Daily Times

The feelings of sadness at the demise of Air Marshal Nur Khan at once give rise to sweet feelings of pride — pride in a countryman whose many personal achievements became landmarks of achievement of the country. His professionalism, vision and integrity serve not only as a reminder that Pakistan can, and has, produced sons and daughters of the soil who achieved excellence for the country, but also a much needed hope that there can be many more like him.

Nur Khan led not only the Pakistan Air Force, but also Pakistan International Airlines as well as the cricket, hockey and squash national bodies. And whatever he touched, he turned to gold. He was one of those few who are admired even by their enemies. ‘He was a formidable fellow and I was glad that he was Pakistani and not Egyptian,’ says Ezer Weizman, former air force chief and president of Israel in his autobiography On Eagles’ Wings, referring to Nur Khan’s prowess during the Arab-Israeli Six Day War. An officer and a gentleman of integrity, Nur Khan was on the verge of resigning the day he took over as Air Force chief from Asghar Khan due to prevalence of rumours of an impending, unprovoked attack on India by the army that were not being confirmed to the other forces. Despite being conflicted because of his reservations, he came through for the country once others had plunged it into an ‘unnecessary’ and ‘wrong’ war, to quote him. PAF under him performed at par with the thrice as large Indian air force — no mean feat. “They misled the nation with a big lie that India rather than Pakistan had provoked the war and that we were the victims of Indian aggression,” were the words of this singularly honest war hero.

He took on the troubled national airline and led it into its golden era when it gained an international repute of excellence. Under his remarkable stewardship, PIA’s sports teams produced world class champions in cricket, squash and hockey. Jansher Khan, Imran Khan, Zaheer Abbas, Majid Khan, Jehangir Khan and Shahnaz Sheikh, among many others, are the legends that sprang from the PIA nursery that he tended.

For many a glory of this country, credit goes to Nur Khan. May Pakistan have many more like him. *