I always feel very sad when I read or hear of another of our nations brave service people making the ultimate sacrifice for their country, but I couldn't help wondering if we had a few more like L/Cpl Hashmi , just perhaps this poor sad land of ours would not be in such a sorry state. I have said before that if more members of the Muslim faith were to be more outspoken, then perhaps the extremists would not have so much of a strangle hold on Muslim youths.
L/Cpl Hashmi was far more than being 'outspoken', he is a hero. A true soldier of which his family can be so proud and his country can be humbled by his sacrifice. Once again we mourn the loss of two more of the cream of our nation. God Bless you both.
L/Cpl Jabron Hashmi, 24, a devout Muslim, died during an attack by Taliban fighters on a British base at Sangin, in Helmand Province. A second soldier killed in the attack was named as Cpl Peter Thorpe, of the Royal Signals. Both men were with 3 Para battle group. Five British soldiers have been killed in the region in the past three weeks.
L/Cpl Hashmi's family came to Britain from Pakistan when he was 12 and he joined the Army 10 years later, in 2004. After moving to the Intelligence Corps he was posted to the Royal Signals last January and finished his training six weeks before being sent to Afghanistan.
Relatives said that despite
having to face rebels from his own faith, he was determined that his tour in Afghanistan would end in success and that the Army could help to secure peace and democracy in the country. His brother, Zeeshan Hashmi, 27, said: "The military was his passion, it had been for a long time. Ever since he was a little child he had wanted to be an Army commander. He was so happy when he got in and saw going to Afghanistan as a chance to build bridges between the East and the West.
"Jabron was a committed soldier and a committed Muslim. He was fiercely proud of his Islamic background and he was equally proud of being British and was very proud to live in Britain. My mother is absolutely devastated and all she wants is her son back." Mr Hashmi said that shortly after arriving from Pakistan as a teenager, he too had joined the Army and served in the Intelligence Corps for five years before leaving to study at Cambridge University. "Jabron was pleased to be doing the same thing. He was actually going to join the Army before me, but he picked up a knee injury during a physical test, so I ended up joining before him.
"He saw that I really enjoyed the Intelligence Corps and decided to follow that. He was looking forward to going to Afghanistan as he wanted to make a difference there. "He worked to the very best of his ability and really wanted to make a difference in the world for others' good and I sincerely hope he has made a difference.
"We are proud to have had the 24 years God gave him. He knew what the job entailed and said, 'When it's time to go, it's time to go'." L/Cpl Hashmi, whose parents live in Birmingham, was one of 906 men and women of Asian descent serving in the Armed Forces, of whom 320 are practising Muslims.
The
Muslim Council of Britain paid tribute to L/Cpl Hashmi and said that although the Afghan conflict was unpopular with many Muslims, soldiers could not pick and choose their battles.
"This is far from the first time Muslims have given their lives in the service of this country," said Inayat Bunglawala, a spokesman. "Many did so in the two World Wars, but in recent years they have been under-represented in the Army."
Mr Bunglawala said the council had strongly opposed the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, both of which
were opposed by large sections of Britain's Muslim community. But he said that he could not condemn Muslims who fought for the British Armed Forces in such conflicts. "This is a matter for the soldier himself," he said. "Many people in the Army disagree with a particular war, but they are soldiers and they have to follow orders."
L/Cpl Hashmi's father, Ishtiaq, 73, who worked as a deeds writer in Pakistan's law courts, brought the family to Britain after he retired for the sake of the children's education.
He and L/Cpl Hashmi's mother, Imtiaz, 55, were too upset to comment at their terrace home in Bordesley Green, Birmingham.
After finishing school, L/Cpl Hashmi, who was the middle child out of two brothers and three sisters, studied A-levels in chemistry, physics and maths at Bourneville College, Birmingham.
In June 2004, he carried out his basic training at the Army Training Centre in Winchester, before completing his training at the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre at Chicksands, Beds.
Zeehan Hashmi said that his brother would be "desperately missed" by the whole family.
"He was a very happy young man, but very cheeky and mischievous. He was very daring, he had no fear of anything. He was a bit of a joker who could really make you laugh, but also make you cry if he wanted to. "He was a very kind person, and would do anything for his friends.
"He also loved travelling, and that was one of the reasons he wanted to join the Army, so he could see the world. He also loved reading and would read everything he could get his hands on."
He said the last time the family spoke to his brother was two weeks ago, when he seemed in good spirits. "He said he was having a good time, but the last couple of times I spoke to him, he sounded very tired because of the long hours and all the travelling they were doing.
"He did say he was enjoying every minute of it though, and was excited and passionate about the job he was doing."
His sister, Zoubia, 29, said: "Jabron was very witty and his best quality was his generosity. He was saving his wages so that he could take our mother on a trip to Mecca. "He was adventurous, very caring and he could make you cry in seconds and make you smile in seconds. "He was so full of life and none of us can believe that he has gone."
Cpl Thorpe, 27, of the Royal Signals, joined the Army in August 1995 as an apprentice tradesman at Harrogate, North Yorks. His home was in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
After completing his training, he was posted to 216 Parachute Signal Squadron in 5 Airborne Brigade, where he qualified as a military parachutist. Embracing his role as an airborne commander, he completed his first tour of Afghanistan in 2001. Cpl Thorpe was then posted on a two-year tour to Northern Ireland, returning to mainland Britain in January 2006 to prepare for his second operational tour in Afghanistan. A keen sportsman, he was also an Army Physical Training Instructor.
Cpl Thorpe's family members were too upset yesterday to speak about their loss.
The curtains were drawn at the family's terrace home on Walmey Island, Barrow, and a soldier who answered the door said the family did not want to make a statement at this stage.
