ISLAMABAD: The country’s first Muslim and the youngest commander of the Pakistan Air Force Air Marshal (r) Asghar Khan breathed his last Friday morning after a protracted illness. He was 97.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi announced a state funeral for the late air chief in recognition of his patriotic services and great contribution in building the Pakistan Air Force into one of the best air forces in the world, a PM Office statement said.
President Mamnoon Hussain lauded the former air chief as an upright and brave man whose contributions for national defence and Pakistan Air Force (PAF) would be remembered for long. Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa described him as an iconic soldier who will be remembered for his historic contributions for laying foundations of a strong Pakistan Air Force.
Air Marshal Sohail Khan in his condolence message said, “Air Marshal Asghar Khan headed the PAF diligently and with courage. With his leadership capabilities, he played a vital role in transforming the PAF into a modern air force.”
The Pakistan Air Force as a mark of recognition had re-named the PAF Academy Risalpur in the name of its first Muslim commander in March 2017. Air Marshal (r) Asghar Khan was born in Jammu and Kashmir in 1921 in a family with distinctive military traditions. After completing his education at Aitcheson College, Lahore, he joined Royal Indian Air Force in December 1940. He was a World War II veteran fighter pilot and served in Burma.
He served as the first commandant of Royal Pakistan Air Force College, Risalpur after 1947. He also actively participated in the Kashmir war between India and Pakistan which broke out immediately after the independence.
Asghar Khan also had the honour of receiving Father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah on his maiden visit to Royal Pakistan Air Force Training School, Risalpur. in April 1948. At the age of 36, he became the youngest ever Pakistani commander-in-chief of PAF in July 1957. He also served as the president of Pakistan International Airlines and founded Tehreek-i-Istaqlal in 1970 that merged with the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) in 2012.
Published in Daily Times, January 6th 2018.
