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{{Short description|Pakistani diplomat, civil servant and fighter pilot}}
{{more citations needed|date=October 2015}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox military person {{Infobox military person
|honorific_prefix = |honorific_prefix = Squadron leader
|name =Arshad Sami Khan |name = Arshad Sami Khan
|honorific_suffix = |honorific_suffix = ]
|native_name = |image = Arshad Sami Khan.jpg
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|caption = Ambassador Arshad Sami Khan
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|caption =Ambassador Arshad Sami Khan
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|birth_date ={{birth date|1942|01|08}}
|other_name =
|death_date ={{Death date and age|2009|06|22|1942|01|08}}
|birth_place = |nickname =
|birth_date = 8 January 1942
|death_place =
|birth_place =
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|death_date = 22 June 2009 (aged 67)
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|placeofburial_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} -->
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|birth_name = Arshad Sami Khan
|placeofburial_label =
|allegiance ={{flag|Pakistan|23px}}
|placeofburial_coordinates = <!--{{coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}}-->
|branch ={{air force|Pakistan|23px}}<br>]<br>]<br>] of Pakistan
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|branch = {{Air force|PAK}}
|battles_label =
|branch_label = <!--"Branch" or "Service"-->
|awards =]<br>] (posthumous; 2012)
|spouse =Naureen Sami Khan |serviceyears =
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| children = ] (son)<br>Junaid Sami (son)
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*]
**]
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|awards = ] ]<br />] ]<br />] Military Medal of Honour (Jordan)<br />] Military Medal of Honour (Pahlavi Iran)<br />] Military Medal of Honour (Turkey)<br />] Special Medal for Services to Humanity (United Nations)
|memorials =
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|spouse = Naureen Sami Khan
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'''Arshad Sami Khan''' (]{{Nastaliq|ارشد سمیع خان}}; January 8, 1942 – June 22, 2009) was a ] ] and later an ] and ] of ]. He was also the father of singer and composer ].<ref name="def"> Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref><ref name="Aaj"> Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref><ref></ref> '''Arshad Sami Khan''' (]: {{Nastaliq| ارشد سمیع خان}}; 8 January 1942 – 22 June 2009) was a ] diplomat, civil servant and fighter pilot who at peak of his career attained the highest rank of ].<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com"></ref> He started his career as a ] fighter pilot and later served three ] as their ] (ADC) and later went on to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he served three presidents and four prime ministers as chief of protocol. He was later appointed as a diplomatic ambassador of Pakistan to 14 countries. This was followed by his appointment as the first commissioner general of Pakistan. He was also ] of Culture and retired as a top ] bureaucratic officer. He was also the father of singer and music composer ].<ref name="def"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725161948/http://forum.pakistanidefence.com/index.php?showtopic=83437 |date=25 July 2011 }} Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref><ref name="Aaj"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006121949/http://www.aaj.tv/2009/06/pm-visits-residence-of-arshad-sami-to-condole-his-death/ |date=6 October 2014 }} Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref><ref></ref>


==Personal life== ==Personal life==
Arshad Sami Khan was born in January 1942 into an ethnic ] family that had migrated from ]. His paternal grandfather, General Mehfooz Jan hailed from ], ] and was the governor of 4 provinces in ], namely ], ], ] and ], under the Reign of King ]. Khan's paternal great-grandfather General Ahmed Jan was the civil and military adviser as well as the physician to King Ameer Abdur Rahman Khan. General Ahmed Jan, the father of Gen. Mafooz Jan, was the conqueror of ] and named it ]. However, at the time of the revolution during at which Habibullah Kalakani became the first ruler of Persian descent in Afghanistan since Ahmad shah Abdali. Habibullah Kalakani with the support of the General Afghan population removed King Amanullah for his failure to bring any positive or foundational changes in ] that Khan's paternal grandfather, General Mehfooz Jan was executed, and as a result the family had to migrate to Peshawar which was a part of ] at that time.<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com"/><ref>The History of Afghanistan: Fayz Muhammad Katib Hazarah's Siraj Al-tawarikh, Includes Conclusion Volume 3 (tatimmah) September 1896-May 1897 by Robert McChesney (Editor), Mohammad Mehdi Khorrami (Editor) {{ISBN|978-9004307575}}</ref><ref></ref>
Arshad Sami Khan was born in January 1942. He was of ] origin.<ref></ref> Arshad was married to Naureen Sami Khan. Their son, ], is a singer and composer based in ]. His younger son's name is Junaid Sami Khan.


==Career in the Pakistan Air Force== ==Pakistan Air Force==
] during the ] by the PAF's ].]]
A national war veteran, Arshad Sami Khan was awarded the ], Pakistan's highest military medal of honour for bravery – for his actions in ] during the ].<ref name="def" /> His name is honored in the following words at the ] in Karachi.<ref></ref>
Khan decided in his early years to follow the military traditions of his forefathers and joined the Pakistan Air Force. He participated in the Pakistan Air Force raid that destroyed the ] during the ].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://theprint.in/india/role-adnan-samis-father-played-for-pakistan-in-1965-that-has-landed-his-padma-shri-in-row/354935/?amp |title= Role Adnan Sami's father played for Pakistan in 1965 that has landed his Padma Shri in row |last=Philip|first=Snehesh|date=27 January 2020 |website=The Print |access-date=12 November 2023|quote= Role Adnan Sami’s father played for Pakistan in 1965 that has landed his Padma Shri in row}}</ref> He became a ] and was awarded the ], Pakistan's third highest military medal of honour for bravery. His name is honoured at the ] in Karachi.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pafmuseum.com.pk/heroes/1965-gallantry-awards/Flight-Lieutenant.htm |title=PAF Museum |access-date=10 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507060650/http://www.pafmuseum.com.pk/heroes/1965-gallantry-awards/Flight-Lieutenant.htm |archive-date=7 May 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was also the youngest recipient of the prestigious "Best Fighter Pilot's Trophy".


Khan also had the distinction of serving three ] as their ] (ADC); namely presidents ], ] and ].
{{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.}}


He retired from the Air Force in 1972 and joined the Foreign Service on the behest of President ].
Khan also had the distinction of serving three ] as their ] (ADC); namely Presidents ], ] and ]. 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></ref>


==Ambassador== ==Ambassador==
Arshad Sami Khan was appointed Pakistan’s first ambassador to ] in August 1993 along with serving as ambassador to three other Scandinavian countries simultaneously; Sweden, Denmark and Norway.<ref> Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> He served as ambassador of Pakistan to ten other countries. Arshad Sami Khan was appointed Pakistan's first ambassador to ] in August 1993 along with serving as ambassador to three other Scandinavian countries simultaneously: Sweden, Denmark and Norway.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922110345/http://www.vm.ee/?q=en%2Fnode%2F65 |date=22 September 2012 }} Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> He served as Ambassador of Pakistan to ten other countries.


He was chief of protocol to Presidents ], ] and ] and also served as chief of protocol to ] ], ] and ]. Khan went on to become the first Commissioner General of Pakistan (appointed by ]) and then a federal secretary to the ].<ref></ref> On the occasion of ] on the 14th of August 2012, the ] posthumously conferred Khan the highest civilian award of ] to honour his services to Pakistan. He was the chief of protocol to presidents ], ] and ] and also served as Chief of Protocol to ] ], ] and ]. Khan went on to become the first ] of Pakistan (appointed by ]) and then a Federal Secretary to the ].<ref> {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625054331/http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-6-116150-Arshad-Sami-Khan-%E2%80%94-an-ambassador-of-love-and-humanity |date=25 June 2012 }}</ref> On the occasion of ] on 14 August 2012, the ] posthumously conferred Khan the third highest Civilian Award of ] to honour his services to Pakistan.

==Author==
Khan wrote a book about his experience as an ] entitled ''Three Presidents and an Aide'', which was released in March 2008 and went on to become a best-seller in ].<ref>Three Presidents & an Aide, {{ISBN|978-8182743434}}</ref> The book is a candid eyewitness account of historical events, seen from within the 'ring-side' that occurred during the reign of three presidents: ], ] and ]. No publisher in Pakistan was willing to publish the book. It was therefore published and released in India, launched by former Indian prime minister ] to rave reviews and sales.

==Illness==
Khan was diagnosed with ] in 1989. Prime Minister ] had him flown to London, where he was operated at ]. However, within three months of the operation thereafter, he resumed working in the ], continuing his ambassadorial assignments around the world while battling cancer for 20 years. He died on 22 June 2009 at 'Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani' Hospital in ]. His burial ceremony took place in Islamabad with military honours, including a ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/183350-squadron-leader-arshad-sami-passes-away|title=Squadron leader Arshad Sami passes away|website=www.thenews.com.pk|access-date=30 August 2019}}</ref>


==Awards== ==Awards==
* ]
* ] (posthumous; 2012)
* Best Fighter Pilot's Trophy * Best Fighter Pilot's Trophy
* Military Medal of Honour from ] * Military Medal of Honour from ]
* Military Medal of Honour from the ] * Military Medal of Honour from the ]
* Military Medal of Honour from ] * Military Medal of Honour from ]
* Special Medal for Services to Humanity from the ] * Special Medal for Services to Humanity from the United Nations
* ] (posthumous; 2012)
* ]

=== Sitara-e-Jurat citation ===
For his actions during the ], Sami was awarded the ], the third highest award of ].

His Sitara-e-Jur'at citation read as follows:

{{Quotation|{{center|'''CITATION '''<br>
'''Flight Lieutenant Arshad Sami Khan'''<br>
'''19 SQUADRON PAK/4127'''<br>}}
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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pafmuseum.com.pk/heroes/|website=]|title=1965 GALLANTRY AWARDS|access-date=14 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Sentinels in the sky|author1=Colonel Azam Qadri (Retd)|author2=Group Captain Muhammad Ali|journal=Weatherwise |date=2000 |volume=53 |issue=1 |url=https://www.paf.gov.pk/asset/appattachments/Sentinels_in-the_sky.pdf|pages=268–274|doi=10.1080/00431670009605829 |bibcode=2000Weawi..53a..24R |s2cid=192052936 }}</ref>}}


==References== ==References==
{{Portal|Government of Pakistan|Military of Pakistan}}
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist}}


{{Military of Pakistan}} {{Recipients of Sitara-e-Jurat}}


{{Persondata
|NAME =Khan, Arshad Sami
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
|SHORT DESCRIPTION =Pakistani diplomat and Air Force officer
|DATE OF BIRTH =8 January 1942
|PLACE OF BIRTH =
|DATE OF DEATH =22 June 2009
|PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Khan, Arshad Sami}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Khan, Arshad Sami}}
] ]
] ]
] ]
]
]
]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]
]

Latest revision as of 12:29, 5 October 2024

Pakistani diplomat, civil servant and fighter pilot
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Squadron leader
Arshad Sami Khan
Sitara-e-Jurat
Ambassador Arshad Sami Khan
Born8 January 1942
Died22 June 2009 (aged 67)
Allegiance Pakistan
Service / branch Pakistan Air Force
Rank Squadron leader
Battles / wars
Awards Sitara-e-Jurat
Sitara-i-Imtiaz
Military Medal of Honour (Jordan)
Military Medal of Honour (Pahlavi Iran)
Military Medal of Honour (Turkey)
Special Medal for Services to Humanity (United Nations)
Spouse(s)Naureen Sami Khan
Children2, including Adnan Sami
Other workDiplomat, bureaucrat, author

Arshad Sami Khan (Urdu: ارشد سمیع خان; 8 January 1942 – 22 June 2009) was a Pakistani diplomat, civil servant and fighter pilot who at peak of his career attained the highest rank of Federal Secretary. He started his career as a Pakistan Air Force fighter pilot and later served three presidents of Pakistan as their aide-de-camp (ADC) and later went on to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he served three presidents and four prime ministers as chief of protocol. He was later appointed as a diplomatic ambassador of Pakistan to 14 countries. This was followed by his appointment as the first commissioner general of Pakistan. He was also Federal Secretary of Culture and retired as a top BPS-22 grade bureaucratic officer. He was also the father of singer and music composer Adnan Sami.

Personal life

Arshad Sami Khan was born in January 1942 into an ethnic Pashtun family that had migrated from Afghanistan. His paternal grandfather, General Mehfooz Jan hailed from Herat, Afghanistan and was the governor of 4 provinces in Afghanistan, namely Herat, Kabul, Jalalabad and Balkh, under the Reign of King Amanullah Khan. Khan's paternal great-grandfather General Ahmed Jan was the civil and military adviser as well as the physician to King Ameer Abdur Rahman Khan. General Ahmed Jan, the father of Gen. Mafooz Jan, was the conqueror of Kafiristan and named it Nuristan. However, at the time of the revolution during at which Habibullah Kalakani became the first ruler of Persian descent in Afghanistan since Ahmad shah Abdali. Habibullah Kalakani with the support of the General Afghan population removed King Amanullah for his failure to bring any positive or foundational changes in Afghanistan that Khan's paternal grandfather, General Mehfooz Jan was executed, and as a result the family had to migrate to Peshawar which was a part of British India at that time.

Pakistan Air Force

Aerial photo of smoke rising from an airstrip
Smoke rises from Pathankot airbase during the airstrikes by the PAF's No. 19 Squadron.

Khan decided in his early years to follow the military traditions of his forefathers and joined the Pakistan Air Force. He participated in the Pakistan Air Force raid that destroyed the Pathankot air base during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. He became a national hero and was awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat, Pakistan's third highest military medal of honour for bravery. His name is honoured at the Pakistan Air Force Museum in Karachi. He was also the youngest recipient of the prestigious "Best Fighter Pilot's Trophy".

Khan also had the distinction of serving three presidents of Pakistan as their aide-de-camp (ADC); namely presidents Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

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

Ambassador

Arshad Sami Khan was appointed Pakistan's first ambassador to Estonia in August 1993 along with serving as ambassador to three other Scandinavian countries simultaneously: Sweden, Denmark and Norway. He served as Ambassador of Pakistan to ten other countries.

He was the chief of protocol to presidents Ghulam Ishaq Khan, Wasim Sajjad and Farooq A. Leghari and also served as Chief of Protocol to 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 Federal Secretary to the Government of Pakistan. On the occasion of Independence Day on 14 August 2012, the President of Pakistan posthumously conferred Khan the third highest Civilian Award 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 and went on to become a best-seller in South Asia. The book is a candid eyewitness account of historical events, seen from within the 'ring-side' that occurred during the reign of three presidents: Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. No publisher in Pakistan was willing to publish the book. It was therefore published and released in India, launched by former Indian prime minister I.K. Gujral to rave reviews and sales.

Illness

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 three months of the operation thereafter, he resumed working in the Foreign Office, continuing his ambassadorial assignments around the world while 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 military honours, including a 21-gun salute.

Awards

Sitara-e-Jurat citation

For his actions during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Sami was awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat, the third highest award of Pakistan.

His Sitara-e-Jur'at citation read as follows:

CITATION

Flight Lieutenant Arshad Sami Khan

19 SQUADRON PAK/4127

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.

References

  1. ^ Adnan Sami: I respect my earlier two wives for the times we shared and for being a part of my life
  2. Squadron Leader Arshad Sami Khan Archived 25 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 21 April 2011
  3. PM visits residence of Arshad Sami to condole his death Archived 6 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 21 April 2011
  4. Musician leaves for Pakistan
  5. The History of Afghanistan: Fayz Muhammad Katib Hazarah's Siraj Al-tawarikh, Includes Conclusion Volume 3 (tatimmah) September 1896-May 1897 by Robert McChesney (Editor), Mohammad Mehdi Khorrami (Editor) ISBN 978-9004307575
  6. Adnan Sami: Fastest fingers first
  7. Philip, Snehesh (27 January 2020). "Role Adnan Sami's father played for Pakistan in 1965 that has landed his Padma Shri in row". The Print. Retrieved 12 November 2023. Role Adnan Sami's father played for Pakistan in 1965 that has landed his Padma Shri in row
  8. "PAF Museum". Archived from the original on 7 May 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  9. Estonia and Pakistan Bilateral Relations Archived 22 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Retrieved 21 April 2011
  10. Arshad Sami Khan — an ambassador of love and humanity Archived 25 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  11. Three Presidents & an Aide, ISBN 978-8182743434
  12. "Squadron leader Arshad Sami passes away". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  13. "1965 GALLANTRY AWARDS". Pakistan Air Force Museum. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  14. Colonel Azam Qadri (Retd); Group Captain Muhammad Ali (2000). "Sentinels in the sky" (PDF). Weatherwise. 53 (1): 268–274. Bibcode:2000Weawi..53a..24R. doi:10.1080/00431670009605829. S2CID 192052936.
Recipients of Sitara-e-Jurat
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