The pilot of a Pakistani fighter jet who shot down a civilian Indian aircraft has apologised. Photo / Thinkstock
The pilot of a Pakistani fighter jet who shot down a civilian Indian aircraft has apologised. Photo / Thinkstock
From across India's border with Pakistan, a moving apology has been delivered over a notorious incident that played out at the height of hostilities almost 50 years ago.
The pilot of a Pakistani fighter jet who, in 1965, shot down a civilian Indian aircraft carrying a chief minister, his wifeand officials, has sought out the daughter of the Indian pilot and expressed his sorrow.
The woman, Farida Singh, has accepted the apology, saying she hopes the gesture can heal wounds not only on a personal level but perhaps even between two countries which have, on four occasions, gone to war.
"If an opportunity ever arises that I could meet you face to face to condole the death of your father, I would grab it with both hands," wrote Qais Hussain.
As the seven-month Indo-Pakistan war was drawing to a close, Mr Hussain spotted an Indian Beechcraft plane flying in the border area. It was a civilian aircraft carrying the Gujarati chief minister, Balwantrai Mehta, and it wobbled its wings to indicate it was not a threat.
Mr Hussain radioed the control room in Karachi to express his doubts about the target, but the reply ordered him to attack. The Indian plane was shot down and no one survived.
