi: *
Great topic.
Has anybody else heard the stories of divine intervention (angels I think it was) during the 1965 war, or are those just old wives tales?
I had a granduncle that fought in the war who told stories like that, but I don’t recall the details.
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I heard something of the sort about angels protecting Lahore during the 65 war. I think they are just wives tales.
How deep into Pakistan have outside armies ever reached? I think only up to Lahore.
well in 65 war ...the indian army cudnt even cross the BRB canal( a few kilometers inside PAk territoryon the outskirtds of Lahore )....although they thought ke they can take Lahore in a day or 2 and this is just caz of our fauji jawans
who were completely outnumbered by indian army ........
just to give u a realistic view of the war as both sides claimed that they won the war ...I think it was a failed attempt by India , in other words we made them fail.
both the armies managed to capture a bit of each other terrotories......But one thing is true and even acknowledged by some western observers too that PAK airforce completely outclassed IAF who was at that time 3 times bigger than PAF with all the high tech equipment from Russia and just one day after the war on 7th september pAF was in complete control of skies.. Of course who can forget M.M Alam( a PAF hero of 65 war )........
btway nice topic mehnaz .good to c ke ppl living abroad like u still care about ur homeland i hope these stories make every pakistani proud whether living in PAK or abroad
ive heard a few stories about divine help etc. from my parents and grand parents. they say that the IAF pilots after the 65 war often admitted that they used to drop bombs on Pakistani territory but they used to disappear into thin air never dropping on the target or casusing damage...
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*Originally posted by Nibss: *
Of course who can forget M.M Alam( a PAF hero of 65 war )........
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Ofcourse. MM Alam was the reason I applied for a GDP after high school, cleared my ISSB at Kohat and CMB in Karachi, but did not join due to some family reasons. Three of my classmates(high school) were the first ones to fly the F-16s. Two of them were squadron leaders the last time I had a contact with them.
wow Ahad,
nice to hear that. clearing the selection procedres for the GDP course of the PAF academy is an honour in itself. why didn't you join?
i'm a huge fan of our military. and on 6 sep i saw an airshow at Masroor base and the feeling i had watchng our fighter pilots fly the jets just a 1000 ft over our head was extraordinary.
tell me one thing, what are the medical/issb traits that the selkectors look for in cvandidates for officers and particularly GDP officers.
:k: :k: :k:
Thanks Irem and Haris :) No one makes me more prouder than my my dad. I havent personally known anyone more patriotic than him. He chose to serve his country rather than exploit other more lucrative oppurtunities.
(I have edited my posts above)
Wow..wonderful tales.But inspite of such tales...i wish that war shouldn't have taken place in the First place.But...alas..."honee ko kaun tal saktaa hai."
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*Originally posted by Haris Zuberi: *
wow Ahad,
nice to hear that. clearing the selection procedres for the GDP course of the PAF academy is an honour in itself. why didn't you join?
i'm a huge fan of our military. and on 6 sep i saw an airshow at Masroor base and the feeling i had watchng our fighter pilots fly the jets just a 1000 ft over our head was extraordinary.
tell me one thing, what are the medical/issb traits that the selkectors look for in cvandidates for officers and particularly GDP officers.
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the selection criterion for GD (P) candidates in terms of ISSB and CMB is not that extraordinary.........as everyone knows today, about those 15 traits those a person can be groomed at (what they look for at ISSB)...........and about the medical fitness, whats important is that one shud be NORMAL......n thats it.....
nice to know u joined at there in Masroor on 6 Sep.....next time u r there, do see me.......would love to have u around........
i had the honour to talk to Air Cdre (R) M M Alam last week.....will get in touch with him n wud share with u, some stories those are the proud heritage of our nation and the Air Force....