Remembering my illustrious elders

The horse has always been man’s best friend and cavalry his best defense. During the cavalry’s history, it has had its ups and downs, however, till the 18th century, it was a force to be reckoned with, particularly in the Asian context. The British relying initially on a combination of artillery and infantry while considering cavalry as ‘flashy extravagance’, also realized its ability that gave it an edge, particularly during the First World War when the Tanks shaped a decisive victory on the Western Front.

Consequently, after the First World War, the British felt the importance of modernizing the British Indian Army in view of an imminent German threat. Therefore, there was a major shift in military strategy which then focused on embedding cavalry further due to its emerging strategic importance thus leading to its mechanization. As such the two cavalry units were modernized and equipped. These were: 13 Lancers and 14 Scinde.

Tales of battles in Mesopotamia reverberated far and wide. In the small village, Adamzai one of its heroes was Lt. Taj Muhammad Khan Khattak, MBE, OBE, KCIE, a celebrated Guides officer whose father Hon. Capt Sarfaraz Khan Khattak was one of the earlier Indian officers of the Guides infantry in the late 19th and early 20th century. Both the father and the son were also the invitees to the Coronation ceremony in London as well, which they had attended. Hon. Capt Sarfaraz Khan was the Crown’s orderly as well.

Amongst the Cavalry officers from the family, in the closer knit (Shaidu, Adamzai to Ameer villages ), the name of Gohar Khan of Akora khattak appears as evident from the documented available records on board. Enlisted at Kohat around 1849 in the distinguished 2nd Punjab Cavalry, under Captain (later General) Sam Brown VC, and Captain (also later General) Dighton Probyn VC, he after taking part in many frontier expeditions with his cavalry regiment took part in the famous march to Delhi during the war of independence 1857. Other celebrated officers include Lt. Khawaja Muhammad Khan of Shaidu, Risaldar, Major Tuhair Khan of Ameer, and indeed Fatteh Khan, one of the earliest Guides officers with a worthy mention by Younghusband in his book, “the story of Guides”. Fatteh Khan was the uncle of Air Chief Marshal Muhammad Abbas Khattak.

It was quite natural for the scions of the poet, philosopher, and chieftain Khushal Khan Khattak to pick the armed forces as a career. Young Muhammad Nisar Khattak, following in the footsteps of his worthy elders, Capt. Sarfaraz Khan, his son Lt Taj Muhammad Khan and indeed others thus had a natural bent for the armed forces. After graduating from the prestigious Islamia College in 1940, he applied for a commission and was selected and proceeded to Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.

Passing out from the Indian Military Academy on 26th September’1942, at the height of WW2, Second Lt. Nisar was posted to Egypt in the famous cavalry unit, that is, King Edwards Own, at a time when the Allies were preparing for the famous battle of Alameen under Gen Montgomery and that ultimately turned around the fortunes of WW2 in their favor. After the war was over, Capt. Nisar was posted to Risalpur. Among his comrades of the time were: Gen Yusuf Khan Afridi and Sahibzada Muhammad Yaqub.

In 1947, at the time of independence, Capt. Nisar was employed for the security and safety of the refugees during transportation to and from India and thereafter fought in the 1948 Kashmir war.

In 1949, now a Major, was posted to Gilgit Scouts under the command of Col Sharif Khan of Mardan, another highly respected army officer. During this period, for a while, he was an acting commandant of the Gilgit scouts. In 1952, he was appointed as squadron commander of 13 Lancers and in 1955 as squadron commander of 4 Cavalry.

At the peak of the Cold War, Lt. Col Nisar attended a war course in USSR. On return, he was appointed Commanding Officer of the famous PAVO, 11 Cavalry, Prince Albert Victor’s Own, which he had the distinction of commanding twice – once in Lahore from Jan 1957 to Oct 1959 and thereafter in Nowshera from 1962- 1964. In the interregnum, he commanded the famous Khyber Rifles from 1959-61. As Commandant Khyber Rifles, Lt Col Nisar had the opportunity to receive and host Her Majesty the Queen of the UK.

Subsequently, he was stationed in the station headquarters, Lahore during the 1965 war and participated in the Indo- Pak war on the Chawinda front.

In 1966, Lt. Col Nisar was promoted and appointed Military Attache’ in Afghanistan from where he proceeded on a course to France. He served in Afghanistan till 1969. Upon return, was posted in the station headquarters in Lahore from where he retired in 1970.

Post-retirement, he relocated to the village Adamzai and would commute to Peshawar where he was appointed as GM, GTS and then moved to Faisalabad as GM. He served as DG of Civil Defence, KP, Chairman of Governor’s Inspection Team, headed security of the emerald mines in Swat, and served as administrator of Mardan Municipal Corporation.

An avid reader, an excellent Bridge and Polo player and a friend of friends, Col Nisar opted for a simple life and his native village Adamzai as his permanent abode where he would keep in touch with his friends: Gen Gul Hasan, Col Muhammad Sharif Khan, Gen Jehanzeb Khan, Col Dr. Hassan, Col Pir Abdullah Shah, Gen K M Arif, Gen Fazle Haq, and many others.

After an eventful life, Col Muhammad Nisar Khattak passed away in 1989 leaving behind a rich legacy.

May his soul rest in peace.

(Contributed by Najeeburehman Khan, Adamzai)