Asfandyar Bukhari

Captain Isfandyar Shaheed

Captain Asfandyar Ahmad Bukhari (1988-2015) was a Pakistan Army Officer who was martyred while commanding his troops from the front during the attack on PAF Camp Badaber by TTP terrorists. Captain Isfandyar Shaheed had a short but illustrious career in the Pak Army during which he won the Military Tactics Medal and the Sword of Honour at PMA Kakul, topped the Lieutenant to Captain exam of the Pak Army, invented a target acquisition instrument for the Pak Army and fought the TTP terrorists bravely and successfully in many encounters.

Early life

Captain Isfandyar Shaheed receiving a prize from Governor Punjab Khalid Maqbool at CCH in 2005.

Captain Isfandyar Shaheed was born on 14 August 1988 (the 41st independence anniversary of Pakistan) in Attock. He belongs to the Bukhari Syed family of Attock who trace their roots to Hazrat Ali (RA) and Imam Hussain (RA). His great grandfather Syed Sahab Shah commanded a force of 400 men from Attock district during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 against the British and was martyred at Delhi while fighting bravely against the British troops. Captain Isfandyar Shaheed received his early schooling in Army Public College Attock and Fazaia Degree College Kamra. In 2001 he was accepted at the prestigious Cadet College Hasanabdal (C.C.H.) where he studied from 2001 to 2006. He excelled at C.C.H.and became wing commander of Jinnah wing. In 2005 he was also selected in the Punjab under-19 Field Hockey Camp.He was also a member of Attock District Hockey team which became runners-up in the North Punjab Zone Hockey Tournament organized by PHF in 2005.

Military career

Captain Isfandyar Shaheed receiving the Sword of Honour from General Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani.

Captain Isfandyar Shaheed joined PMA Kakul in November 2006 as part of the 118 Long Course.He won many laurels during his stay at the PMA including medals in riding,swimming,hockey and academics. In 2008 he was awarded the coveted Military Tactics Medal whereas on 25 October 2008 he received the highest award of PMA Kakul i.e. The Sword of Honour for being the best Gentleman Cadet of the 118 Long Course.[1][2] After graduating with honours from the PMA, Captain Isfandyar Shaheed joined the 11FF Regiment of the Pak Army and was posted at Bahawalpur. In 2009 he went to Quetta for the basic infantry course during which he invented a Target Acquisition Instrument for Pak Army. The instrument is very cost-effective and can be used for locating a target with pinpoint accuracy.

Service in Waziristan

Captain Isfandyar Shaheed (right) in Waziristan.

From 2011 to 2013 Captain Isfandyar Shaheed was posted in Waziristan where he took active part in operations against TTP. He participated in various encounters against the terrorists and always emerged victorious. Throughout his 18-month stay in Waziristan he voluntarily commanded the forward most posts held by 11FF Regiment. Captain Isfandyar Shaheed fortified the forward posts and built bunkers in a very short time. He participated in the manual labour along with his soldiers and kept their morale high.[3] Thanks to these efforts 11FF didn't suffer a single casualty during her time in Waziristan. Numerous times the TTP terrorists attacked Captain Isfandyar's post but he and his soldiers were always alert. As a result, the terrorists suffered crippling losses and after some time lost the urge to launch attacks on 11FF's positions. During his stay in Waziristan once Captain Isfandyar Shaheed received an order to occupy a hill to provide cover to another unit which was carrying an attack on a concentrated force of an estimated 75-80 terrorists. Captain Isfandyar occupied the hill with 12 of his soldiers but the promised attack failed to materialize. As a result, Captain Isfandyar and his men were stranded deep in enemy territory. The terrorists surrounded the hill in strong numbers and urged Pak Army soldiers to surrender on account of their being outnumbered. In this precarious situation Captain Isfandyar maintained his composure. He told his troops that surrender wasn't an option and they would attempt a breakout at nightfall. For the time being he arranged his men into defensive positions at the summit of the hill. The terrorists launched a frontal attack in the afternoon but Isfandyar and his men were ready and in a short crossfire the terrorists lost 8/9 men while a Pak Army soldier was wounded. This encounter proved costly for the terrorists and their morale. Isfandyar immediately grasped the opportunity and made a breakout plan. He said that 10 of his men will take their wounded companion to their own lines while Isfandyar and one companion will man the hill and keep the terrorists at bay. After a calculated amount of time which will be required for others to be in safe lands,Isfandyar himself and his companion will leave the hill and make for safety. The men objected to the plan as it seemed almost suicidal for Isfandyar but he prevailed upon them. Contrary to expectations the breakout was accomplished very smoothly. Isfandyar and his comrades managed to slip away quietly and unscathed in the dark. Perhaps the beating received by the terrorists proved to be a deterrent for them to pursue a more active strategy. When Isfandyar and his men reached their unit all were astonished as they had expected them to be captured or martyred by then.[4]

Attack on PAF Camp Badaber

On 18 September 2015, 14 TTP terrorists entered PAF Camp Badaber and attacked the PAF personnel there. The murderous terrorists cowardly opened fire on the mosque martyring about a dozen men in there.The 102 Brigade of Pak army in Peshawar immediately dispatched a Quick Response Force (QRF) to Badaber which was accompanied by the Brigade Commander Brigadier Inayat and Captain Isfandyar who was G-3 of 102 Brigade. The commander of QRF Major Haseeb was wounded by a ricocheted bullet. In the meanwhile Captain Isfandyar was pleading Brigadier Inayat to let him participate in action. Finally Brigadier Inayat relented and sent Isfandyar in an armoured vehicle to identify the location of terrorists within the base by drawing fire towards himself.

Captain Isfandyar quickly located the terrorists and reported back with a plan. He suggested to use armoured vehicles from the front in order to divert the terrorists' attention towards the vehicles and he,himself would attack with a handful of volunteers from behind and wipe the terrorists off. The Brigadier gave permission reluctantly because to accomplish the plan Isfandyar would have to move in the open without any cover but Isfandyar persisted and finally the Brigadier relented.

Captain Isfandyar executed the plan to perfection and killed 4 terrorists himself in the process.[5] As the firing subsided Captain Isfandyar spotted a suspicious shadow inside a room.He said to his men "I think there is a terrorist lurking in there.You throw the door open and I will deal with him". His men told him not to attempt this foray and volunteered themselves but he didn't relent. Captain Isfandyar entered the room and a crossfire ensued during which the terrorist was killed whereas Captain Isfandyar was brought out by his comrades grievously wounded. After 5–6 minutes Captain Isfandyar embraced eternal life through martyrdom and proved himself a son of Hazrat Ali (RA) by embracing Shahadat at the hands of Kharjis and attaining victory against them through Jihad fi Sabeel illah.[6][7]

Funeral

Captain Isfandyar Shaheed funeral.

Captain Isfandyar's funeral was held the next day in his hometown of Attock. It was attended by thousands of people who thronged to pay their respects. Captain Isfandyar's funeral procession was characterized by many as the largest ever in the history of Attock. He was buried in a piece of land belonging to himself on the outskirts of Attock City.[8]

Honours

Following Captain Isfandyar's death, public squares in Faisalabad and Attock were named after him. A roadway in Karachi is also named after him.[9] On 11 June 2016, the District Headquarters Hospital Attock (in which Isfandyar Shaheed was born) was renamed Isfandyar Bokhari District Hospital Attock.[10]

Captain Isfandyar Shaheed was awarded the Tamgha i Juart by the Pakistan Government but his parents refused the award citing that Shahadat in the path of Allah was the only award worthy of their son's sacrifice.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Rare Video of Shaheed Captain Asfandyar Talking To Media After Taking Sword of Honor". www.unewstv.com. Retrieved 2016-06-29.
  2. ↑ "Sword of Honour Winners, PMA, Kakul, Abbotabad". 2013-12-12. Retrieved 2016-06-29.
  3. ↑ "جنوبی وزیرستان میں موٹر وے اور دیوارِ چین (اسفندیار شہید پر لکھی گئی کتاب کے ساتویں باب سے ایک اقتباس)". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  4. ↑ "خارجی کتوں کے ساتھ جھڑپ اور اسفند یار کی حکمتِ عملی۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔ ( اسفند یار شہید پر لکھی جانے والی کتاب سے اقتباس)". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  5. ↑ "Shaheed Captain Isfandyar Bukhari - PKKH.tv". 2015-09-28. Retrieved 2016-06-29.
  6. ↑ "Captain Asfandyaar Bukhari Shaheed in Peshawar PAF Camp .". YouTube. Retrieved 2016-06-29.
  7. ↑ Uploader (2016-06-11). "DHQ Hospital Attock renamed after Capt Asfandyar Bukhari Shaheed". Retrieved 2016-06-29.
  8. ↑ "Funeral prayer for Shaheed Captain Isfandyar offered | SAMAA TV". Retrieved 2016-06-29.
  9. ↑ "A roadway in Karachi named after Captain Isfandyar Shaheed". The News Tribe. 2015-09-20. Retrieved 2016-06-29.
  10. ↑ "DHQ Hospital Attock named after Captain Asfandyar". Retrieved 2016-06-29.
  11. ↑ "President grants awards to military men | SAMAA TV". Retrieved 2016-06-29.

External links

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