A paratrooper jumps from an Mi-17 helicopter after completing the first-ever lady officers para training course. PHOTO: APP
After basic airborne training, the new paratroopers completed their first jump on Sunday and were given their ‘wings’ by the commander of Special Services Group (SSG), Major General Abid Rafique, according to a statement issued by the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
“It was a unique experience for us … [we] stepped forward, proved our mettle and showed that we are not lagging behind anyone,” said Captain Sana Nasiri, one of the paratroopers who completed their first jump.
The paratroopers learnt their skills, which included exit, flight and landing techniques, at a rigorous three-week training course at Para Training School, Peshawar.
“It is a matter of pride and honour for me to be a part of this pioneer course … this is the first time in the history of Pakistan Army that lady officers have been given such a chance,” another paratrooper Captain Hajra Khan told The Express Tribune.
The female paratroopers received a standing ovation after successfully touching down at Tarbela. Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani congratulated the lady officers on completing their training and lauded their high morale. Captain Kiran Ashraf was declared the best paratrooper of the batch, according to the ISPR statement, while Captain Sadia became the first woman officer to jump from the Mi-17 helicopter. The others followed.
“In this hot weather, it was very courageous of lady officers to meet the tough demands of the course and complete it successfully. They have made history,” a military spokesperson told The Express Tribune.
“From now on, lady officers will not be restricted to the Army Medical Corps ... They will be able to serve alongside men in active combat on the battlefield,” he added.
According to the spokesperson, a group of 30 women was first inducted into the armed forces in 2006. These women were employed in the medical, signals, communications, computers, education and legal wings of the military.
Since then, he added, the number has increased and lady officers are being trained for combat.
In 2006, seven women broke into one of Pakistan’s most exclusive male clubs to graduate as fighter pilots as well.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 15th, 2013.
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@ask: LOL, thnx for telling tht its a basic course n offered n done in pvt sector or abroad, dude jus tell me do u hv guts of doing it, or hav ur sister did it. Nai na, thn rather criticizing appreciate it. Don't give chance to our enemy countries to make fun of ur childish behavior. Grow up... Gtng trained under ssg commandos is really tuff. Our females r not prone to exercises or any activity, so if army did it appreciate it.
@asif Pl stop misunderstanding n read news again, its first time in army, thy r nt talking abt pak. Pl stop comparing sister forces, ppl like u create bad image of our armed forces. Relax n improve ur listening n reading capabilities. :)
i don't think para trooping is big achievement. these 3 week basic courses are often offered by private sector in west and university students male and female do it with out difficulty. can some one expect these ladies officers will be a part of combat operation?????????. i don't think so. Do not create hype in media about this basic course.
First women paratroopers were from PAF who carried out their jumps more than 5 years ago and it also got widespread publicity at that time !
Don't know why ISPR releases such reports and Media Jumps onto without checking the facts !
Congratulations to the Pakistani women para troopers. After the commissioning of a lady fighter pilot this is surely another great achievement by the Pakistani women. Without being cynical I would say that the real test of these lady officers would be in actual combat. Since a war with India seems pretty unlikely unless another 26/11 happens; therefore the test of these ladies can be against the Taliban in the tribal areas where Pakistani military is engaged. These women paratroopers can also be sent to the LOC where the SSG does operate in significant numbers. The Pakistani lady fighter pilot can be deployed to pound the Taliban hideouts(it would be much safer on an F16 rather than JF17) in the tribal areas. Although nations keep the details of military deployments secret but there has to some concrete proof of the ladies deployment in combat otherwise the world would treat it as cosmetic posturing. Here in India there are no women in combat. There are women pilots flying choppers and transport aircrafts in both the IAF and Army aviation. The skills of these women chopper pilots was on full display in the mammoth rescue work undertaken by the military in flood ravaged northern mountain state of Uttarakhand last month; criss-crossing mighty mountains and narrow valleys in the most inhospitable weather. Therefore the full operational deployment of Pakistani women in actual combat would be eagerly awaited and thoroughly analysed before passing a final judgement. Congrats once again to the new lady recruits.
I am very proud of daughters of Pakistan.
Let me also mention that the women go through an identical training regime as the men. There is no modified version. This doesn't happen anywhere else in the world, to my knowledge.
"these women" "lady officers in the summer heat", they should atleast alter their sexist language.