What's new

Inside Pakistan's Sharp Sword - The Special Service Group (SSG).

.
This team was responsible for the deaths of 18 Indian troops in action even as it was pitted versus intense artillery and superior enemy numbers. 5 of them including NbSub Atta were martyred and the OP eventually fell, with munitions and supplies on a low after the rope link to Ali Brangsa (basecamp) was cut off by Indian artillery shelling and surrounding of the OP.
Were the remaining two captured? I heard some of the extremely weak ones (due to starvation/injuries) crawled out and fell to their deaths to avoid capture.
 
.
Returned to base by jumping off the top on their commander's orders. Sepoy Arshad and Sepoy Zulfiqar.
Were the remaining two captured? I heard some of the extremely weak ones (due to starvation/injuries) crawled out and fell to their deaths to avoid capture.
 
. .
Warrant Officer, though not exactly on NATO lines.
Naib Subedar is actually a Junior Warrant Officer. There isn't an exact equivalent because these are JCO ranks and the NATO/Western militaries do not have a JCO classification.
 
.
One thing I haven't figured out is the exact scale of SSG operations in Western Theatre of '71. Absolutely no solid details or accounts to justify the deaths in the West. If you have some, please share. Thanks.
Naib Subedar is actually a Junior Warrant Officer. There isn't an exact equivalent because these are JCO ranks and the NATO/Western militaries do not have a JCO classification.
 
. .
Forgotten hero of OP Qiadat,

Captain Salik Nawaz Cheema SJ
Powindah Battalion
FB_IMG_1564601775509.jpeg
 
.
Capt Iqbal.jpg


Capt Iqbal Shaheed (HJ), A Gallant SSG Officer Martyred At World Highest Battlefield Remembered On His Death Anniversary

Most of the people die on the bed others in accidents, but a few become immortal by laying their lives for the noble cause of safeguarding their motherland and set unprecedented examples of chivalry for others to follow.

Captain Muhammad Iqbal Khan Shaheed (Hilal-e-Jurat) was the one of the gallant SSG Officers of Pakistan Army, who embraced martyrdom over an altitude of 21,000 feet at the world's highest battle zone 'Siachen glaciers' on September 25, 1987 while defending his country against the enemy and became immortalized.

"Death is inexorable. One can die in a
road accident or suffer the last rigours interminably on a bed but I want to face death and look it in the eyes like a true warrior," the 27 year old young army officer told his relatives and friends just two months before he left this mortal world as a bachelor.

Born at village Pashtoon Garhi in district Nowshera on November 15, 1960 at Haji Mir Ahmad Khan's residence, he got Commission in the Pakistan Army's ASC in 1982. He faced enemy at an altitude of above 21,000 feet in Siachen glaciers and fought like a lion. He faced two enemies; the Indian Army and the harsh weather with steadfastness, bravery and determination.

Noor Jehan, mother of Capt Iqbal, said he was highly devoted and obedient son. "During his visits to home, he met with all family members, relatives including our servant warmly keeping no distance being an officer.

"Captain Iqbal wanted to become an MBBS doctor in his early student life but later on changed his mind when he was BSc student at Islamia College Peshawar and wanted to join Pakistan Army to serve his country," she said.

He loved education as he often stressed on his brothers to attain higher studies. He was greatly impressed from the poetry of national poet, Dr Alama Muhammad Iqbal, she said.

She said just two months before his martyrdom, he wrote his will and handed it over to his close childhood friend Ghayasuddin and told him not to disclose it before his death.

The will of Capt Iqbal says, "I owe 16 days of fasting. I took a bank loan of Rs 900 from a fund reserved for science student. The administration block of the Peshawar University would have the necessary particulars. I owe this amount and it must be paid to the Bank. My grave should be left unplastered and let it be only as high as the Shariah allows. No flowers, no sehra, no dupatta for my grave. All these are rituals. prayer is the real thing. There should be no chehlum or anniversary for me. Don't cook rice and call people and give alms on these occasions. Nothing of the sort is permitted by Islamic injunctions. Charity can be given at any time and not necessary at these occasions. Instead of cooking rice and calling people, let the amount be spent on paving a street or constructing a drain or give it to a mosque.

This way it will be a perpetual charity. There is no need for ostentation. If the amount received fromthe government after my death is of the order of Rs 50,000 or more, fully Rs 40,000 be distributed amongst the poor and the deprived as atonement for the prayers I did not offer and the fast I did not keep.

Stop my relatives from doing anything unIslamic after my death. If they want to cook rice on a Friday or do something similar, don't let them. Let the amount be given in alms on another occasion. Anyone wanting to do me good after my death should recite Darood Sharif as often as possible and offer its blessings for my soul." He further wrote: "Let the green pack and the high neck jersey go back to the company stores and the bills for "langar" (mess), washer man and cobbler be paid." Later on August 23, 1987, Capt Iqbal wrote his last letter to his friend Ghayasuddin Khan, asking him to pray to Almighty Allah for his good health, grant him the courage to follow the right path and serve islam and bestow him the life of a victorious Ghazi or the death of a Shaheed.

Akram Khan and Shamus Khan, brothers of Capt Iqbal said they had fulfilled 'will' of his Shaheed brother in letter and spirit.

Every year his death anniversary is being observed with great reverence and respect but quite simplicity as his grave in Pashtoon Garhi has no epitaph, no flowers no sehra and no dupatta in consonance with his will.

Brigadier (Retd) Rasheed Malik (Sitara e Jurat), then Captain, who was accompanying Capt Iqbal in the 'Qiadat' Operation told APP that Capt Iqbal was a symbol of courage, valour and was a highly motivated person. "Capt Iqbal was a true Muslim and death was meaningless to him," he said.

He said the enemy had established scores of bunkers, trenches and posts at most strategic location in the illegally occupied territory of Siachen from where they (enemy) were consistently targeting Pakistani posts besides monitoring our activities at that time.

To give befitting reply to the enemy's unprovoked aggressions, an operation 'Quaidat' was launched in which Capt Iqbal was assigned the task of evacuation of casualties, provision of food ration and other necessary assistance to Pakistani troops.

"We took control of a number of key posts but several of our team members had either embraced martyrdom or received injuries during the said operation. We asked for help and Capt Iqbal swiftly reached by leading his platoon from the front side, inflicting heavy losses to the enemy," the eyewitness brigadier recalled.

"Capt Iqbal kept climbing the steep mountains of Siachen over 21000 feet with a gun in one hand and holding himself with the other in-spite of receiving serious bullet injuries on his legs but did not lose courage, determination and proceeded forward," Brigadier Retd Rasheed Malik recalled.

He destroyed many pickets on his way till he reached the highest picket on the Siachen Glacier, held by the enemy where he waged the fiercest battle and in the process embraced martyrdom on September 25, 1987.

Brig (Retd) Rasheed Malik said two officers including Capt Iqbal and Capt Salik Chema among 16 jawans were martyred and over 100 others injured during the said operation.

Captain Iqbal's body went missing for eleven months in snow, and was finally recovered during in action and brought to his native village on August 6, 1988 where a sea of people attended the funeral of the celebrated hero of Siachen.

In recognition of his supreme sacrifices for motherland, the Government of Pakistani awarded the second highest military award Hilal-e-Jurat to Capt Iqbal Shaheed besides named the one kilometer long newly constructed bridge on River Sindh that connected Attock in Punjab with Nowshera in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after Captain Iqbal Shaheed besides a martyr monument at Khariyan.

https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/capt-iqbal-shaheed-hj-a-gallant-ssg-office-425540.html
 
Last edited:
.
Where can I find latest gear of SSG in pictures or videos. Please provide a link for that thread. Thanks
 
. . .
Interesting suggestions and SSG should consider resolving those issues which are identified.
This is from 2010 - a lot has improved in terms of providing training to other forces - the LCBs were raised by the SSG too. But much is true about the Ranger part.

SSG is trained on lines of US Special Forces but is used as US Army Rangers - even though at least at company-level the basic organization is kinda same (roughly 60 men per SSG coy). The US ODA system hasn't been adopted.

He also praises the role of SSG in training 'mujahedeen' in the 80s - AFAIK 13 or 14 teams consisting of 200 SSG officers, JCOs & ORs were involved.

IMO the SSG cannot exactly emulate what the Green Berets do - both are operating under a separate mandate, which has drastic difference owing to power projection of both countries.

The prominence of the Light Commandos has however helped the SSG in shifting from direct-action to selective, cautious deployment - last resorts and embedded at platoon-level with local forces (i.e. FC, regular infantry at LC).
 
. .
This is from 2010 - a lot has improved in terms of providing training to other forces - the LCBs were raised by the SSG too. But much is true about the Ranger part.

SSG is trained on lines of US Special Forces but is used as US Army Rangers - even though at least at company-level the basic organization is kinda same (roughly 60 men per SSG coy). The US ODA system hasn't been adopted.

He also praises the role of SSG in training 'mujahedeen' in the 80s - AFAIK 13 or 14 teams consisting of 200 SSG officers, JCOs & ORs were involved.

IMO the SSG cannot exactly emulate what the Green Berets do - both are operating under a separate mandate, which has drastic difference owing to power projection of both countries.

The prominence of the Light Commandos has however helped the SSG in shifting from direct-action to selective, cautious deployment - last resorts and embedded at platoon-level with local forces (i.e. FC, regular infantry at LC).

SSG has nothing to do with the US army rangers but more in line with SAS/delta.
LCB has been raised and trained on the pattern of us army rangers. To bridge the gap and occupy the position between special forces and regular army.
Even interior ministry troops have their own special operations units.
SSG since 2001 has gone through a total transformation, it is also most combat experienced n that has been a huge factor in its transformation. Now it's a div.+ force second to none.
 
.

Pakistan Defence Latest Posts

Pakistan Affairs Latest Posts

Back
Top Bottom