The Battle of Hussainiwala and Qaiser-i-Hind

Lt Col. (Retd) Habib Ahmed SJ was commissioned as an infantry officer in the Baluch Regiment in 1954 from 9th PMA Long Course at Kakul. He is also a graduate of Command and Staff College, Quetta and the National Defence College, Rawalpindi. He was posted at various locations, including former East Pakistan, in both line and staff positions. He had the rare opportunity of raising a new battalion which he trained and then subsequently commanded during the 1971 war. He was decorated with the Sitara-i-Jurat for displaying the highest levels of gallantry and leadership resulting in the capture of Hussainiwala Salient, which also included the strongly defended fortress tower of Qaiser-i-Hind, the fall of which allowed our forces to shatter the pride of a very strong Indian defence. Lt Col. Habib Ahmed SJ belongs to a notable Sayed family from Delhi descended from one of the three Sayed scholars who were invited by Emperor Shahjahan to come to Delhi from Bukhara in the mid-16th century. His paternal grandmother was a niece of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. After migration in 1947, he completed his college education before joining the Army in 1951. Dr A. Q. Khan was a few years his junior in D. J. College at Karachi. Lt Col. Habib Ahmed is now enjoying a semi-retired life in Karachi. He spends his time reading and takes a keen interest in cricket. He often travels to North America to visit his three sons living there, and to spend time with his grandchildren.