JABRON HASHMILance Corporal Jabron Hashmi, who died in Afghanistan on 1 July, 2006, aged 24, was an exceptional member of the Intelligence Corps attached to the Royal Signals.
L/CplHashmi was described as a cheeky, confident young man with a very caring nature and a huge capacity to learn.
He was a 'first class soldier' who will be remembered by colleagues for his relentless enthusiasm and r emarkable determination.
Originally born just 40 minutes away from the Afghan border, L/Cpl Hashmi's family said he had joined the Army in order to help 'build bridges' between Britain and Muslim countries.
Jabron Hashmi was born on 23 April, 1982, in Peshawar, Pakistan. His family migrated to Britain when he was 12 and settled in Birmingham.
L/Cpl Hashmi had always wanted to join the British Army and he realised his ambition in June, 2004. He undertook his initial training at the Army Training Centre Winchester, followed by intelligence training at Chicksands, Bedfordshire.
In January, 2006, L/Cpl Hashmi joined the RoyalSignals and deployed to Afghanistan shortly after.
On 1 July, 2006, a rocket-propelled grenade struck the regional headquarters in Sangin, Helmand Province, killing L/Cpl Hasmi and his colleague Corporal Thorpe. A further four personnel were injured in the blast.
L/Cpl Hashmi is survived by his parents, two brothers and three sisters, who said: "Jabron was proud of his role as a serving soldier and looked forward to his deployment in Afghanistan. He felt privileged to represent the Army as a Muslim British Pakistani who wanted to use his background and position to contribute at a time where there exists a lack of understanding of cultures, ideologies and religious identities."
His older brother Zeeshan, had also served in the Intelligence Corps. He said: "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. He went to Afghanistan hoping to build bridges between the east and the west."
Inayat Bunglawala, from the Muslim Council of Britain, called L/Cpl Hashmi's move into the Army a "very courageous decision".
He said: "We have been urging Muslims to consider joining the police and the Army as a career as we should be part of the mainstream. But is has to be admitted that it has not been easy because the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have been deeply unpopular. However, whatever one's views on the war in Afghanistan - whether it was a just war or not - we must respect L/Cpl Hashmi's decision to die serving his country and we must respect his sacrifice."
L/Cpl Hashmi's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Steve Vickery, said: "Enthusiastic, confident and immensely popular, Lance Corporal Hashmi displayed all the qualities of a first class soldier. His enthusiasm for the role he had been given was simply outstanding. He was brimming with confidence and hugely keen to take part in all the training prior to the operation.
"Once deployed in Helmand Province , his skills proved vital in support of the 3 PARA Battlegroup, providing protection for his comrades in the highly demanding working conditions of Southern Afghanistan. A fine young man, his sad loss and that of Corporal Thorpe will be felt by us all."
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