Mujahid Anwar Khan

Air Chief Marshal
Mujahid Anwar Khan
NI(C) NI(M) HI(M) SI(M) TI(M)
مجاہد انور خان
15th Chief of Air Staff
In office
19 March 2018 – 18 March 2021
PresidentArif-ur-Rehman Alvi
Prime MinisterImran Khan
Preceded byACM Sohail Aman
Succeeded byACM Zaheer Ahmad Babar
Personal details
Born1962 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan[1]
Pakistan
Military service
Allegiance Pakistan
Branch/service Pakistan Air Force
Years of service1983– 2021
RankAir Chief Marshal
CommandsDCAS (Operations)
DCAS (Support)
ACAS (Operations)
Director General Air Force Strategic Command
Director General C4I
Battles/wars
AwardsNishan-e-Imtiaz (Civilian)
Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military)
Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military)
Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military)
Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Military)
Turkish Legion of Merit

Mujahid Anwar Khan (Urdu: مجاہد انور خان) NI(C), NI(M), HI(M), SI(M), TI(M), is a retired air chief marshal and the former 15th Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force.[2][3] On 19 March 2018, ACM Anwar took over command of the Pakistan Air Force from his predecessor ACM Sohail Aman.[4]

Born in a Punjabi Rajput Sulehria Family originally from Zafarwal. Khan was commissioned in GD (P) Branch of PAF in December 1983. During his illustrious career, he commanded a fighter squadron, a flying wing, two operational air bases PAF Base Shahbaz and PAF Base Mushaf and a regional air command.[5]

He is a graduate of Combat Commanders' School, Command and Staff College, Jordan and National Defence University, Islamabad.

Air Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan holds a master's degree in War Studies and Defence Management. He is also a recipient of Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Military) and Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military).

In his previous appointments, he has also served as Personal Staff Officer to Chief of the Air Staff, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operations), Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Operations), Director General C4I, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Support) and Director General Air Force Strategic Command at Air Headquarters, Islamabad. The Air Chief has flown various training and fighter aircraft including F-16, F-6, FT-5, T-37 and MFI-17 Mushhak. In recognition of his meritorious services, he has been awarded Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military), Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military), Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Military), Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military),[6] Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Civilian),[7][8] and Turkish Legion of Merit.[9][10][11]

In 2024, he was appointed as the global goodwill ambassador of Niaz Support, a social enterprise in Pakistan that provides customized wheelchairs for those with disabilities[12]

Operation Swift Retort

Under the command of Mujahid Anwar Khan in 2019 Pakistan Air Force participated in the 2019 India–Pakistan border skirmishes between 26-27 February 2019. On 27th February 2019 the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) conducted six airstrikes at multiple locations in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). The airstrikes were part of the PAF military operation codenamed Operation Swift Retort and were conducted in retaliation to the Indian Air Force (IAF) airstrike in Balakot just a day before on 26 February.

Following Pakistan's airstrikes, Indian Air Force (IAF) jets started pursuing Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jets. In the resulting dogfight, Pakistan claimed to have shot down two Indian jets and captured one Indian pilot, Abhinandan Varthaman. India claimed to have shot down one Pakistani F16 without giving substantive evidence to support its claim.

As a result of the fog of war created out of the dogfight between two airforces, Indian Airforce shot down its own Mil Mi-17 helicopter due to a friendly fire incident in which six IAF personnel were killed including two squadron leaders, namely, Siddarth Vashista and Ninad Mandavgane.[13][14][15]

Awards and decorations

PAF GD(P) Badge RED (More than 3000 Flying Hours)
Parachutist Badge
Nishan-e-Imtiaz

(Civilian)[7][8]

(Order of Excellence)

Nishan-e-Imtiaz

(Military)

(Order of Excellence)

Hilal-e-Imtiaz

(Military)

(Crescent of Excellence)

Sitara-e-Imtiaz

(Military)

(Star of Excellence)

Tamgha-e-Imtiaz

(Military)

(Medal of Excellence)

Tamgha-e-Baqa

(Nuclear Test Medal)

1998

Tamgha-e-Istaqlal Pakistan

(Escalation with India Medal)

2002

Tamgha-e-Azm

(Medal of Conviction)

(2018)

10 Years Service Medal 20 Years Service Medal
30 Years Service Medal 35 Years Service Medal 40 Years Service Medal Hijri Tamgha

(Hijri Medal)

1979

Jamhuriat Tamgha

(Democracy Medal)

1988

Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha

(Resolution Day

Golden Jubilee Medal)

1990

Tamgha-e-Salgirah Pakistan

(Independence Day

Golden Jubilee Medal)

1997

Turkish Legion of Merit[9][10][11]

2018

Foreign Decorations

Foreign Award
 Turkey Turkish Legion of Merit[9][10][11]

Effective dates of promotion

Insignia Rank Date
Air Chief Marshal Mar 19, 2018
Air Marshal Feb 29, 2016
Air Vice Marshal July 2, 2013
Air Commodore Sept. 1, 2009
Group Captain Mar 15, 2004
Wing Commander Aug 1, 1998
Squadron Leader Aug 9, 1990
Flight Lieutenant Mar 8, 1987
Flying Officer Mar 1, 1985
Pilot Officer Dec 5, 1983

References

  1. ^ "Sohail Aman takes over command as PAF chief". Pakistan Air Force.
  2. ^ "Air Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan designated as new Chief of Air Staff". Express Tribune. March 16, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  3. ^ Siddiqui, Naveed (March 16, 2018). "Air Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan designated new chief of air staff". Dawn. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  4. ^ "Air Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan takes over command of PAF". ARY News. March 19, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  5. ^ "Air Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan appointed new Chief of Air Staff | Pakistan Today".
  6. ^ "Air Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan to replace Sohail Aman as Air Chief". www.geo.tv. March 16, 2018.
  7. ^ a b "President confers Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Civil) on Air Chief". www.radio.gov.pk. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  8. ^ a b "President confers Nishan-e-Imtiaz on Air Chief". Dunya News. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  9. ^ a b c "PAF chief honoured with top Turkish military award". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  10. ^ a b c "Pakistan Air Force chief honoured with 'Turkish Legion Of Merit' award". www.geo.tv. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  11. ^ a b c "PAF air chief honoured with Turkish Legion of Merit award". 92 News HD. September 13, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  12. ^ Islamabad. "Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan becomes global goodwill ambassador for Niaz Support". IslamabadPost. IslamabadPost. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  13. ^ "IAF officer Squadron Leader Siddharth Vashisht cremated with full military honours". The Indian Express. March 2, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  14. ^ "Funeral Held For IAF Officer Who Died In Jammu And Kashmir Chopper Crash". NDTV.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  15. ^ "Last rites of IAF officer Siddharth Vashisht killed in J&K chopper crash held in Chandigarh". The Times of India. March 1, 2019. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved October 29, 2024.