KARACHI: Defence Day of Pakistan marking the golden jubilee of the 1965 war was celebrated with fervour by all three pillars of the armed forces of Pakistan — Army, Air Force and Navy — in the city on Sunday.

The exercises, exhibitions and parade were reciprocated with much enthusiasm by the people who came to watch up close though only Pakistan Navy invited the public, who turned out in big numbers to watch the exercises at the Seaview beach in Defence Housing Authority.

Befitting for the port city of Karachi, it also turned out to be the best show of bravery and valour with a variety of activities carried out by naval marines and Special Services commandos. A big portion of the beach had been reserved for the purpose.

First up was a simulated hostage situation with terrorists firing blanks while driving up to a compound on the beach where they dragged out several hostages as they beat them up. The terrorists laid out their demands to the government.

They wanted a huge amount of money and a helicopter for easy getaway. But the negotiations failed followed by commando action to free the hostages. “Such an operation is usually carried out in the dead of the night but we are doing it in daylight here for your benefit,” said an announcement on the loudspeaker.

Four black helicopters emerged on the horizon with commandos sliding down ropes and surrounding the compound. Very quietly they entered the compound in pairs of two. They were successful in killing the terrorists and liberating the hostages although they had to carefully check the hostages, too, in order to make sure that no terrorist was masquerading as one before removing them on a standby hovercraft. For the ones who were wounded there was a wet winching drill as well.

This was followed by a Navy flypast by their aviation unit. The gathered public dominated by a large number of children especially liked the P-3 Orion and Seaking helicopters. They also appreciated the six para jumpers, who mingled with them later on to shake hands with and take selfies.

Pakistan Navy also organised a parade early in the morning at Karsaz.

The Pakistan Air Force Masroor Base also saw a spectacular flypast. The PAF flypast in Karachi was held after 2007 but the people coming to watch it were mostly relatives of PAF officials or members of the media.

“I was six years old when I last saw a flypast here,” says Huzaifa Khan, a class nine student. “I love planes. I have several remote control planes and a helicopter at home but this is the real thing.”

A Mirage, a JF-17 Thunder and an F-16 were also part of the PAF exhibition. The three aircraft also performed the flypast. “While honouring our 1965 and 1971 war heroes today we are also telling the world what we are capable of now through this exhibition,” said Flight Lieutenant Zaid Naqvi.

Flight Lieutenant Abid, a Special Service Wing commando, said that his job in the PAF was to work beyond the enemy lines and provide security to the base, assets and installations.

When asked how come they being pilots were on the ground, Flying Officer Muzammil Jamshaid said that his Officer Commanding was flying the Mirage in the flypast. His batch-mate standing nearby said that the flypast should happen every year looking forward to feature in one soon.

Flight Lieutenant Arsalan Akbar was surrounded by schoolchildren from the base. All wanted to know what it takes to be a pilot. “Interest and passion,” he replied. When a youngster asked him if he wished to be in a war like the 1965 and 1971 wars, the pilot with 600 hours on the JF-17 wisely shook his head. “War is nothing to be desired although we should always be prepared for it,” he said.

Meanwhile, Flight Lieutenant Adeel Ahmed, who pilots the F-16, said that the aircraft was the first designed to play a multiple role. “Earlier, some planes were used for bombing, some for reconnaissance missions and other things but the F-16 did everything,” he said. Asked if the F-16 had lost its importance after the JF-17’s induction into the force, he smiled and said: “The difference between the two is like a Toyota Corolla and a Honda Civic, both are A-class vehicles, right?”

The flypast was followed by an equally entertaining air show with rolling harriers, knife edge manoeuvres and what not by remote control model aircraft organised by the Model Aeronautical Society of Karachi (MASK).

A special feature of the day was the change of guards ceremony where aviation cadets from PAF Academy, Risalpur, assumed guard duty at the Quaid-i-Azam’s mausoleum.

The Army held their own parade at Malir Cantt led by a beautiful band playing national song tunes, which sounded like something else when played by drums, cymbals, trumpets, flutes and set heartbeats racing. “Dekho, dekho, parade agayee! [Look, look, the parade is here!]” screamed children of Karachi’s Army Public Schools present there in hoards. And sure enough behind them were the various infantry units and regiments in ceremonial uniforms complete with green, red and blue berets with matching feathers.

But first there was the bugle, the salute, the kissing of the sword and permission to begin by the parade commander positively reciprocated by Major-General Shahzad Naeem Khan, the chief guest on the occasion. Henceforth followed the parade, including heavy machinery, equipment loaded with latest technology and instruments, weapons, heavy armoured vehicles, tanks, floats and the cavalry.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2015

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