Air Commodore Sayed Sajad Haider SJ (

Urdu Urdu (;"Urdu"
''

Lahore Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is the capital of the province of Punjab where it is the largest city. ...

,'' is a retired Pakistani

fighter pilot A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained to engage in air-to-air combat, air-to-ground combat and sometimes electronic warfare while in the cockpit of a fighter aircraft. Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and ...

and former

one-star rank An officer of one-star rank is a senior commander in many of the armed services holding a rank described by the NATO code of OF-6. The term is also used by some armed forces which are not NATO members. Typically, one-star officers hold the rank o ...

officer of the

Pakistan Air Force , "Be it deserts or seas; all lie under our wings" (traditional) , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = ...

. Sajad is an author, columnist, businessman, defence analyst, political commentator, and philanthropist. Known for leading a devastating

Blitzkrieg Blitzkrieg ( , ; from 'lightning' + 'war') is a word used to describe a surprise attack using a rapid, overwhelming force concentration that may consist of armored and motorized or mechanized infantry formations, together with close air su ...

Pathankot Pathankot is a city and the district headquarters of the Pathankot district in Punjab, India. Pathankot is the 6th most populous city of Punjab, after Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Patiala and Bathinda. Its local government is a municipal cor ...

airbase in India on 6 September during the

1965 War The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 or the Second Kashmir War was a culmination of skirmishes that took place between April 1965 and September 1965 between Pakistan and India. The conflict began following Pakistan's Operation Gibraltar, which was d ...

, Haider personally destroyed four Indian aircraft, eleven

Indian Army The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head is the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who is a four- ...

tanks, and damaged another three tanks. The formation destroyed a total of 13 Indian aircraft including 2 MiG-21s. The following day, Haider led his pilots to

Srinagar Air Force Station Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport also known as Srinagar Airport and Budgam Airbase, is an international airport serving Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is owned by the Indian Air Force, and the Airports A ...

where they destroyed another three aircraft. Haider's career was marked by a series of significant events, three of which stood out due to false accusations and political intrigue. The initial incident involved unfounded charges of treason and mutiny amid an alleged coup against

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Zulfikar (or Zulfiqar) Ali Bhutto ( ur, , sd, ذوالفقار علي ڀٽو; 5 January 1928 – 4 April 1979), also known as Quaid-e-Awam ("the People's Leader"), was a Pakistani barrister, politician and statesman who served as the fourth ...

's regime. Crucially, the coup charges were exposed as manipulated accusations orchestrated by Air Chief

Zafar Chaudhry Zafar Ahmad Chaudhry (Urdu: ظفر احمد چودھری; b. 19 August 1926 – 17 December 2019), , was a Pakistani human rights activist and an airline executive who served as the first Chief of Air Staff of Pakistan Air Force, appointed in ...

who was later fired, Saeedullah Khan and

Khaqan Abbasi Khaqan Abbasi was a Pakistani politician who served as Federal Minister for Production in Prime Minister Muhammad Khan Junejo's cabinet until 1988. He was the father of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former Prime Minister of Pakistan and Sadia Abbasi. ...

. This orchestrated effort targeted not only Sajad but also implicated 13 other PAF officers. Despite navigating through a labyrinth of false accusations, Sajad and the rest of the officers were eventually exonerated after investigations exposed the manipulative tactics at play. The second instance transpired in Washington, where an American corporate executive offered him a bribe. Sajad refused and told him "Get out of my office. I will have your company blacklisted," the executive was fired after the head of the company found out and personally apologized to Sajad. Later, a

SAVAK SAVAK ( fa, ساواک, abbreviation for ''Sâzemân-e Ettelâ'ât va Amniat-e Kešvar'', ) was the secret police, domestic security and intelligence service in Iran during the reign of the Pahlavi dynasty. SAVAK operated from 1957 until prime ...

operative from the Iran embassy with a direct hotline to the Shah of Iran had fabricated a falsehood with the help of the American, alleging that Sajad had defamed the Shah, which resulted in diplomatic tensions between

Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...

, with the Shah requesting Bhutto to remove Sajad from his position. Afterwards, it was revealed that the executive along with several Pakistani, Iranian, and Americans created the falsehood as they wanted to make money from shady defence deals being offered to the

Pakistan Air Force , "Be it deserts or seas; all lie under our wings" (traditional) , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = ...

. Challenges persisted within the PAF, illustrating a complex bureaucratic landscape and personal rivalries that continued to influence and shape his career. Sajad writes that the Americans coerced

President Ayub Khan Muhammad Ayub Khan (Urdu: ; 14 May 1907 – 19 April 1974), was the second President of Pakistan. He was an army general who seized the presidency from Iskander Mirza in 1958 Pakistani coup d'état, a coup in 1958, the first successful cou ...

to let them establish a spy base at Badaber in Peshawar where

Lockheed U-2 The Lockheed U-2, nicknamed "''Dragon Lady''", is an American single-jet engine, high altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) and previously flown by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). It provides day ...

fighter planes operated from. That to Sajad is the beginning of Pakistanis taking American dictation. "We traded our sovereignty for preservation of a dictator ( Field Marshal Ayub Khan) and we've never looked back. The Americans have always let down Pakistan." Sajad further states that he was very close friends with

but would never forgive him for his role in the separation of

East Pakistan East Pakistan was a Pakistani province established in 1955 by the One Unit Scheme, One Unit Policy, renaming the province as such from East Bengal, which, in modern times, is split between India and Bangladesh. Its land borders were with India ...

. Sajad Haider retired from the PAF in 1980 following an act of dissent against

President Zia-ul-Haq General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq HI, GCSJ, ร.ม.ภ, (Urdu: ; 12 August 1924 – 17 August 1988) was a Pakistani four-star general and politician who became the sixth President of Pakistan following a coup and declaration of martial law in ...

and his authoritarian regime . During a top-secret address at the GHQ in November 1979, where Zia outlined the continued military rule, Haider seized the moment to express his concerns when Zia hesitantly allowed Sajad to speak. Sajad criticized the intelligence agencies for manipulating the truth, highlighted the stifled press, and conveyed his disillusionment with the military's conduct towards civilians. Despite warnings from colleagues about the consequences, Haider chose to speak out to Zia-ul-Haq's face, leading to a strained relationship with authorities. Unwilling to serve under Zia's rule, he opted to retire, leaving behind a distinguished career and embarking on a new life with minimal resources. Haider remained engaged in advocating for the PAF's well-being while candidly critiquing its policies, emphasizing his passion for the institution despite the challenges he faced towards the end of his career. After retirement, he started his own defence, aviation and communication company, ''Cormorant''. Sajad decided to shutdown his company in 1990, after being targeted and offered kickbacks by two

Pakistan Army The Pakistan Army (, ) is the Army, land service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The roots of its modern existence trace back to the British Indian Army that ceased to exist following the partition of India, Partition of British India, wh ...

generals at the Defence Procurement Division including the Director General. Additionally, Sajad is a staunch supporter of

Imran Khan Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi ( ur}; born 5 October 1952) is a Pakistani politician and former Cricket captain who served as the 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan from August 2018 to until April 2022, when he was ousted through a no-confidenc ...

and in 2023, was holding a placard in support of him when an Islamabad Police Officer appointed by

Nawaz Sharif Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif (Urdu, Punjabi language, Punjabi: ; born 25 December 1949) is a Pakistani businessman and politician who has served as the Prime Minister of Pakistan for three non-consecutive terms. He is the longest-serving prime ...

approached him and began misbehaving, undermining the Commodores efforts during the

1965 war The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 or the Second Kashmir War was a culmination of skirmishes that took place between April 1965 and September 1965 between Pakistan and India. The conflict began following Pakistan's Operation Gibraltar, which was d ...

by parroting him in a taunting way. Sajad donated to

's fundraiser for the affectees of the

2022 Pakistan floods From 14 June to October 2022, floods in Pakistan killed 1,739 people, and caused ₨ 3.2 trillion ($14.9 billion) of damage and ₨ 3.3 trillion ($15.2 billion) of economic losses. The immediate causes of the floods were heavier than usual mo ...

for which

thanked him.

Early life and education

Sajad was born in Sargodha on 25 or 26 December 1932, at midnight. His parents were Dr. Syed Fazal Shah and Rashida Begum. Sajad has an older sister named Kausar and two younger brothers, Dr. Bunyad Haider , a renowned cardiologist who served as the Chairperson of the

University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) was a state-run health sciences institution of New Jersey, United States. It was founded as the Seton Hall College of Medicine and Dentistry in 1954, and by the 1980s was both a major ...

and the youngest, Jawwad Haider. Sajad attended Mission School Quetta with his sister Kausar until class 5, then Islamia High School Quetta for 3 years. Finally, they were admitted to St. Francis' Grammar School. He aspired to follow in the footsteps of his hero, Quaid-e-Azam, who he saw at his old school in

Quetta Quetta (; ur, ; ; ps, کوټه‎) is the tenth List of cities in Pakistan by population, most populous city in Pakistan with a population of over 1.1 million. It is situated in Geography of Pakistan, south-west of the country close to the ...

, sitting just six feet away, sparking the seed of his ambition to become a defender of

. Additionally, seeing polish pilots engage in dogfights over Quetta during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

left a lasting impression on him, as he was captivated by their prowess in

Spitfires The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. Many variants of the Spitfire were built, from the Mk 1 to the Rolls-Royce Griff ...

, vowing to become a fighter pilot himself, his father laughed it off. Sajad writes, "I was the first to become a fighter pilot from Balochistan." Sajad's family lived in the Bugti House before they moved into a small tin roof house in the Bugti complex of eight houses built by Nawab Mehran Khan Bugti. Mehran gifted two houses to Sajad's father who was his friend. Sajad grew up with Akbar Bugti's siblings after shifting to the house in the complex. Sajad recalls Akbar as a "stunning and fearsome person" who always called him chapeit or scrawny boy. Bugti's younger brother, Ahmed Nawaz Bugti, would take Sajad with him everyday for driving lessons. Against the backdrop of the post-

depression, Sajad's family confronted challenging times, as his father did not charge people for treatment, leading the family to rely on ration cards to obtain essential goods like sugar, flour, tea, eggs, cooking oil, and petrol. Despite the economic difficulties, Sajad reflects that the harsh realities of war did not directly impact his childhood, thanks to his mother's significant sacrifices to ensure warmth and sustenance. After passing the Senior Cambridge exam, Sajad joined

FC College Forman Christian College is an private liberal arts university in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It was founded in 1864 and is administered by the Presbyterian Church. The university follows an American-style curriculum. Founded in 1864 by American ...

in 1950.

Family history and upbringing

Sajad traces his family history to the rulers of the Khwarazmian Empire. Sajad's father Dr. Syed Fazal Shah, came from a small village called Moinuddinpur in Gujrat, founded by his ancestor, Sayed Moin-ud-Din Shah. Dr. Syed Fazal Shah served as a doctor in

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

and later set up practice in

on the invitations of Jafar Khan Jamali and Syed Fazal's closest friend & Sworn brother Nawab Mehrab Khan Bugti, the father of Akbar Bugti. Syed Fazal Shah was also friends with

Muhammad Ali Jinnah Muhammad Ali Jinnah (, ; born Mahomedali Jinnahbhai; 25 December 1876 – 11 September 1948) was a barrister, politician, and the founder of Pakistan. Jinnah served as the leader of the All-India Muslim League from 1913 until the ...

and was one of the pioneers of the

AIML The All-India Muslim League (AIML) was a political party established in Dhaka in 1906 when a group of prominent Muslim politicians met the Viceroy of British India, Lord Minto, with the goal of securing Muslim interests on the Indian subcontin ...

, laying its foundations in

Balochistan Balochistan ( ; bal, بلۏچستان; also romanised as Baluchistan and Baluchestan) is a historical region in Western and South Asia, located in the Iranian plateau's far southeast and bordering the Indian Plate and the Arabian Sea coastline. ...

and

Sindh Sindh (; ; ur, , ; historically romanized as Sind) is one of the four provinces of Pakistan. Located in the southeastern region of the country, Sindh is the third-largest province of Pakistan by land area and the second-largest province ...

.S SAJAD HAIDER, ''FLIGHT OF THE FALCON: Demolishing myths of Indo-Pak wars 1965 & 1971'', VANGUARD BOOKS, Lahore, 2009 Once during a meeting, Jinnah asked Dr. Sayed Fazal Shah, "Why did you not become President of the Muslim League in Balochistan yourself? Why did you let Qazi Muhammad Isa become the President?" Dr. Sayed Fazal Shah replied, "I am not interested in power but in the results of the prime mission. Furthermore, Qazi Muhammad Isa is a local of Balochistan, while I am an outsider." Sajad's mother, Rashida Begum, was a housewife who did social work for the poor and those suffering from diseases, especially tuberculosis patients. Dr. Syed Fazal Shah was Punjabi and Rashida Begum was Pashtun from her mother's side. Completely dedicated to his medical profession, Sajad's father, Dr. Syed Fazal Shah, worked diligently in his practice, providing medical care to numerous underprivileged patients at nominal or no fees. He promptly responded to every emergency call, even in challenging conditions such as freezing temperatures in

. His commitment took him to distant places with him attending to individuals like the wife of his friend, Nawab Mehrab Khan Bugti. He also extended his services to remote villages like Rojahan Jamali. Sajad recalls that his father never refused or protested if a patient had outstanding arrears, enduring irregular call timings, considerable distances, and various modes of transportation, ranging from a

horse-drawn cart A horse-drawn vehicle is a mechanized piece of equipment pulled by one horse or by a team of horses. These vehicles typically had two or four wheels and were used to carry passengers and/or a load. They were once common worldwide, but they have m ...

to a jeep and sometimes even horseback.

Personal life

Sajad Haider married three times. In 1960, Sajad married his first wife Iffat, who gave birth to their son Adnan in 1963. He married his second wife, Tahira in 1970 and the marriage lasted until 1971. He married his last wife, Faryda in April 1979 who gave birth to their son Zohare in 1980 and daughter Zaina in 1984. In 1978, Haider attended the

Quaid-i-Azam University Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad ( ur, ; commonly referred to as QAU), founded as University of Islamabad, is a ranked 1 public research university in Islamabad, Pakistan. Founded as the University of Islamabad in 1967, it was initially dedi ...

and earned his

MSc MSC may refer to: Computers * Message Sequence Chart * Microelectronics Support Centre of UK Rutherford Appleton Laboratory * MIDI Show Control * MSC Malaysia (formerly known as Multimedia Super Corridor) * USB mass storage device class (USB MSC ...

Anthropology Anthropology is the scientific study of humanity, concerned with human behavior, human biology, cultures, societies, and linguistics, in both the present and past, including past human species. Social anthropology studies patterns of behavi ...

Pakistan Air Force career

During his second year at the

, he was selected to join the 13th GD(P) Course at the RPAF Academy in December 1951. Haider reflects on being an "average student" who barely scraped through the 1½ year course. However, shortly after earning his pilot's wings, he rose to the top of his course within months, despite starting in the middle during training.

Airstrikes against Faqir of Ipi

In 1953–54, Sajad Haider participated in air raids against Faqir of Ipi and his men. In an interview in 2004, he recalled: "We were called in to rescue ground troops. Flying overhead we saw hundreds of tribal fighters, in groups of 10 and 15, hiding behind big boulders. They knew the terrain, they moved very quickly and understood the limitations of our aircraft. They used to hide at the bottom of steep hills so pilots would have no space to pull up after attacks."

World record loop of 1958

On 2 February 1958, flying in the No. 3 position, F/L Haider was part of the 16

F-86 Sabres The North American F-86 Sabre, sometimes called the Sabrejet, is a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as the United States' first swept-wing fighter that could counter the swept-wing Sov ...

aerobatic team led by Wg Cdr Mitty Masud that set a world record performing a 16 aircraft diamond loop. Hundreds of thousands of people were in attendance including,

President of Pakistan The president of Pakistan ( ur, , translit=s̤adr-i Pākiṣṭān), officially the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is the ceremonial head of state of Pakistan and the commander-in-chief of the Pakistan Armed Forces.Iskandar Ali Mirza, C-in-C (Pakistan Army)

General Ayub Khan Muhammad Ayub Khan (Urdu: ; 14 May 1907 – 19 April 1974), was the second President of Pakistan. He was an army general who seized the presidency from Iskander Mirza in a coup in 1958, the first successful coup d'état in the country's h ...

, C-in-C of the PAF Asghar Khan, Air Commodore

Nur Khan Air Marshal Malik Nur Khan Awan ( ur, ; 22 February 1923 – 15 December 2011) commonly known as Nur Khan, was a three-star air officer, politician, sports administrator, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Air Force, serving under ...

, Turkish Air Force Chief Hamdullah Suphi Göker, Iraqi Air Force Chief Abdul Kadhim Abaddi, Air Chief of the Imperial Iranian Air Force and Chief Guest King of Afghanistan Mohammad Zahir Shah in whose honor the performance had been organized. The same year, Sajad was the youngest and first to receive the Golden Eagle Award after the Partition of British India, for being an exceptional fighter pilot.

War of 1965

Sajad Haider often lauded as the Saviour of Lahore and one of the key heroes of the 1965 War, led the ''Sherdils'' of No. 19 Squadron as Squadron Leader during the war. 1965 War's Pathankot Strike, was a mission that underscored Haider's strategic acumen and the unwavering resolve of his squadron. The PAF played an integral role in hindering the Indian land forces' advance, particularly in the Wagah sector. Despite the historical significance of these events, Haider notes that they are often overlooked in war narratives. Before they took off from

Peshawar Peshawar (; ps, پېښور ; hnd, ; ; ur, ) is the sixth most populous city in Pakistan, with a population of over 2.3 million. It is situated in the north-west of the country, close to the International border with Afghanistan. It is ...

, Haider had arranged for towels drenched in buckets of eau de cologne stating to his men: "Boys we don’t know who will be the unlucky ones who won’t be able to dodge the enemy

Ack-ack Anti-aircraft warfare, counter-air or air defence forces is the battlespace response to aerial warfare, defined by NATO as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It includes surface based, ...

. They would surely arrive in the reception hall up there (Heaven) at around 1715 Hrs; but let us be sure we all smell good for the promised houris and angels who will receive us at the gates leading to heaven, for fighting as Allah has commanded us." Haider paints a detailed picture of the Wagah Strike, shedding light on the precision and bravery exhibited by the young pilots under his command which played an instrumental role in altering the course of the war. The narrative also explores the Pathankot Strike, wherein Haider's squadron targeted the IAF airfield with aircraft guns only. The success of the mission, resulting in the destruction of numerous Indian aircraft, showcased the exceptional skill and determination of the PAF pilots acknowledged by the Indians. Haider attributes the success to the collective efforts of his team and underscores the leadership and the visionary strategies of Air Marshal Asghar Khan and Air Marshal

. The following day, Haider was called by his base commander who handed him a letter which included a tasking order, instructing No 19 Squadron to reconnoiter Avantipura airfield,

Strafe Strafing is the military practice of attacking ground targets from low-flying aircraft using aircraft-mounted automatic weapons. Less commonly, the term is used by extension to describe high-speed firing runs by any land or naval craft such ...

any targets, then proceed to Srinagar to attack grounded aircraft. The Flight Commander, Mo Akbar, was asked to assign three pilots for the mission. He agreed and a team was formed with Arshad Sami Khan, Rao Akhtar, and Khalid Latif. A Hi-Lo-Hi profile was planned, avoiding radar detection by climbing to 20,000ft near Nanga Parbat. Descending over Khel village, they entered Kashmir valley, enjoying the scenery. Approaching Srinagar, the target at Avantipura was observed, then they turned towards Srinagar airfield. As they approached, a brightly painted civilian helicopter was spotted by Flt Lt Rao Akhtar who asked Haider for permission to shoot it down. Haider replied "No, leave it alone, it’s a civilian helicopter." Afterwards, it was reported that the helicopter was carrying Chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Ghulam Mohammed Sadiq. As Haider pulled up, heavy anti-aircraft fire commenced, prompting a strafing attack. An

C-7 Caribou The de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou (designated by the United States military as the CV-2 and later C-7 Caribou) is a Canadian specialized cargo aircraft with short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability. The Caribou was first flown in 1958 a ...

and two C-47 Dakotas were targeted and destroyed. After the attack, the formation regrouped and returned home. Later reports confirmed their successful mission, detailing the destruction of enemy aircraft on the ground. India claimed shooting down two Sabres and the capture of Squadron Leader Haider, which were proven false.

Sitara-e-Jurat

The

Sitara-e-Jurat Sitara-e-Jurat (, Star of Courage) is the third highest military award of Pakistan. It was established in 1957 after Pakistan became a republic; however, it was instituted retrospectively back to 1947. It is awarded for Courage, gallantry or dist ...

citation reads:

“Squadron Leader Syed Sajad Haider displayed exceptional leadership, courage and flying skill in the operations against the enemy during the Indo-Pak War. He destroyed four enemy aircraft, eleven enemy tanks and damaged three tanks. Throughout the operations, his attitude both on the ground and in the air was exemplary. He infused his pilots with aggressiveness. The strike mission which he led on 6th September 1965, against Pathankot airfield, where his formation destroyed 13 enemy aircraft including two MIG-21’s, was conducted in the best traditions of the Pakistan Air Force. The formation carried out repeated attacks in the face of heavy ack-ack. For the determination, courage and exceptional flying skill with which he flew and led his squadron during operations against the enemy. Squadron Leader Syed Sajad Haider, is awarded SJ.”

War of 1971

After serving in

Dacca Dhaka ( or ; bn, ঢাকা, Ḍhākā, ), formerly known as Dacca, is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh, as well as the world's largest Bengali-speaking city. It is the eighth largest and sixth most densely populated city i ...

as the Commander of No. 14 Squadron PAF, Sajad was nominated for the Joint Service Defence College in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

. Upon returning in September 1971, he took command of the No 33 Wing at Sargodha. However, as tensions between India and Pakistan heightened, he faced the challenge of preparing the Wing for any impending threat. The Wing under his leadership, included No. 5 Sqn of Mirages, No. 25 Sqn with Sabres, No. 23 Sqn with newly inducted Chinese F-6 and No. 11 Sqn with F-104s. Haider drawing on his experience from the

, swiftly readied the Wing for a potential conflict. One of his initial actions was to convert to the newly inducted French Mirages, which he flew a couple of missions on and became operational in no time. As he settled into his role, the

1971 war The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military confrontation between India and Pakistan that occurred during the Bangladesh Liberation War in East Pakistan from 3 December 1971 until the Pakistani capitulation in Dhaka on 16 Decemb ...

broke out. Undeterred, Sajad Haider led the Wing in notable contributions, with No. 5 Sqn conducting successful strike missions in

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

Amritsar Amritsar (), historically also known as Rāmdāspur and colloquially as ''Ambarsar'', is the second largest city in the Indian state of Punjab, after Ludhiana. It is a major cultural, transportation and economic centre, located in the Majha r ...

, Pathankot, and the famous strike on

Mukerian railway station Mukerian railway station is located in Hoshiarpur district in the Indian state of Punjab, India, Punjab and serves Mukerian . The railway station Mukerian railway station is at an elevation of and was assigned the code – MEX. History The l ...

. He writes that he personally flew various missions on Mirages, F-86s, and F-6s, often undertaking two missions a day despite heavy office commitments. The Wing played a crucial role in close support operations, conducting nearly 200 missions in the Zafarwal-

Chawinda Chawinda ( ur, ) is a city located in Pasrur Tehsil, Sialkot District, Punjab, Pakistan. The town sits at an altitude of , close to the border with Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. Chawinda was the site of a key tank battle during th ...

sector. No 33 wing destroyed a significant fuel dump at

Akhnoor Akhnoor is a city and municipal committee, near city of Jammu in Jammu district of Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It lies 28 km away from Jammu city. Akhnoor is on the bank of the Chenab River, just before it enters the Pak ...

on 10 December. From 12 to 15 December, No 33 Wing flew 50 to 60 missions daily. In battles against

Indian Indian or Indians may refer to: Peoples South Asia * Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor ** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country * South Asia ...

armor, the Wing, particularly the F-6 Sqn, inflicted substantial damage, contributing significantly to stalling the Indian assault on the Sialkot sector. Under Haider's command, No 33 Wing excelled in air combat, with young pilots achieving kills against superior IAF aircraft.

Attock Conspiracy 1973, arrest, solitary confinement, and exoneration

On 30 March 1973, several

and

Pakistan Air Force , "Be it deserts or seas; all lie under our wings" (traditional) , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = ...

officers, including Sajad, were arrested for their alleged role in what was to be known as the ''1973 Attock Conspiracy Case'' on charges of attempting to overthrow the Government of

. Sajad was placed in solitary confinement, in a dark room for months in which he recalls that he developed a stronger relationship with

Allah Allah (; ar, الله, translit=Allāh, ) is the common Arabic word for God. In the English language, the word generally refers to God in Islam. The word is thought to be derived by contraction from '' al- ilāh'', which means "the god", an ...

. He was offered a deal to get out early by two officials of the DAI, CA Waheed and Sibtain, who he referred to as

Gestapo The (), abbreviated Gestapo (; ), was the official secret police of Nazi Germany and in German-occupied Europe. The force was created by Hermann Göring in 1933 by combining the various political police agencies of Prussia into one organi ...

rats, in exchange for a false confessional statement against

Zulfiqar Ali Khan Air Chief Marshal Zulfiqar Ali Khan (Urdu: ذوالفقار علی خان; 10 December 1930 – 8 March 2005) , was a four-star air officer in the Pakistan Air Force and later a diplomat. He is noted as a first four-star air officer who c ...

in front of a magistrate, which Sajad refused to do. The 14 air force officials were tried at PAF Camp Badaber on 27 July 1973 in a General Court Martial headed by Air Vice Marshal Chaudhry Rab Nawaz where Haider and others were exonerated. The court members also observed that the case against Sajad was purely a personal vendetta driven by the sitting Chief of Air Staff of the PAF,

, due to Sajad's defiance against him. The Verdict read:

“THE MEMBERS OF THE COURT HAVE DELIBERATED VERY CAREFULLY THE EVIDENCE PRODUCED BY THE PROSECUTION THROUGHOUT THE TRIAL AND TODAY AS RESPONSE TO THE ‘PLEA OF NO CASE’ BY THE LEGAL COUNSEL OF ACCUSED NO 13, THE COURT FINDS THE PROSECUTOR’S CASE AGAINST THE ACCUSED INDEFENSIBLE. IT IS THE UNANIMOUS DECISION OF THE COURT THAT THE ‘PLEA OF NO CASE’ IS ACCEPTED AND ACCUSED NO 13, GROUP CAPTAIN SAJAD HAIDER SAYED, STANDS EXONERATED AGAINST ALL CHARGES LEVELED AGAINST HIM. HE IS FREE TO LEAVE THE COURT ROOM.”

Air Attache

GeneralStafford SajadHaider ZulfiqarAliKhan

In late 1974, Sajad relinquished the charge of Director Flight Safety and was appointed as Pakistan Air Attaché to

Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered on ...

Ottawa Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...

. During

's visit to

in February 1975, Group Captain Haider was part of the greeting committee on 4 February 1975 where they met Bhutto at Andrews AFB, proceeded to the President's Guest House known as the

Blair House Blair House, also known as The President's Guest House, is an official residence in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. The President's Guest House has been called "the world's most exclusive hotel" because it is primarily used ...

and later attended a private dinner at the Pakistani Ambassadors residence.

Shah of Irans accusation against Sajad

The

Vice President A vice president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vice president is on t ...

of a major Fortune 500 corporation, in 1973, requests Sajad Haider, the air attaché of Pakistan in Washington DC, to give him his Swiss bank account number. Sajad promptly rejects the unethical request, instructing the American "Get out of my office, I'll have your company blacklisted." Sajad's strong reaction prompts the president of the company to intervene, personally apologizing to Sajad, and dismissing the vice president for offering the bribe. Undeterred, the ousted Vice President collaborates with touts, including Pakistanis, Iranians, and Americans, all seeking to profit from questionable defence deals with the

Pakistan Air Force , "Be it deserts or seas; all lie under our wings" (traditional) , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = ...

. The situation takes a precarious turn when

Sahabzada Yaqub Khan Lieutenant General Sahabzada Yaqub Ali Khan ( ; born 23 December 1920 – 26 January 2016) was a Pakistani politician, diplomat, military figure, pacifist, linguist, and a retired general in the Pakistani Army. Born into an Indian nobility ...

, the ambassador, informs Sajad that the Shah of Iran desires Sajad's court-martial. SYAK, following a personal complaint from the Shah to Prime Minister

during a meeting in Izmir, conveys the Shah's directive to remove Sajad immediately and impose severe punishment for alleged seditious remarks. The Shah's son-in-law Ardeshir Zahedi who is also the Iranian ambassador in Washington, is shocked by the turn of events, as he is a close friend of Sajad. Later investigations reveal that a Savak operative from Zahedi's embassy, with a direct line to the Shah, fabricated the malicious lie against Sajad. Sajad was urgently summoned by the secretary of Ambassador SYAK during an early lunch one day. Rushing to the Embassy, SYAK handed him a Secret telex from Aziz Ahmed accusing him of derogatory remarks against the Shah of Iran. Despite his strong ties with Iranian diplomats, the Shah alleged Haider's involvement in spreading discontent. The Ambassador, visibly distressed, later disclosed an inquiry clearing Haider of the charges. The Telex read:

“DURING THE FIRST RCD MEETING AT IZMIR BETWEEN THE ARYAMEHR SHAHINSHAH OF IRAN AND MR BHUTTO, THE SHAHINSHAH DISCUSSED IN DETAIL THE PAKISTAN AIR ATTACHÉ AT WASHINGTON, GP CAPT SAJAD HAIDER. THE SHAHINSHAH TOOK STRONG EXCEPTION TO THE DEROGATORY COMMENTS MADE BY THE AIR ATTACHÉ AGAINST ARYAMEHR SHAHINSHAH OF IRAN’S PERSON AND FURTHER ALLEGED HE HAS BEEN SPREADING DISCONTENT AMONGST THE IRANIAN COMMUNITY. THE SHAHINSHAH WANTED IMMEDIATE ACTION AGAINST THE AIR ATTACHÉ. CONSIDERING THE SENSITIVE RELATIONS BETWEEN IRAN AND PAKISTAN YOU ARE TO REPATRIATE THE AIR ATTACHÉ INSTANTLY.”

In the midst of the turmoil, Haider faced a surprising reassignment by the Ambassador, leaving him disheartened. However, a letter from the Foreign Secretary eventually conveyed his exoneration. Strained relations persisted, leading to Haider's recall from Washington.

Abdur Rahim Khan Air Marshal Abdur Rahim Khan ( ur, ; 25 October 1925 – 28 February 1990) was a three-star air officer who served as the last Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Air Force under President Yahya Khan, from 1969 until 1972. In 1972, Air-M ...

, upon learning of Haider's financial constraints, arranged for his travel to Spain, where Khan was serving as the Ambassador. Haider writes that this act of generosity became pivotal as it provided him with the means to meet Khan and seek solace during a challenging period. During their meeting, Sajad writes that tears streamed down Khan's face as he listened to Haider's account of his service and the court-martial. Returning to Pakistan, Haider faced challenges, including an unexpected reassignment by the Chief of Air Staff. Frustrated by the lack of communication and understanding, he confronted the Chief, questioning the return of individuals involved in past intrigues. In a final encounter with Prime Minister

, Bhutto acknowledged the harsh realities of the political landscape, empathizing with Haider's court-martial hardships. Sajad writes that Bhutto's words, "This is a cruel world, Haider," foreshadowed his own destiny. A letter written by Ambassador SYAK to VCAS AVM Hassan exonerated Sajad. The letter uncovered that the false accusations originated from the American businessman, driven by resentment after being snubbed by Sajad Haider for offering him a bribe. Allegedly, Hassan had not shown the letter to Chief of Air Staff of the PAF

Dissent against Zia's dictatorship

In the aftermath of a top-secret meeting at GHQ in November 1979, Sajad Haider found himself at a crossroads. As President Zia-ul-Haq concluded his speech, a sense of rebellion stirred within Sajad, who had been harboring concerns about the prevailing situation in the country. Nervous and hesitant, Sajad knew that dissenting against the powerful Zia could mark the end of his career in the PAF. While Zia sat down after his closing remarks, Sajad stood up and felt a tug at his trousers from General F. S. Lodhi, urging him to remain silent. Sajad says he was fully aware that expressing his dissent could have severe consequences. Gathering his courage, Sajad decided to speak out. Despite the attempts to silence him, he stood up and addressed the President directly. Zia, irritated by the interruption, granted him a brief moment to speak. In that instance, Sajad voiced his concerns about the intelligence agencies, the stifled press, and the intimidation faced by ordinary citizens. He painted a stark picture of the disconnect between the rulers and the reality of the nation. In the face of potential consequences, Sajad spoke the following words to Zia-ul-haq in front of the entire gathering: "Mr. President, Pakistanis seem to live in a constant state of foreboding and terror of the intelligence agencies. These intelligence agencies have never told the truth, as it is not in their culture to do so, nor are they telling the truth to you about the state of the hearts and minds of the nation. Are these hearts beating for Pakistan or from the fear of getting lashed in public or thrown in dirty cells with convicts on the mere suspicion of being dissenters? These agencies have carefully crafted the fall of every government. What is to stop them from doing the same to your government? Sir, the road from the airport to the Aiwan-e-Sadr does not reflect the soul of Pakistan; which, in fact, lurks in the dark and pitted backstreets of Pakistan. But these agencies would not suggest that you take a peek there and see the real state of the wretched Pakistani nation. The press, Mr. President, is stifled, and people are petrified to speak their distressed minds. I have worn this uniform with incredible pride and never hesitated to put my life on the line for the defense of my country. Tragically, I do not feel the same sense of pride as I did a decade ago when people almost kissed our hands when they saw us in uniform in a public place. Today, the tables have turned. People have visible contempt for us and our uniform. Since, in some small way, I share the responsibility of this metamorphosis, I do not feel proud wearing this uniform anymore. Mr. President, I live in Islamabad, and every day my exit from GHQ brings me on an intercept course with the Corps Commander also going home. But there is a difference. The gallant men of God, who are under oath to defend the people, the property, and the frontiers of this country, travel with outriders on motorcycles; red beacons flashing and sirens screaming to herald the approaching cavalcade. In the meanwhile, all citizens on foot or in transports at the T-junction from GHQ to the old President House are shooed off the road to clear the path for the defenders of Pakistan. This is not the way defenders should conduct themselves amongst their own people. I think that we have ceased to sense their ire that ordinary citizens feel at such intimidation."

Retirement

Following the incident, several GHQ colleagues visited Sajad, cautioning him about impending trouble and a grim future. While Sajad was in service, he had the opportunity to take a job in the PIA which he writes seemed like history after the confrontation with Zia.

Chief of General Staff The Chief of the General Staff (CGS) is a post in many armed forces ( militaries), the head of the military staff. List * Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (United States) * Chief of the General Staff (Abkhazia) * Chief of General Staff (Af ...

Mian Afzaal expressed disappointment, asserting that Sajad had jeopardized a promising career in the air force. Unfazed, Sajad affirmed his readiness to challenge despots for principles. Growing disillusionment with Zia's rule and absolute power led him to break free from the air force obsession, anticipating a new chapter outside. Sajad encountered Air Chief

Anwar Shamim Air Chief Marshal Mohammad Anwar Shamim ( ur, ); (1 October 1931 – 4 January 2013) was a senior air officer of the Pakistan Air Force and was the Chief of Air Staff, appointed to the post in 1978 until retiring in 1985. Born in Haripur, B ...

at the Islamabad Club, where he declined the offer to lead

PAF Base Masroor PAF Base Masroor is the largest airbase operated by the Pakistan Air Force. It is located in the Mauripur area of Karachi, in the Sindh province. The base was originally known as RPAF Station Mauripur and after 1956, as PAF Station Mauripur. ...

, citing unease after confronting Zia-ul-Haq. Confident in his ability to navigate an uncertain future, Sajad states he emphasized reliance on destiny and faith in Allah. The Chief acknowledged Sajad's resilience, foreseeing a path to ascend or exit. Sajad chose to exit. This marked the end of an eventful fighter pilot career. Leaving the PAF in May 1980, Sajad harbored no regrets, envisioning a space for the younger generation. Gratefully declining PAFs facilities given to retired personnel, Sajad writes that he embarked on a new life with just in his bank account and a 1970 LHD Toyota.

Reaction to Abbottabad raid

Sajad stated that it was impossible for the

Pakistan Armed Forces The Pakistan Armed Forces (; ) are the military forces of Pakistan. It is the world's sixth-largest military measured by active military personnel and consist of three formally uniformed services—the Army, Navy, and the Air Force, which are ...

to not know of American jets coming into Pakistan to conduct the raid on

Osama bin Laden Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden (10 March 1957 – 2 May 2011) was a Saudi-born extremist militant who founded al-Qaeda and served as its leader from 1988 until Killing of Osama bin Laden, his death in 2011. Ideologically a Pan-Islamism ...

. He referred to the

Government of Pakistan The Government of Pakistan ( ur, , translit=hakúmat-e pákistán) abbreviated as GoP, is a federal government established by the Constitution of Pakistan as a constituted governing authority of the Administrative units of Pakistan, four provin ...

as cowards for letting the sovereignty of Pakistan be violated, stating that this selling of sovereignty was first done by

Ayub Khan Ayub Khan is a compound masculine name; Ayub is the Arabic version of the name of the Biblical figure Job, while Khan or Khaan is taken from the title used first by the Mongol rulers and then, in particular, their Islamic and Persian-influenced s ...

who didn't allow Asghar Khan to shoot down

Indian Air Force The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces. Its complement of personnel and aircraft assets ranks third amongst the air forces of the world. Its primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial w ...

jets in fear of a war arising between the two countries.

Commemorations

In several noteworthy endorsements, various individuals, including

Pushpinder Singh Chopra Pushpinder Singh Chopra (30 September 1943 – 3 May 2021) was an Indian military historian and the author of several books, chiefly on military aviation history of India. He is known as the chronicler of Indian aviation. Biography Early l ...

, state that, "Sajad Haider is the real and forever hero of the 1965 air war." "Sajad Haider is one of the gallant few who helped save Pakistan in 1965" — Air Marshal Asghar Khan "As Chief of Operations during the 1965 war, I can say Squadron Leader Sajad Haider emerged as one of the outstanding commanders. Under his able and inspiring leadership, No. 19 Squadron's contribution was second to none and at times beyond all expectations. Whenever there was a difficult task to be carried out effectively, I always called upon No. 19 Squadron to do it and it was always done in the best traditions of the Pakistan Air Force." — Air Marshal

"Squadron Leader SS Haider led the PAF raid at 1600 hours. After his earlier successful raid on Pathankot, Haider chose Srinagar, as it was the only airfield within range of his Sabres from Peshawar. As usual, no warning was available to the defences until the Sabres were almost overhead. Haider and his wingman attacked 2 Dakotas parked near the ATC. Both aircraft had to be written off. The other 2 Sabres strafed and thoroughly shot up a Caribou parked on the apron ahead of the terminal. A Sabre hit and damaged by the Ack-Ack was trailing flames as all 4 Sabres disappeared over the mountains, heading back for home. It seemed unlikely that the damaged Sabre would make it back to the air in the near future. The raid netted the Pakistanis three aircraft destroyed on the ground, one of which belonged to the IAF. One of the Dakotas belonged to the civilian Indian Airlines Corporation. The Caribou belonged to the Royal Canadian Air Force contingent of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan." — PVS Jagan Mohan, '' The India-Pakistan Air War of 1965'' "This book (Flight of the Falcon) is the result of Sajad Haider's relentless pursuit to ferret out the truth of Pakistan's military adventures and the adventurers who threw the nation into wars which proved costly in the lives of the brave men and devastating for the nation." — Professor Khwaja Masud "A brother and mentor, Sajad Haider inspired me in the very incipient stage of my career to always 'aim high', a lesson I never forgot and pursued with vigor. Surely then I owe him much for what Allah bestowed on me later." —

ACM ACM or A.C.M. may refer to: Aviation * AGM-129 ACM, 1990–2012 USAF cruise missile * Air chief marshal * Air combat manoeuvring or dogfighting * Air cycle machine * Arica Airport (Colombia) (IATA: ACM), in Arica, Amazonas, Colombia Computing * ...

Abbas Khattak Air Chief Marshal Mohammad Abbas Khattak ( ur, ; born: 16 July 1943) is a four-star rank air force general in the Pakistan Air Force who tenured as the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) from 8 November 1994 until 7 November 1997. Biography Abbas ...

"Sajad Haider is a flamboyant character with a quick wit and irrepressible daring. He was always given to exercise initiative beyond his terms of reference. This made him controversial but stood him in good stead in battle. He is therefore in a position to make iconoclastic revelations. Some of these needed highlighting as they bear on the unstable state that this country has become... The reader will be well served with fresh and candid accounts of some of the major events of the last fifty years now appearing in a different light devoid of the embellishments of those times. In the long run the truth prevails." — AVM

Sadruddin Mohammad Hossain Sadruddin Mohammad Hossain, Bir Protik is a former chief of Bangladesh Air Force. His grandchildren consist of Adeena Hossain, Fariha Hossain, Samiha Hossain, Adeeb Hossain, Farzad Hossain, Zaria Ahsan, Turaia Ahsan, Homum Ahsan and Zohair Ahsan ...

"Just after Zia grabbed power he gave a 'pep' talk... why he had carried out his coup. The audience listened in stony silence except for one, A Cdre Haider, who in 1965 had achieved such spectacular successes. Haider got up and said, 'Sir, what you have just said is what all military dictators have said... they try to hang on to power forever'. The distinguished military career of A Cdre Sajad Haider thus ended abruptly." — Mansoor Shah (author of ''The Gold Bird'')

Publications

* * * *

Effective dates of promotion

Awards and decorations

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Haider, Sayed Sajad 1932 births Living people Military personnel of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Pakistan Air Force officers Pilots of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Pakistani expatriates in Germany Pakistani air attachés Military personnel from Punjab, Pakistan Pakistani expatriates in the United States National Defence University, Pakistan alumni St Francis Grammar School alumni People from Sargodha Pakistani flying aces Pakistan Air Force personnel People of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Pakistani aviation record holders Recipients of Sitara-e-Jurat Pakistan Air Force Academy alumni Pakistani expatriates in Spain Pakistani aviators Pakistani military aviators Pilots of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 Forman Christian College alumni People from Quetta Pakistani autobiographers Quaid-i-Azam University alumni People from Punjab Province (British India)