Lesser Known Fact:
Baltistan’s liberation during the war of 1948 witnessed one of the longest sieges in military history on the Kharpoche fort.
Here’s the story of Ghazi Rakin Gul who raised the Pakistan flag for the first time over the impregnable “king of forts” in Skardu.
Baltistan’s liberation during the war of 1948 witnessed one of the longest sieges in military history on the Kharpoche fort.
Here’s the story of Ghazi Rakin Gul who raised the Pakistan flag for the first time over the impregnable “king of forts” in Skardu.
In November 1947 the Gilgit scouts rebelled against the Dogra accession to India by freedoms fighters such as Col Hassan Khan, Major Baber Khan, Major Muhammad Khan, Capt. Saeed Durani, Subedar Safiullah Baig and others and immediately captured Gilgit and Bunji.
The Maharaja sent his forces to recapture Bunji and Gilgit. When the news reached Chitral, Freedom fighters, including a batch of 400 were sent to aid the Gilgitis which played an instrumental role in the liberation of Skardu. Ghazi Rakin Gul was one of them. This is his story.
According to him, The 400 men immediately left for Gilgit passing the frozen shandur pass and recieved warm welcomes from every village on the way, bidding best luck and to bring good name to Chitral. On the way to Shandur, Gul was promoted to Commander and then Haveldar.
The force was in the Alam Pir pass in Gilgit (8126m) taking slumber in the snow when news of the unsuccessful attack on Skardu by the Azaad Force reached them. They at once decended to Skardu where they were warmly recieved by the Balti King.
The men were deployed at tightly multiple areas around the fort. Enemy fiercely attacked from the Fort, Guruduwara and school. Col. Mataulmulk himself lead the “Mujahideen” attack on Dogra were continued and aid supply lines from Srinagar was made discontued by deep trenches.
The fighters occupied Dras and Kargil. In Skardu Mujahidin were known as Adamkhor and Col. Mataulmulk was known as Malikulmoth (Angel of Death). This propaganda spread out by locals in Skardu made Dogra Force much De-moraleand fearful that led to surrender.
The fighting continued for months from both sides. One day, Gul’s group at Nobra Post was under fierce attack of enemy. Mujahidin were successfully responding the attack from behind the water channel and firing on enemy. Gul was firing at enemy target here in Nobra. When -
When a Mujahid namely Subi Ali of village Dizg Yarkhun was martyred on enemy’s side. Gul made a rope of grass, hiding himself inside the water channel reached dead body of Subi Ali, tightened his legs with grass rope and pulled his body towards our side.
The next day, Gul was deployed to a trench near the Kharpoche fort when news came of the surrender of the occupiers. A man gave Pakistan’s flag to Gul for him to enter the fort and raise it. Gul hit the large door with the hilt of his gun and entered.
Inside after disarming the Dogras and freeing the Baltis, Gul found the staircase and climbed to the top of the fort, and hoisted a green flag brandishing a crescent and a star; the flag of the liberators, the flag of the free, which waved proudly over the liberated valley.
A picture of Ghazi Rakin Gul. He departed to his heavenly abode in 2012.
The flag of the free still proudly overlooks the valleys of Baltistan.
