After PMA, the next venue for the entire course, except some LOPs, was the famous School of Infantry and Tactics, Quetta. We had a rolicking time while doing the basic infantry course, besides enjoying the traditional Balochi hospitality in the food streets of Quetta and buying smuggled goods from Iran and Afghanistan.
Thereafter, many of the infantarians and some of the other arm officers came back to attend the Company Commanders' course at SI&T and later to attend the Command and Staff Course. I wish at that time there was internet and blogging to preserve the days of our infancy in the army. However, Quetta was to come to limelight many years later and the Quetta Chapter was activated temporarily with the posting of Agha Umer Farooq as Commandant SI&T and remained active till Salim, who was posted as IG FC Balochistan, was posted out. The photos were shared by Zafar Iqbal Durrani who during that period was serving in Quetta.
With the posting out of Salim Nawaz and Farooq from Quetta and Zaffar Iqbal Durrani permanently moving to Karachi, the Quetta Chapter is no more functional. Alizai too has moved out to yet another destination of his life. Therefore, I find it very unlikely that this section would have any updates. For all practical purposes this chapter is closed forever...... - Jalal HB
Herein under are some of the photos of the instant get togethers of all those present in Quetta with those visiting Quetta.
30th Sep 2010: (The last coverage of Quetta Chapter)
An informal get together took place at Agha Muhammad Farooq's house on the eve of the promotion of Salim Nawaz and Agha Farooq to the Well deserving Rank of Lt General at 2130 hrs 0n 30th Sep 2010. Seen are Major Zaffar Iqbal Durrani Retd, Lt General Salim Nawaz and Lt General Agha Muhammad Farooq. Lt General Khalid Rabbani, commandant Staff College also joined in (reports ZID).
14 Sep 2010:
ZID from Quetta has sent photos od his son Sub Lt Aamir Ali Durrani's wedding and Valema for the course website. The wedding was on 12 Sep and Valema was on 14 Sep 2010 at Quetta Club Quetta Cantt . Prominent are Major Zaffar Iqbal Durrani, Sub Lt Aamir Ali Durrani (the Bridegroom) and Maj Gen Agha Farooq.
20th Of June 2010:
Zaffar ID reports from Quetta about the farewell visit of Farooq as DG OS recently. As usual, Farooq from SI&T called Salim and Alizai besides ZID over a cup of tea to bid farewll to his namesake. ZID was also in Peshawar on a short visit. While there, he called on Tariq Khan. News from Peshawar is that Tariq Khans' Son wedding took place and the Valima ceremony was arranged on Sunday the 20th Of June 2010.
Visible are me, Agha Farooq, Salim Nawaz, Iftikhar Mansoor and Khalid Alizai. Please excuse the low quality of pictures as they were taken from my mobile phone set camera.
15 November :
The ice breaks and Quetta takes precedence over Karachi Chapter which has yet to send any update on course activities of Karachi. Zaffar Iqbal Durrani takes a lead on activities in Quetta and has sent the following report: Dear Jalal, today (15 November ) a get together of Quetta Chapter was arranged by Agha Muhammad Umer Farooq in shape of a Brunch. This was on the occasion of arrival of Khalid Alizai as General Manager NADRA Balochistan and visiting Iftikhar Mansoor.
Visible are Durrani, Agha Farooq, Salim Nawaz, Iftikhar Mansoor and Khalid Alizai. Please excuse the low quality of pictures as they were taken from my mobile phone set camera. you may like to place it on site for others information/view, says Durrani.
Dear course mates !!
Its my privilege to record, my impressions of a very brief and highly informative visit of School of Infantry and Tactics Quetta last month. I have the reasons to feel proud of my course mate sitting as commandant Infantry School. Gen Agha Umar Farooq has made tremendous and very practical improvements for trg of young officers and NCOs which I wanted to share with all of you . The measures are absolutely in line with the current operational demands and dictates. He has developed/introduced very imaginative obstacles course for the young officers which they are suppose to tackle as a combat team. This departure from a routine and outmoded form of trg and introducing a new one, which fulfils the demands of ground realities, is going to be a winning factor in any future operations undertaken by the Pakistan Army. Within a very short period of time he has introduced a highly professional culture in Infantry School. Overall, it was a great pleasure to see a great institution of Pakistan Army (where I also served as member of the faculty) prospering under the leadership of our very capable and highly professional course mate. I would urge all my course mates, visiting Quetta to see the progress, Agha has made in Infantry School in such a short time. Keep up the good work Agha and continue to remain as a source of pride for all your course mates. God Bless all living members and their families of 55.
Warm Regards Iftikhar Mansoor (9 December 2009).
3 comments:
Great stories of a great city, Quetta has always been wonderful n full of our OW&JOL n other courses n some of is had great peaceful time during our postings there. Your coverage of some of the visits speaks of your being a great n responsible historian of 55th. Jalal you are amazing my dear friend. You have the magic of taking us in our beautiful past. Why not write something about OW n JOL time 1977? Good luck. May be Command n staff college n than School of AAA. Good luck brother
Great stories of a great city, Quetta has always been wonderful n full of our OW&JOL n other courses n some of is had great peaceful time during our postings there. Your coverage of some of the visits speaks of your being a great n responsible historian of 55th. Jalal you are amazing my dear friend. You have the magic of taking us in our beautiful past. Why not write something about OW n JOL time 1977? Good luck. May be Command n staff college n than School of AAA. Good luck brother
Thank you Jamil for the hearty and encouraging comments as always. I have amended the post with a rare photo of some of us at Hanna Lake on motorbikes while doing the OW & JOL. There is lot to be written and I will try to build up our Days as officers at various stages of our career. However that needs a whole hearted input from everyone along with photos to make this blog meaningful. For the time being a base has been made and I hope everyone will participate in building up the reservoir.
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