The British High Commissioner to Pakistan Philip Barton CMG OBE on Monday, during a ceremony to commemorate the Centenary of the First World War, unveiled a plaque – which will eventually be placed in a prominent public place in Islamabad -- in honour of three soldiers who were awarded the Victorian Crosses during the war.
“I am proud to host today’s event in remembrance of those who fought so bravely during the First World War. As we honour Pakistan’s three recipients of the Victoria Cross, United Kingdom’s highest award for gallantry, we should remember the sacrifices made a century ago that helped shape our present world. People from different nations came together to uphold our way of life. Pakistan and the UK share deep and lasting ties of history and friendship; these ties are the bedrock of the strong relationship we have today,” said the British high commissioner to Pakistan, a statement read.
The high commissioner and chief guests – the grandsons of Sepoy Khudadad Khan (the first South Asian and Muslim recipient of the Victoria Cross) namely Ghulam Rabbani Minhas and Abdul Ghafoor Chaudhry – laid a wreath in remembrance of those who lost their lives during the war.
“The plaque honours the bravery of Sepoy Khan, Jemadar Mir Dast and Naik Shahamad Khan, who were all awarded Britain’s highest award for gallantry during the First World War,” read the press release.
“At this time of remembrance, I am honoured to pay tribute to the enormous contribution made by Pakistani servicemen during the First World War. Unveiling this plaque to mark Pakistan’s Victoria Cross heroes will ensure that there is a permanent memorial in Islamabad to remember all those who lost their lives in The Great War and all who have fallen in conflicts since,” said Foreign Office Minister for Pakistan Tobias Ellwood MP.
Over 450 soldiers from the Dulmial Village in Punjab fought in this war – which was the largest number from any village in South Asia.
Other guests and attendees at the event included community members from the Dulmial Village, serving and former members of the armed forces from across the Commonwealth and other countries, and representatives from the international community.
Further, on November 8, a separate reception was held in Karachi hosted by the British Deputy High Commissioner John A Tucknott MBE in which Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah was the chief guest.
Over 250 members of the government, military, business community, civil society and diplomatic corps attended the ceremony.
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Is it not better to refrain from trivial issues and focus on solving the problems Pakistan faces? What a waste of time and newsprint.
@Proud Afridi: There was no Pakistan during 1st World war hence these soldiers can not be Pakistani. The entire nation was British "India" hence they all were Indians.
They were Pakistani, deal with it. We're not living in 1914, this is 2014.
These plaques should have been placed in the UK rather than in Pakistan.
There is a strong need for reducing the high level of prejudice and the negative perceptions about Pakistanis and other immigrants prevailing in the UK.
@Gp65: Get over your Pakistan phobia and live a life.
Its time the sacrifices of soldiers from what is now Pakistan and India were recognised by not just in the UK - but South Asia.
@Gp65: I am sure if you asked these native sons of the soil if they identified with their region or British India, they would say they are Pakistanis. My grandfathers who were born in Punjab and KPK in the time of British India never identified with India either. We believe it was an artificial construct made by European colonialists. We remember that our land was part of the Greek Empire, Persian Empire, Afghan Empire, Mughal Empire and British Empire at different times in history. British India was hardly 100 years for us when our lands have been around for thousands of years.
@Gp65: One can safely say Jemadar Mir Dast Afridi was Pakistani. Name one Afridi who moved to India in 1947?
Hmm...how and why is it assumed that the 3 soldiers were Pakistani. If the assumption is that they were Muslims from present day Pakistan, then one sould ote that Yusuf Khan aka Dilip Kumar originally from Peshawar chose India as did Mohammed Rafi from Lahore. Shah Rukh Khan's father also chose India though the family originally hailed from Peshawar.