THIS refers to the above-captioned letter by Khalid Chaudhry (Oct 8).

The pretentious emotions expressed to defend the image of the PAF notwithstanding, it was a cynical attempt to berate a consummate author and columnist Ahmed Fauqui. Actually, the pitch was directed at the 'interviewee'.

I do not wish to put the PAF in a senseless and salacious controversy because nothing is closer to my heart than my former service and its reputation which I have defended singly even after retirement and that fact does not need any one's endorsement, least of all persons who think that manufacturing stories and pervasive myths would enhance the glory of the PAF or the gallant pilots who created history.

The letter is pitifully out of context. My quoted answer was to questions by Ahmed Faruqui

Q. What was the quality of your foes in the air, the fighter pilots of the IAF? Was there someone who really stood out? What aircraft was he flying?

A. “We were all former RAF-trained, so the IAF did put up some good fights and shot down our aircraft. One Mystere pilot, Devayya, shot down a F104 over Sargodha even though he had received plenty hits and succumbed finally but after shooting down the F104. (This is recorded by John Fricker, the official historian of PAF, from the statement of the pilot, as he had access to all after mission reports). Similarly, two of the very best of the PAF fighter pilots Sqdn. Ldr. Sarfraz Rafiqui and Flt.Lt Yunus were shot down over Halwara on 6th eve by relatively inexperienced pilots (absolute fact). They were both flying Hunters. But the performance of IAF pilots in the more dangerous and skill and courage-intensive airfield attack missions was truly dismal. They did not press home their attacks with determination and courage.

“Our training, war preparedness, superb leadership at the top and unit level, high morale and indomitable will for excellence in profession. We had honed our pilots to a point where for me excellence had to be a habit, not an option. We were custom-trained and we passed on the tradition to those under our command. Professional confidence level of a PAF pilot was highest amongst the world as demonstrated during training in the US and Germany and later admitted by the USAF that we were better than even Israelis..”

The writer is doing a serious disfavour to the sterling PAF by these concocted myths by wrongly claiming [several] other Mig 21s were shot down and one or two made to force-land. The PAF never made such stupefying claims. The rest of diatribe does not deserve response.

It would be a favour to the PAF by not embellishing its history further and denude it of its established pre- eminence.

AIR COMMODORE ( r )

S. SAJAD HAIDER

Via email