Reproduced below in full is the email from former Pakistan Air Force (PAF) pilot Qais Hussain in which he has expressed condolences to Ms Farida Singh, the daughter of Jahangir “Jangoo” Engineer, the Indian civil aircraft pilot he shot down in the 1965 Indo-Pak war. The email is dated Friday, August 5, 2011, almost half-a-century after he shot down the plane.
The email reads:
Dear Mrs Singh, “I am glad that by now we know about each other and it is no surprise that I am writing to you, thanks to Naushad Patel and Jagan Pillarisetti. The incident happened 46 years back but it is as fresh in my mind as if it had happened yesterday. The aircraft flown by your father had drifted off course by many miles and in his search for the destination he had been going up and down in the border area of Rann of Katchh for quite some time and it made our radar controllers uncomfortable.
I happened to be strapped into my aircraft along with another pilot (my leader) in his, on two-minute take-off alert. We were scrambled but I had to take off alone, and with help from my radar controller, intercepted your father’s aircraft which was considered to be on a recce mission to open a new war front. I caught sight of him at 3,000 feet and made a pass so close that I could read his markings and the number of the aircraft.
Your father spotted my presence immediately and he started climbing and waggling his wings seeking mercy. Instead of firing at him at first sight, I relayed to my controller that I had intercepted an eight-seat transport aircraft (guessing by the four side windows) and wanted further instructions to deal with it.
At the same time, I was hoping that I would be called back without firing a shot. There was a lapse of 3 to 4 long minutes before I was given clear orders to shoot the aircraft.
After the shooting, I had a sense of achievement and satisfaction that I had completed my mission and destroyed any recce data that might have been collected to open a new war front. I landed back at Mauripur, Karachi, with my fuel tanks bone dry and was greeted by my seniors and other squadron colleagues.
Later that evening, All-India Radio announced the names of the occupants who had lost their lives in that aircraft. The reason that I have been trying to get in touch with you since recently is an article by Air Cdre Kaiser Tufail in April 2011, in which he researched the whole incident and came out with his story by interviewing me, the radar controller (a flying officer) and his supervisor (a wing commander) who took the decision to order the shooting.
I have also read numerous versions that appeared in the Indian media at the time, said to be eyewitness accounts from peasants of Mithapur which are unfortunately based on hearsay. Even the findings of an enquiry committee constituted by the Indian government are nowhere near to what actually happened.
I was alone at the site of the incident while my leader who took off finally about 6 to 7 minutes after me (due to change of aircraft and a new pilot), was perched at the border at 20,000 feet acting as a relay station between me and the controller at Badin.
I had lost contact somewhere while descending to 3,000 feet and had we not had this aircraft at 20,000 feet at the border, I would not have found your father’s aircraft and he would not have lost his life along with all the others.
Nonetheless, the unfortunate part in all this is that I had to execute the orders of my controller.
Mrs Singh, I have chosen to go into this detail to tell you that it all happened in the line of duty and it was not governed by the concept that “everything is fair in love and war”, the way it has been portrayed by the Indian media due to lack of information.
I did not play foul and went by the rules of business but the unfortunate loss of precious lives, no matter how it happens, hurts each human and I am no exception. I feel sorry for you, your family and the other seven families who lost their dearest ones. I feel greatly grieved that you lost your brother Noshir recently.
If an opportunity ever arises that I could meet you face to face to condole the death of your father 46 years back I would grab it with both hands.
I would highly appreciate if you please convey my feelings to the other members of your family, who were equally hurt by the untimely departure of Jungoo to the next world. I hope and pray that you and your family stay well. My best regards — Qais.