The war of 1965 was a very important moment in the history of Pakistan. Some even believe it to be our finest hour, when we successfully repulsed massive attacks on our borders at several fronts by an enemy many times bigger. While our army and navy performed well (especially in defense), it was the Air Force that made the real difference, at least that is what the Air Force personnel believe, including my father, who served in the PAF from 1961 to 1973 and retired as a sergeant.
Without getting into this debate, I will come to the topic of this post, Air Marshal Nur Khan, the Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Air Force during the war of 1965. On 18 December 2016, almost four years after his death, I visited his grave to pay my respects to this great hero of Pakistan. This expedition had a special significance for me because my father unexpectedly decided to accompany me. He is not very fond of traveling, and this was the first time he came with me on such an excursion, which I usually undertake to visit places of my interest. But he also wanted to pay his respects to his Commander-in-Chief.
We started from Lilla, my hometown, at nine in the morning, and my cousin Mr. Riaz Ahmad from the neighboring village of Kandwal also accompanied us. He, too, joined the PAF in 1977 and retired in 1995 as a Senior Technician. It was 18 December 2016, a pleasant winter day. We finally reached Tamman, exactly 100 kilometers away, at noon. It took us almost three hours due to our leisurely pace and some bad sections of the road. The Potohar Plateau has a beautiful landscape, though the prolonged drought and dusty atmosphere had somewhat marred the beauty of the scenery.
Air Marshal Malik Nur Khan was born in Tamman, a town in District Chakwal, on 22 February 1923. His family had a long military tradition. His father, Malik Mihr Khan, was a Subedar Major and Honorary Captain in the British Indian Army and served with distinction. He saw action in Europe, Iraq, and Iran during World War I and was awarded the Indian Order of Merit, 2nd Class—probably the highest military medal after the Victoria Cross. He was also awarded the Indian Distinguished Service Medal.
Nur Khan joined the Air Force in 1941 and retired in 1969. During his brilliant career, he served in many important posts and played a pivotal role in transforming the Pakistan Air Force into a formidable force. He received his early education from the prestigious Aitchison College, and later graduated from the Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehra Dun, where he performed exceptionally well. He received further training in Britain and later served in the Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF) in Burma.
After the creation of Pakistan, he was appointed Commander of Chaklala Airbase in 1948. He rose quickly through the ranks and was made Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Air Force on 23 July 1965. Despite being in command for only a short time, and not being properly informed by the army about the impending war, the PAF performed brilliantly under his leadership during the September 1965 war, against a much larger adversary. However, it would be unfair not to credit Air Marshal Asghar Khan, his predecessor, who led the PAF for eight years and laid the foundation that made such performance possible.
After retiring from the Air Force in 1969, Nur Khan served in several high-profile roles, including Governor of West Pakistan, Federal Minister, and Deputy Chief Martial Law Administrator, albeit for brief periods. One of his most remarkable contributions after retirement was in the field of sports, particularly squash, hockey, and cricket. Under his leadership, Pakistan became a powerhouse in squash. He also served as President of the Pakistan Hockey Federation from 1967–1969 and again from 1976–1984. During this time, Pakistan won two Olympic gold medals, two Hockey World Cups, and two Champions Trophy titles.
He also participated in electoral politics, winning the NA-44 seat in the 1985 elections. However, he lost in 1988 and withdrew from politics thereafter.
Air Marshal Nur Khan was a man of great intelligence, discipline, and patriotism. He gave his best in every position he held. He passed away on 15 December 2011 and was buried in his family graveyard just outside Tamman, at 32°59'33.80"N, 72°6'13.50"E.
A visit to such a place is always inspiring. It instills a sense of duty towards one’s country and a deeper purpose in life. If you are travelling from Islamabad or Lahore, take the exit at Balkasar Interchange and head west towards Talagang, continuing onward to Tamman. The total distance from Zero Point, Islamabad to Tamman is approximately 170 kilometers. Please refer to the map below for guidance.
