By Brig Syed Karrar Hussain Retired
The story of Pakistan’s defence in the 1965 War cannot be written without giving the Pakistan Air Force its rightful place. Against a numerically much larger Indian Air Force, the PAF demonstrated that professional excellence, superior training, courage, leadership and an aggressive operational spirit could offset a significant numerical disadvantage.
The PAF entered the war with aircraft such as the F-86 Sabre, F-104 Starfighter and B-57 Canberra. India possessed a substantially larger air fleet. Yet, during the critical days of September 1965, Pakistani pilots repeatedly challenged Indian formations and prevented the Indian Air Force from achieving the air superiority it needed to dominate the battlefield.
One of the most remarkable examples was Squadron Leader Muhammad Mahmood Alam (M.M. Alam). On 6 September, while flying his F-86 Sabre, Alam engaged Indian Hunter aircraft over enemy territory. As per Pakistan Air Force’s official historical record, he shot down two Hunters and damaged three others. The following day, during interception missions over Sargodha, my native district. I have an honor to be a Sargodhian, being student of government college Sargodha
one of the best college of Pakistan ,(now the Sargodha university ).
MM Alam was credited with shooting down five more Indian Hunter aircraft in less than a minute—a feat that became one of the most celebrated episodes in the history of aerial warfare. The PAF records credit him with nine confirmed kills and two damaged aircraft during the war.
Squadron Leader M M Alam’s performance remains undeniable: he became a symbol of the combat effectiveness, confidence and professional skill of the Pakistan Air Force.
On 1 September 1965, Squadron Leader Sarfaraz Ahmed Rafiqui, together with Flight Lieutenant Imtiaz Bhatti, participated in the aerial battle over the Chamb sector. As per
Military history/
Pakistan Air Force accounts, the Pakistani pilots engaged four Indian aircraft and succeeded in shooting down three of them. This early success gave a tremendous psychological boost to Pakistan’s armed forces and demonstrated that the PAF was prepared to challenge the Indian Air Force from the opening phase of the conflict.
Rafiqui’s most famous and ultimately tragic mission came on 6 September 1965 during the attack on Halwara Air Base. Leading a formation of F-86 Sabres, he entered one of the most intense aerial engagements of the war. When his aircraft’s guns malfunctioned during the battle, Rafiqui refused to abandon his formation. Instead, he handed over the lead to his colleague and remained in the combat area, attempting to protect his comrades despite being virtually defenceless.
His aircraft was eventually shot down and Rafiqui embraced martyrdom. His conduct became one of the most extraordinary examples of leadership and self-sacrifice in the history of the PAF. The Pakistan Air Force officially records his action as an example of leadership and bravery under overwhelming odds, and he was awarded the Hilal-i-Jurat posthumously.
Another name that deserves special recognition is Flight Lieutenant Yunus Hussain. He was Rafiqui’s No. 2 during the historic Halwara mission. Yunus ]fought aggressively despite the overwhelming odds and continued the engagement after the formation came under attack. PAF historical accounts also record his participation in offensive missions behind enemy lines, including dangerous low-level attacks against enemy communications and military targets.
The Halwara mission is therefore remembered not simply as an air battle but as a story of leadership, courage and sacrifice. Rafiqui continued fighting after his guns became unserviceable; Yunus remained engaged in an extremely dangerous situation; and other PAF pilots repeatedly entered combat against larger enemy formations.
The PAF’s contribution was also far broader than individual ]dogfights. It provided close air support to the Pakistan Army, attacked enemy positions and military )concentrations, conducted interdiction missions and defended Pakistan’s major air bases and cities. In the Chamb sector, PAF Sabres supported ground operations and attacked Indian armoured and logistical formations. On 2 September, for example, PAF formations attacked Indian ground forces in the Chamb-Jourian area, with Pakistani accounts reporting significant damage to tanks and vehicles.
The deeper lesson of 1965 was therefore not simply the number of aircraft shot down. It was the quality of the force.
The PAF demonstrated that a smaller air force, when led effectively and )supported by disciplined ground crews, efficient logistics, sound intelligence and highly trained pilots, could impose serious operational constraints on a much larger adversary.
The courage of M.M. Alam, the sacrifice of )Sarfaraz Ahmed Rafiqui, the determination of Yunus Hussain and the professionalism of hundreds of other PAF officers and airmen established a tradition that continues to influence Pakistan’s air-defence philosophy.
The PAF of 1965 fought with the technology of its time.
The PAF of today) must defend Pakistan with the technology of the future.
