From humanitarian relief sorties to wartime operational missions, PAF remains guardian of hope
Izmi Herlani
In the infinite canvas of the sky, where winds whisper of freedom and destiny, there soars a force that embodies the very dream of Allama Muhammad Iqbal — the Pakistan Air Force. It is not merely a military institution guarding the nation’s airspace; it is the living embodiment of Iqbal’s Shaheen, the eagle of divine vision — a creature of light, courage and self-realization that rises above the mundane world to touch the essence of eternity. When Iqbal spoke of the Shaheen, he was not describing an ordinary bird of prey. He was sculpting a spiritual ideal — a believer whose heart is free from material desires, whose eyes see far beyond the horizon, and whose wings are strengthened by faith. In his timeless verse, he declared:
*Tu Shaheen hai, parwaz hai kaam tera,
Tere samne aasman aur bhi hain.*
(You are a Shaheen; flight is your destiny — there are skies yet waiting for you.)
That flight — relentless, fearl
Continue Reading on The Express Tribune
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.