Maqbool Hussain
Sepoy Maqbool Hussain (c. 1940[1] — 28 August 2018)[2] was a Pakistani soldier who was well known for his capture and brutal imprisonment for four decades in Indian military jails when he was wounded during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 and subsequently taken prisoner by Indian troops.
Maqbool Hussain | |
|---|---|
| Native name | مقبول حسین |
| Born | c. 1940 Tarar Khel, Kashmir, British Raj (present-day Azad Kashmir, Pakistan) |
| Died | 28 August 2018 Attock, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Allegiance | Pakistan |
| Service/ | Pakistan Army |
| Years of service | ? — 1965 |
| Rank | Sepoy |
| Service number | 335139 |
| Unit | 4 Azad Kashmir Regiment |
| Battles/wars | Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 |
| Awards | Sitara-e-Jurat |
Capture in 1965 & subsequent torture
Following Hussain's capture during the war, the Indians did not register his legal status as a prisoner of war (POW), stripping him of certain rights that he would otherwise be entitled to by international law. While in the custody of Indian forces, Hussain was notoriously subjected to severe torture by interrogators and remained defiant when he was demanded to give up any information he knew to jeopardize Pakistan's security. He was regularly harassed by his captors and put under pressure to insult his nation with various phrases such as "Pākistān Murdābād" (Hindi: पाकिस्तान मुर्दाबाद – lit: "Death to Pakistan"), to which he was known to actively respond with "Pākistān Zindābād" (Urdu: پاکستان زِنده باد – lit: "Long Live Pakistan").[3][4] His persistent refusal to oblige with his Indian captors angered them, and they proceeded to cut out Hussain's tongue and rip his fingernails off.[5][6]
Return to Pakistan
He was released on 17 September 2005 during a prisoner exchange between India and Pakistan at the Wagah-Attari border crossing.[7][8][9] Upon his return to Pakistan, Hussain had no family left to go to, and his mental and physical state had reduced to the point where he would only respond with his rank and military service number whenever he was asked any questions by passersby. Hussain managed to find his way to a Pakistan Army garrison in Azad Kashmir and repeatedly wrote down his rank and service number on a piece of paper. After much inquiry, Hussain's service in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 was discovered and full accommodations began to be made by the military for him.[10][11]
Awards
On 23 March 2009, Sepoy Maqbool Hussain of the Azad Kashmir Regiment was awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat for his gallantry during the war.[12][13]
Death
Hussain died on August 28, 2018 in the city of Attock, Punjab.[14][15][16] He was a native of Tarar Khel, Sudhanoti District in Kashmir.[17]
In popular culture
The Pakistan Armed Forces' media wing, the ISPR and Interflow Communications Limited co-produced a drama series named Sipahi Maqbool Hussain that aired during the month of April 2008.
References
- ^ . 22 December 2015. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ "Pakistani soldier who spent 40 years in Indian jails dies". DAWN. 29 August 2018.
- ^ "Sipahi Maqbool Hussain". gramho.com. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ "Abhinandan's Release: Has PM Imran Forgotten Sepoy Maqbool Hussain?". UrduPoint. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ "Sign of valor and audacity dies: Sepoy Maqbool Hussain to be laid to rest with full honor". Dunya News. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ "An Immortal story: Soldier Maqbool Hussain". Daily Parliament Times. 5 September 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ "Where is Sepoy Maqbool Husain now? -". The Express Tribune. 9 September 2012.
- ^ "Brave army soldier Maqbool Hussain passes away in Attock". www.pakistantoday.com.pk.
- ^ "An Immortal story: Soldier Maqbool Hussain". Daily Parliament Times. 5 September 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ Pakistan, S. K. (12 April 2017). "Sipahi Maqbool Hussain Spent 40 Years In India's Prisons|Parhlo.com". Parhlo. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ admin (4 September 2018). "An Icon of Patriotism and Bravery: Ghazi Maqbool Hussain". BQ Research and Development. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ Dawn.com (29 August 2018). "1965 war veteran Sepoy Maqbool Hussain breathes his last at CMH Attock".
- ^ "Sepoy Maqbool Hussain is an epitome of resilience, patriotism and bravery". ARY NEWS. 9 March 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ "War veteran Sepoy Maqbool Hussain breathed his last at CMH Attock". Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan.
- ^ "Sign of valor and audacity dies: Sepoy Maqbool Hussain to be laid to rest with full honor". Dunya News. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ "Icon of Resilience: Sipahi Maqbool Hussain". www.pakistantoday.com.pk. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ "Namaz-e-Janaza (Islamic funeral prayer) of Sepoy Maqbool offered". The News.
External links
- Fair & Square: To Sepoy Maqbool Hussain with loveb y Mian Saifur Rehman