The Pakistani-Christian: Military Contributions and Sacrifices
The Pakistani-Christian community has played a major role in the development of the post-independence Pakistani armed forces (army, navy and air force). There contributions are now often overlooked by the mainstream however remain a proud collective memory for Pakistani-Christians, with many veterans serving as distinguished guests of honor at events and forums held within the Christian community.
Note: This is the second of a three part series on Christianity in Pakistan. Read part one here and part two here.
The devoted service of Pakistani Christians has been recognized with Christian military men being awarded 7 Sitara-e-Jurat, 3 Tamagh-e-Jurat, 9 Sitara-e-Basalat, and 9 Tamagh-e-Basalat.
The Air Force
Back in the early 1960s Christians made up a disproptionately large number of the country’s air force instructors, commanders and mentors, teaching the next generation of air force men how to fly. Some of the most important figures include…
- Air Vice Marshal Eric Gordon Hall
- Air Vice Marshal Michael John O’Brian
- Air Commodore Patrick Desmond Callaghan
- Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry
- Air Commodore Nazir Latif
- Wing Commander Mervyn L. Middlecoat
- Squadron Leader Peter Christy
- Flight Lieutenant William D. Harney
They were among the first martyrs for the Pakistani military, with one notable example being Flight Lieutenant Alfred Jagjivan in 1948. While returning from a supply drop mission, he and Air Commodore M.A. Dogar were caught in an attempted air arrest by Indian fighter pilots. Dogar reported Jagjivan shouting “do not give in, we will live for Pakistan and die for Pakistan”. He was killed in combat soon after. Many more Christians in the air force were martyred in future conflicts like Novan Theodore Fazal Elahi in 1949, Mervyn Leslie Middlecoat, known as the Defender of Karachi and recipient of the Sitara-e-Jurat in 1965, martyred in the 1971 Bangladesh War along with Squadron Leader Peter Christy. Christy would also go on to receive the Sitara-e-Jurat and Tamgha-i-Jurat posthumously.
The Army
Pakistani Christians have also made significant contributions in the armed forces with one of the greatest examples being of Second Lt. Daniel Utarid Shaheed who led his men to the front in the Bangladesh War on 1971 and was fatally injured. Though he died from blood loss his famous last words to his army doctor was “give this bullet to my mother as a souvenir and tell her that I took it in my chest while defending my homeland”.
Another noteworthy martyr is Major Sarmus Rauf Shaheed, who spent the majority of his service patrolling border areas until he was killed during the 2007 Nawazkot Operation, Al-Mezan.
Other noteworthy Christians in the Pakistani army include.
- Major General Julian Peter
- Major General Noel Khokhar
- Brigadier Samson Simon Sharaf
- Brigadier Mervyn Cardoza
- Brigadier Daniel Austin
The Navy
A total of 8 Christians in the Navy have been martyred thus far. One noteworthy person was Rear-Admiral Leslie Norman Mungavin who commanded the PNS Alamgir and PNS Babur. He participated in the 1965 War and in 1971 took up command as Commandment of the Pakistani Marines on the Western Front.
