Aslam Khan (brigadier)

Muhammad Aslam Khan (27 August 1918 – 12 October 1994) better known as Colonel Pasha, The Legend of Baltistan, and Laji, was a former one-star rank Pakistan Army officer, businessman, and founder of the Shangrila Resort. Notably, as the leader of 'D' Company, he led his troops during World War II in capturing Kennedy Peak (Myanmar), which the Americans had failed to conquer. For this achievement, he was awarded the Military Cross by Field Marshal Auchinleck.

Brigadier Aslam Khan
اسلم خان
Chief of War Plans CENTO Headquarters (Ankara)
In office 8 August 1959 – 19 August 1962
Preceded by	Brigadier Gulzar Ahmed (MBE)
Commander Gilgit Scouts
In office 14 January 1948 – July 1948
Preceded by	Major William Brown
Personal details
Born	(1918-08-27)27 August 1918 Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)
Died	12 October 1994(1994-10-12) (aged 76) Skardu, Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan
Cause of death	Cirrhosis
Spouse	Nawabzadi Fareeda Begum ​ ​ (m. 1944; died 1989)​
Children	5
Education	Indian Military Academy Staff College, Quetta US Army Command and General Staff College
Nickname	Colonel Pasha
Military service
Branch/service	Jammu and Kashmir State Forces (1939-45) British Indian Army (1945-47) Pakistan Army (1947-62)
Years of service	1939–62
Rank	Brigadier
Commands	13th Baluch (Jessore Garrison) Gilgit Scouts
Battles/wars	Waziristan campaign (1936–1939) World War II Burma Campaign 1944 Indo-Pakistani war of 1947–1948 Siege of Skardu
Awards	See list

Aslam was assigned a pivotal mission in 1947 by Gilgit's provisional government to defend and expand newly acquired territories. Stripped of his rank in the Pakistan Army with a promise of reinstatement upon success, Aslam joined the Pashtun tribal invasion led by Khurshid Anwar, becoming second-in-command. Following the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India, Indian troops arrived on 27 October to counter the invasion. The 1st Sikh Regiment, commanded by Lt. Col. Dewan Ranjit Rai, was disrupted by Aslam Khan’s effective use of captured mortars, resulting in Col. Rai’s death. The regiment withdrew, and Indian forces eventually repelled the invaders by 7 November, securing the Kashmir Valley.

In the Gilgit Agency, the Gilgit Scouts, led by Major William Brown, rebelled on 1 November, detaining the governor and aligning with the Bunji garrison, leading to Pakistan's effective control of Gilgit by 16 November. Adopting the alias "Colonel Pasha", he arrived in Gilgit on 30 November with his brother, Major Anwar Khan, and Captain Azmat Ali. His immediate goals were to mobilize local personnel and establish a military base. Despite initial challenges, Pasha secured Major Ehsan Ali’s support and returned to GHQ on 3 December to request additional resources, receiving only four thousand rupees.

Pasha utilized the funds to procure essential supplies and equipped his 2,000-man force with captured weapons and dummy rifles. He formed the Tiger Force and Ibex Force to execute key operations, including ambushes and securing critical positions. His forces, including the Eskimo Force, effectively adapted to harsh conditions and achieved significant tactical successes.

Pasha took over as the Commandant of Gilgit Scouts on 14 January 1948 succeeding William Brown. Pasha's strategy to advance towards Kargil, Dras, and Zojila was pivotal in countering enemy reinforcements and maintaining offensive actions in Ladakh. With the Zojila Pass cut off, India's link with Leh was severed and the entire Ladakh Wazarat fell into the hands of Aslam and his men. These results were substantially achieved by 19 May 1948. India was able to save Leh only by raising a local militia, Ladakh Scouts, and constructing an emergency airstrip for receiving armaments.

By June 1948, Pasha's forces had made significant advances into Indian territory. He sent a telegram to the GHQ (Pakistan) that he was "attacking Himachal Pradesh." However, General Gracey, the C-in-C of the Pakistan Army, was bewildered by the extent of Pasha's incursions into Indian territory. Consequently, he decided to halt further territorial expansion, and ordered Pasha to return to Pakistan in July 1948.

In the 1970s, Aslam Khan, now a timber businessman, was paraded in handcuffs in the streets of Muzaffarabad, falsely accused of theft and later imprisoned in a remote place in Gilgit Agency. The ordeal was orchestrated by Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who thought Aslam was financing Asghar Khan's politics. Aslam's timber had been seized, essentially going out of business. Aslam was one of several siblings and family members of Asghar Khan who were harassed by Bhutto throughout his reign.

Early life

Aslam Khan was born in Jammu on 27 August 1918 into an Afridi Pashtun family to Brigadier Rehmatullah Khan and his third wife Gulam Fatima. Aslam's father, Brigadier Rehmatullah of the Jammu and Kashmir State Forces, was instrumental in bringing Gilgit, Hunza and Skardu under the control of the Jammu and Kashmir (princely state).

Aslam Khan was the second son of Brigadier Rehmatullah Khan and first son of Gulam Fatima. Aslam had 12 siblings, eldest sibling, Aysha Bibi, was the first child of Rehmatullah Khan and passed away at the age of 12 due to an illness. The eldest son was Colonel Nasrullah Khan. Aslam's other siblings, in order of age after him were Asghar Khan, Major Muhammad Anwar Khan, Pilot Officer M. Asaf Khan, Commander Mohammad Afzal Khan of the Pakistan Navy, Salma Rehmat, Squadron Leader M. Khalid Khan, Mohammad Tariq Khan, Shamim Rehmat, Zarina Rehmat, and Farooq Rehmatullah.

Ancestry

Sardar Samad Khan Afridi

Major General Samundar Khan Afridi

Ranjit Singh, distrusted the Sikh Rajwaras, and hired two distinct groups as bodyguards. One group consisted of Dogras led by Gulab Singh, while the other was a Pashtun group mainly made up of Malikdin Khel Afridis, known for their military skills in the Khyber Pass. This group was led by Sardar Asad Khan and his son, Sardar Samad Khan, who was Aslam Khan's paternal grandfather. After Ranjit Singh died in 1839, internal conflicts among Sikh warlords left these forces without roles. Consequently, they returned to their homelands. Gulab Singh purchased the state of Jammu and Kashmir as a result of the Treaty of Amritsar (1846). Facing resistance from Dogra warlords, Gulab Singh sought help from his Afridi ally, Sardar Samad Khan. Responding to the call, Sardar Samad Khan arrived with a substantial force of Afridis and their families. They settled in an area called Haihama, about three miles north of Kupwara. The Afridi men joined various campaigns to suppress Dogra warlords and quelled uprisings in the Yasin Valley, Hunza Valley, and Nagar Valley. Aslam Khan's paternal grandmother was from Yasin. In 1855, Sardar Samad Khan moved from Tirah Valley and eventually settled in Battal-Ballian, near Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir, where he lived until his death in 1900. He is buried with his wife in Magarmal Bagh, Srinagar.

Major General Sardar Samundar Khan, Aslam Khan's paternal uncle, played a key role as the commander of Maharaja Hari Singh’s Kashmir Army. His leadership was particularly noted for fostering camaraderie within the first Kashmir Regiment, which, under his guidance, constructed a hockey ground at Bunji, about 25 km from Gilgit on a steep hillside, showcasing their dedication. After his military career, General Sumandar Khan contributed significantly to the Muslim community. As the co-founder and President of the Anjuman-e-Islamia, Jammu, he helped establish a girls’ high school in Mohalla Dalpattian and secured part of Jammu Fort for a boys’ school, transforming it into Islamia High School.

Major General Samundar Khan was known for his generosity, keeping his home open to anyone in need within the Mohalla. His strong influence extended to his interactions with the Maharaja of Kashmir, who showed him "great respect" during his visits to the Durbar. Although he did not have children, he provided care and guidance to his youngest brother Rahmatullah Khan's children.

Personal life

In 1944, Aslam married Nawabzadi Fareeda Begum, the daughter of the Nawab of Serat and Bela. They have five children, two sons and three daughters. Arif Aslam Khan, the eldest, serves as the Chairman of Shangrila Resort in Skardu.

Fareeda Begum died on 6 September 1989 and Aslam Khan is buried near her at the resort.

Jammu Kashmir State Forces and British Indian Army career

Troops of the 5th Infantry Division (India) advancing during the march on Kalemyo.

Aslam Khan seen at 0:18—0:22, holds a microphone and sits on the ground with his Signaller (1945)

Aslam Khan was commissioned into the Jammu and Kashmir State Forces in 1939 after passing out from the Indian Military Academy. He was part of the 4th Jammu and Kashmir Fateh Shibji infantry battalion and was deployed to Rattu for two years.

During World War II, Major Aslam captured the Kennedy Peak in October 1944, which the Americans had failed to capture.The victory celebrations were held jointly with the First Punjabis of the British Indian Army and Aslam Khan danced with Major Daler Singh Bajwa of the State Forces and Major Gul Rehman of First Punjabis.

Military Cross

Narain Singh Sambyal recommended that Aslam Khan be awarded the Military Cross, the citation reads:

ACTION FOR WHICH COMMENDED
W/Capt A/Maj Mohammad Aslam Khan (S 840)

“On 4th to 6th November 1944 in the Fort White Area, Maj. Mohammad Aslam Khan was Commanding his Coy in an attack on a thickly wooded feature which was strongly held by the Japanese in Bunker Pots. On the afternoon of 4 November with little time for recess, he led his coy into the attack and captured a number of bunkers on the North slopes of the hill. He consolidated there as light was failing. Three times during the night, his coy was counter attacked but owing to Mohammad Aslam Khan's example and determination all were beaten off. On 5 November, Mohammad Aslam Khan led his coy forward to 200 yards from the top of the hill and was preparing to charge when he received orders to retire to allow an air strike to go in. He was again heavily counter attacked during the night and again beat off all enemy. On 6 November, Mohammad Aslam Khan again led his coy to attack the hill, this time after hand to hand fighting near the crest, the attack was successful. Mohammad Aslam Khan's example to his men and his powers of command and leadership were responsible for his coys success on this heavily defended feature, the capture of which cleared the way to Fort White.”

After World War II, Aslam opted for the British Indian Army. Here, he was the General Staff Officer II in Ranchi. In 1945, he graduated from the Staff College, Quetta.

Pakistan Army career

Following the Partition of British India, Aslam Khan transferred his service to the Pakistan Army.

Indo-Pak war of 1947–1948

Colonel Pasha travels through the Deosai Mountains with his troops (1947)

When Gilgit Baltistan’s provisional government sought to join Pakistan in 1947, Aslam was selected for a critical mission: to defend and expand the newly acquired territories. At the time, he was serving in the Uri sector. He was stripped of his rank in the Pakistan Army with the promise that it would be restored if he succeeded and came back alive. Aslam Khan reportedly went on leave around 21 October 1947. On his way to Srinagar, at Lohar Gali, he encountered the Pashtun tribal invasion led by Khurshid Anwar and chose to join the invasion force, becoming the second-in-command. The two then encountered Captain Mohammad Azam Khan, the C Company commander tasked with attacking Baramulla on 26 October 1947, and he joined them.

Following the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India, Indian troops were airlifted on 27 October to repel the invasion. The 1st Sikh regiment of the Indian Army, commanded by Lt. Col. Dewan Ranjit Rai, moved to Baramulla immediately upon landing. Aslam Khan's skillful use of captured mortars disrupted their initial defense, leading to the death of Col. Ranjit Rai at the hands of Aslam Khan's men. The 1st Sikhs subsequently withdrew to Patan, where they established a defensive position. The troops later killed Rajinder Singh (brigadier). As more Indian troops were flown in daily, they eventually counterattacked and pushed the tribal forces back beyond Uri by 7 November, securing the Kashmir Valley.

Meanwhile, in the Gilgit Agency, located in the northern part of Jammu and Kashmir, the Gilgit Scouts under Major Major William Brown's command rebelled on 1 November 1947, detaining the State's governor Brigadier Ghansara Singh who surrendered to Babar Khan of the Gilgit Scouts. The Muslim troops from the Bunji garrison, led by Mirza Hassan Khan, joined the rebellion, resulting in the elimination of non-Muslim personnel. On 16 November, Pakistan dispatched a Political Agent, Khan Mohammad Alam Khan, to assume control, bringing Gilgit under Pakistan's effective administration.

Aslam Khan told journalist Smith, who reported in the London Daily Express on 10 November, "you can describe me as a deserter from the Pakistan Army."

Adopting the nom-de-guerre Colonel Pasha, he arrived in Gilgit on 30 November 1947, accompanied by his younger brother, Major Anwar Khan, who was appointed Brigade Major for administering logistics, and Captain Azmat Ali, assigned as Deputy Quartermaster for general administration. Pasha’s initial objective was to raise an Azad force from local personnel, including members of the Gilgit Scouts. Despite challenges, such as the reluctance of Lieutenant Colonel Abdul Majeed Khan to cooperate, Major Ehsan Ali quickly aligned with Pasha’s objectives.

Pasha’s mission also involved assessing the local situation and establishing a military base to enforce the authority of the Political Agent, Khan Mohammad Alam Khan. To this end, he met with the key officers of the Scouts, including Colonel Hasan Khan, Major Ehsan Ali, and Lieutenant Colonel Abdul Majeed Khan. Although Majeed was hesitant to cooperate for various reasons, Major Ehsan promptly offered his full support. Pasha was determined to mobilize all available personnel in Gilgit, discuss strategic plans, and push forward with his offensive operations. One of his proposals was to send Major Ehsan to Ladakh, and he also suggested advancing towards Gurez for raids on Bandipur. Before any of these actions could be initiated, Pasha needed to prepare. With these ideas in mind, Pasha returned to GHQ Rawalpindi on 3 December 1947, to request material support. However, he was only provided with a sum of four thousand rupees by Major General Sher Khan.

Despite the limited resources, Pasha managed them efficiently. Half of the rupees he received were used to purchase blankets and old clothes from Raja Bazar in Rawalpindi, which were then airdropped to Bunji. Pasha’s forces, numbering around 2,000 men, were equipped with captured weapons from the Jammu and Kashmir State Forces, and others were trained using dummy wooden rifles.

Under his command, two key forces were formed: the Tiger Force, led by Colonel Hasan Khan, aimed at striking the Bandipur area to deter Indian advances, and the Ibex Force, under Major Ehsan Ali, tasked with securing Skardu and advancing toward Kargil and Ladakh. Despite severe winter conditions, including snow up to fifteen feet thick, Pasha’s forces, particularly the Eskimo Force composed of soldiers from Hunza and Yasin, were trained to operate in these extreme conditions by wrapping their legs with rugs. These soldiers, led by Lieutenant Shah Khan, slept on the 12,000 feet high snowy Deosai Mountains and launched surprise attacks on enemy Indian positions and captured vital supplies such as food, clothing, and weapons.

Pasha’s operational approach was characterized by adaptability to the evolving battlefield. For instance, when the Ibex Force was stalled at Skardu, Pasha moved his headquarters to Chilam and continued training his troops in the surrounding snowfields. His detailed knowledge of the terrain enabled him to execute well-coordinated ambushes, such as the one led by Subedar Mohammad Ali at Thurgo Pari, where his small platoon of 60 men successfully ambushed an Indian battalion under Colonel Kirpal Singh by positioning sections of soldiers behind boulders on opposing hills. The coordinated volley of fire from both sides overwhelmed the enemy, resulting in their retreat.

Following Colonel Mirza Hassan Khan's successful control of the Gurez-Astor route and positioning at Tragbal Pass, the next critical objective was to advance towards Kargil, Dras, and Zojila. This was necessary to counter the enemy's efforts to reinforce their troops in Skardu. To this end, Colonel Pasha instructed Major Ehsan Ali to swiftly capture Skardu and push forward along the Indus Valley route towards Parkuta, Kharmong, and Ladakh. When Major Ehsan encountered difficulties in Skardu, Colonel Pasha dispatched the Eskimo Force to Kargil and Zojila to continue the mission.

Pasha mobilized all available troops across various sectors, including sending platoons from Skardu to expedite the operation. The battles fought in this region were significant, and Colonel Pasha's strategy effectively closed the Zojila Pass whish cut off India's link with Leh and Pasha's troops maintained offensive actions throughout Ladakh. These results were substantially achieved by 19 May 1948. India was able to save Leh only by raising a local militia, Ladakh Scouts, and constructing an emergency airstrip for receiving armaments. Although the main headquarters could not be occupied due to Indian air superiority, Pasha's forces surrounded the capital and advanced southward to Padam, approaching Jammu.

Pasha’s efforts secured the Northern Areas and extended the frontiers to the gates of Kashmir. By June 1948, he had advanced so far that he was on the verge of entering Indian territory in Himachal Pradesh, a move he communicated to General Headquarters in Rawalpindi with the message: "Attacking Himachal Pradesh." However, General Douglas Gracey, the C-in-C of the Pakistan Army, was "bewildered" and decided against further territorial gains, leading to Pasha’s recall in July 1948.

Hilal-e-Jurat

On 29 May 1949, Brigadier M. Sher Khan MC recommended that Aslam Khan should be awarded the Hilal-e-Jurat. The citation reads:

ACTION FOR WHICH COMMENDED
Major (Now Lt. Col.) M. Aslam Khan (PA-919)

“This officer was one of the very small band who opposed the Indian advance down the Jhelum Valley in the earliest stages of the operations. Only their sheer audacity and determination and greatest personal risks enabled them to survive. Subsequently in the northern area, he organised and conducted a brilliant operation, thought to be impossible under winter conditions, which completely surprised the garrisons of Dras and Kargil and resulted in the opposing forces being completely obliterated. Throughout, he displayed initiative, leadership and personal gallantry of a high order.”

Post-war career

Lt Col M. Aslam Khan at the CGSC (1950-51)

Three Pakistan Army officers concluded their tour of duty with the Combined Military Planning Staff of CENTO in Ankara.

From left to right: Brigadier Aslam, USAF Chief of Staff Major General Elvin S. Ligon Jr., C.M.P.S. Col. A. A. Malik, and Wing Commander S. I. R. Bokhari (1962)

His father, Brigadier Rehmatullah Khan, was imprisoned in Kashmir under suspicion of being an "enemy agent." He was repatriated to Pakistan on 2 December 1948 as part of a prisoner exchange for an Indian Air Force pilot. Major Daler Singh Bajwa, Aslam Khan's dancing partner from the 1945 victory celebrations, bid them farewell. Rehmatullah Khan's property, including his vehicles, was seized by the State. The family's two cars were later used by Sheikh Abdullah and D. P. Dhar.

On 15 September 1949, Lt Col Aslam Khan succeeded James Wilson as Private Secretary to General Douglas Gracey, the C-in-C of the Pakistan Army. He attended the US Army Command and General Staff College (1950-51) and was promoted to Brigadier in 1954 at age 36.

R. C. Majumdar recalls that in the fall of 1957, the Pakistan army was deployed in Operation "Close Door" to combat smuggling, with civil magistrates trying the offenders. He had an argument with Brigadier Aslam Khan, who commanded 13th Baluch Jessore Garrison, when Aslam justified the operation's success by the quantity of materials seized by his soldiers.

On 7 August 1959, Brigadier Aslam Khan was appointed Chief of War Plans at CENTO Headquarters in Ankara, succeeding Brigadier Gulzar Ahmed. He retired from the army in 1962.

Later life and death

Main article: Shangrila Resort

Aslam Khan's grave at the Shangrila Resort

After retirement, Aslam Khan eschewed "politics", and worked for the development of tourism in Gilgit Baltistan. He founded the Shangrila Resort in Skardu, taking inspiration from James Hilton's novel Lost Horizon. It is now among the top tourist destinations in Pakistan and has been managed by his son Arif Aslam Khan since his death.

Aslam died on 12 October 1994 at 11:10PM, at the age of 76, from Cirrhosis.

Awards and decorations

Military Cross (MC) (awarded for GALLANTRY) 1944	Fakhr-e-Kashmir (Honour of Kashmir) 1948		Hilal-e-Jurat (Crescent of Courage) 1949
India General Service Medal (North West Frontier 1937–39 Clasp)	Burma Star 1939-1945	1939–1945 Star	Defence Medal 1939-1945
War Medal 1939-1945	India Service Medal 1939–1945	Staff College, Quetta Student's Medal 1945	Pakistan Medal (Pakistan Tamgha) 1947
Tamgha-e-Diffa (Defence Medal) First Kashmir War Clasp	Kashmir Commemoration Medal 1947-1949	Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953	Tamgha-e-Qayam-e-Jamhuria (Republic Commemoration Medal) 1956