It will be a privilege to publish letters from readers about articles written
in previous issues or giving suggestions. No letter will be printed which
indulges in personalized attacks or is meaningless in the context of DJ
Stranger Than Fiction
Sir,
I have read the above article by Dr. HAMID HUSSAIN, an eminent writer and analyst depicting the service record and personality of Lieut Gen SAHABZADA MUHAMMAD YAQUB KHAN, published in the April 2011 issue of Defence Journal. The learned writer has not thrown much light on his service with 3 Punjab Regt. During September 1948 he had joined 3 Punjab at Lahore as the 2nd in command and subsequently commanded it in action in BHIMBER Sector. I was also serving with 3 Punjab.
For the information of our learned readers I am reproducing below the relevant part of my article “They were my Commanding Officers” that was published on page 57 of the June 2007 issue of Defence Journal.
The learned writer has mentioned that “YAQUB’s critics point to three incidents pertaining to three different time of his life. First is when he was in KASHMIR war in 1947-48. YAQUB was order to rescue a small picket surrounded by Indians. He was a thinking officer and kept calculating how own likely action and enemy’s possible reaction. In the meantime, the Indians overran the picket.”
With under command some lashkars, etc 3 Punjab was deployed in defence covering all the approaches to the SADABAD Valley, SADABAD GALLA, AMBERGARH Fort and also holding the height PT 3350. During my stay in the Battalion (Nov-Dec 1948 and Jan to April 1949) no picket or platoon/company locality was sur-rounded or captured by the Indians. The enemy was holding, with a battalion each, the formidable features of REECH and MANDAK overlooking the SADABAD Valley. No man’s land was dominated by our troops. According to the plan of Operation Venice these features were required to be attacked and captured, but the plan was not implemented.
It is also mentioned that SAHABZADA MUHAMMAD YAQUB was appointed ‘Col of the Battalion of 3 PUN-JAB’ for a number of years.
Regards
M.A. GILLANI
