Arshad Sami Khan: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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{{Infobox military person

|honorific_prefix =

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|alt =

|caption =Ambassador Arshad Sami Khan

|birth_date ={{birth date|df=yes|1942|01|08}}

|death_date ={{Death date and age|df=yes|2009|06|22|1942|01|08}}

|birth_place =

|death_place =

|placeofburial =

|placeofburial_label =

|placeofburial_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} -->

|nickname =

|birth_name = Arshad Sami Khan

|allegiance ={{flag|Pakistan|23px}}

|branch =[[{{air force|Pakistan Air Force]]|23px}}<br>[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Pakistan)]]<br>[[Ministry of Culture (Pakistan)]]<br>[[Commissioner General]] of Pakistan

|awards =[[Sitara-e-Jurat]]<br>[[Sitara-i-Imtiaz]] (posthumous; 2012)<br>Military Medal of Honour from [[King Hussain of Jordan]]<br>Military Medal of Honour from the [[Shah of Iran]]<br>Military Medal of Honour from [[Turkey]]<br>Special Medal for Services to Humanity from the United Nations

|battles =[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]

|battles_label =

|awards =[[Sitara-e-Jurat]]<br>[[Sitara-i-Imtiaz]] (posthumous; 2012)

|spouse =Naureen Sami Khan

| children = =[[Adnan Sami]] (son)<br>Junaid Sami (son)

|religion =[[Islam]]

|laterwork =[[Diplomat]], [[BureaucratGovernment official]], author[[Author]]

}}

'''Arshad Sami Khan''' ([[Urdu]]{{Nastaliq| ارشد سمیع خان}}); (January 8th8, 1942 – June 22nd22, 2009) was an accomplished & distinguished Bureaucrat. He started his career as a [[Pakistan Air Force]] [[fighter pilot]] and later aan diplomatic Ambassador[[ambassador]] and [[Commissioner General]] of [[Pakistan]]. He was also the father of the famous Singersinger and Music Composercomposer [[Adnan Sami]].<ref name="def">[http://forum.pakistanidefence.com/index.php?showtopic=83437 Squadron Leader Arshad Sami Khan] Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref><ref name="Aaj">[http://www.aaj.tv/2009/06/pm-visits-residence-of-arshad-sami-to-condole-his-death/ PM visits residence of Arshad Sami to condole his death] Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.masala.com/13001-adnan-samis-father-to-be-buried-in-islamabad Musician leaves for Pakistan]</ref>

==Personal life==

Born in January 1942, Arshad Sami Khan was a distinguished member of the [[Aristocracy]]. He was originally from [[Herat]], Afghanistan. His Grand Fathers were among the 'Key' Cabinet Members of [[Afghanistan]]'s King [[Amanullah Khan]]. Their names were General Ahmed Jan – [[Military Advisor]] to the King of [[Afghanistan]] – [[Amanullah Khan]] & General Agha Mehfooz Jan – Governor of [[Herat]], [[Kandahar]], [[Balkh]] & [[Jalalabad]]born in AfghanistanJanuary during the Reign of King [[Amanullah Khan]]. At the time of the famous [[Bacha Saqqa]] revolution in [[Afghanistan]], Khan's Grand Fathers were assassinated. The family therefore migrated to Peshawar which was a part of [[British India]] at that time1942. He was of [[Pashtun people|Pashtun]] origin.<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/Adnan-Sami-Fastest-fingers-first/articleshow/37852222.cms Adnan Sami: Fastest fingers first]</ref> Arshad was married to Naureen Sami Khan. Together they have two sons. Their elder son, [[Adnan Sami|Adnan]], is a famous Singersinger and Music Composercomposer based in [[Mumbai]]. TheirHis younger son's name is Junaid Sami Khan.

==Pakistan Air Force==▼

Khan decided in his early years to follow the military traditions of his forefathers and joined the Pakistan Air Force. He became a [[National Hero]] & was awarded the [[Sitara-i-Jurat]], Pakistan's highest military medal of honour for bravery. His name is honoured at the [[Pakistan Air Force Museum]] in Karachi.<ref>[http://www.pafmuseum.com.pk/heroes/1965-gallantry-awards/Flight-Lieutenant.htm PAF Museum]</ref>

He holds the record for maximum flying hours during war. He was also the youngest recipient of the prestigious "Best Fighter Pilot's Trophy".

▲==Career in the Pakistan Air Force==

Khan also had the distinction of serving three [[President of Pakistan|Presidents of Pakistan]] as their [[Aide-de-camp]] (ADC); namely presidents [[Ayub Khan (Field Marshal)|Ayub Khan]], [[Yahya Khan]] and [[Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto]].

A national war veteran, Arshad Sami Khan was awarded the [[Sitara-i-Jurat]], Pakistan's highest military medal of honour for bravery – for his actions in [[Indo-Pakistani Air War of 1965|aerial combats]] during the [[1965 Indo-Pakistani War|Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]].<ref name="def" /> His name is honored in the following words at the [[Pakistan Air Force Museum]] in Karachi.<ref>[http://www.pafmuseum.com.pk/heroes/1965-gallantry-awards/Flight-Lieutenant.htm PAF Museum]</ref>

{{Cquote|Flight Lieutenant Arshad Sami Khan flew the maximum combat missions during the war with India. His enthusiasm and aggressive spirit was of the highest order and was responsible to ignite the spirit of competition amongst other pilots in its most effective form. He led formations in the battle area with exemplary determination and brought back excellent results. He has been credited with one aircraft, 15 tanks and 22 vehicles destroyed and 8 tanks and 19 vehicles damaged and 2 heavy guns destroyed. He never looked tired or apprehensive in the face of heavy odds but kept on inflicting maximum damage to the enemy as his only objective. For his outstanding devotion to duty and bravery, Flight Lieutenant Arshad Sami Khan was awarded Sitara-i-Juraat.}}

Khan also had the distinction of serving three [[President of Pakistan|presidents of Pakistan]] as their [[Aide-de-camp]] (ADC); namely Presidents [[Ayub Khan (Field Marshal)|Ayub Khan]], [[Yahya Khan]] and [[Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto]]. He went onto write a book about his experience as an Aide-de-camp entitled "''Three Presidents and an Aide''" which was released in March 2008.<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/Three-Presidents-Aide-Arshad-Sami/dp/8182743435/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327455681&sr=1-1 Three Presidents & an Aide]</ref>

He retired from the Air Force in 1972 & joined the Foreign Service on the behest of President [[Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto]].

==Ambassador==

Arshad Sami Khan was appointed Pakistan'sPakistan’s first Ambassadorambassador to [[Estonia]] in August 1993 along with serving as Ambassadorambassador to three other Scandinavian countries simultaneously; Sweden, Denmark and Norway.<ref>[http://www.vm.ee/?q=en/node/65 Estonia and Pakistan Bilateral Relations] Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> He served as Ambassadorambassador of Pakistan to ten other countries.

He was Chiefchief of Protocolprotocol to presidentsPresidents [[Ghulam Ishaq Khan]], [[Wasim Sajjad]] and [[Farooq A. Leghari]] and also served as Chiefchief of Protocolprotocol to [[Prime Minister of Pakistan|Prime Ministers]] [[Benazir Bhutto]], [[Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi]] and [[Nawaz Sharif]]. Khan went on to become the first [[Commissioner General]] of Pakistan (appointed by [[Benazir Bhutto]]) and then a Federalfederal Secretarysecretary to the [[Government of Pakistan]].<ref>[http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-6-116150-Arshad-Sami-Khan-%E2%80%94-an-ambassador-of-love-and-humanity Arshad Sami Khan — an ambassador of love and humanity]</ref> On the occasion of [[Independence Day (Pakistan)|Independence Day]] on 14the 14th of August 2012, the [[President of Pakistan]] posthumously conferred Khan the Highesthighest Civiliancivilian Awardaward of [[Sitara-i-Imtiaz]] to honour his services to Pakistan.

==Author==

Khan wrote a book about his experience as an [[Aide-de-camp]] entitled "''Three presidents and an Aide''" which was released in March 2008 & went onto become a best-seller in the Sub-Continent.<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/Three-Presidents-Aide-Arshad-Sami/dp/8182743435/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327455681&sr=1-1 Three Presidents & an Aide]</ref> The book is a candid eye witness account of historical events, seen from within the 'ring-side' that occurred during the reign of the 3 presidents- Presidents [[Ayub Khan (Field Marshal)|Ayub Khan]], [[Yahya Khan]] & [[Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto]]. No Publisher in Pakistan was willing to publish the book. It was therefore published & released in India, launched by former Indian Prime Minister [[I.K. Gujral]] to rave reviews & sales.

==Illlness==

Khan was diagnosed with [[Pancreatic Cancer]] in 1989. Prime Minister [[Benazir Bhutto]] had him flown to London where he was operated at [[Cromwell Hospital]]. However, within 3 months of the operation thereafter, he resumed working in the [[Foreign Office]] continuing his Ambassadorial Assignments around the world, whilst battling cancer for 20 years.

He died on 22 June 2009 at 'Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani' Hospital in [[Mumbai]]. His burial ceremony took place in Islamabad with profound Military Honours including a [[21-Gun Salute]].

==Awards==

* [[Sitara-e-Jurat]]

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* Military Medal of Honour from the [[Shah of Iran]]

* Military Medal of Honour from [[Turkey]]

* Special Medal for Services to Humanity from the [[United Nations]]

==References==

{{Portal|Government of Pakistan|Military of Pakistan}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Military of Pakistan}}

{{Persondata