Mujahid Anwar Khan | |
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مجاہد انور خان | |
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15th Chief of Air Staff | |
In office 19 March 2018 –18 March 2021 | |
President | Arif-ur-Rehman Alvi |
Prime Minister | Imran Khan |
Preceded by | Sohail Aman |
Succeeded by | Zaheer Ahmad Babar |
Personal details | |
Born | 1962 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,Pakistan |
Military service | |
Branch/service | ![]() |
Years of service | 1983–2021 |
Rank | ![]() ![]() |
Commands | Pakistan Air Force Air Force Strategic Command |
Battles/wars | |
Awards | See list |
Mujahid Anwar Khan [a] is a retired four-star rank officer who served as the 15th Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) from 2018 to 2021. [1] [2] On 19 March 2018, ACM Anwar took over command of the PAF from his predecessor ACM Sohail Aman. [3]
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. [4]
He is a graduate of Combat Commanders' School, Command and Staff College, Jordan and National Defence University, Islamabad. Khan holds a master's degree in War Studies and Defence Management.
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-i-Imtiaz (Military), Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military), Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Military), Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military), [5] Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Civilian), [6] [7] and the Order of Merit of the Republic of Turkey. [8] [9] [10]
In 2024, he was appointed as the global goodwill ambassador of Niaz Support, a social enterprise in Pakistan that provides customized wheelchairs. [11]
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. [12] [13] [14]
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PAF GD(P) Badge RED (More than 3000 Flying Hours) | |||
Parachutist Badge | |||
Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Order of Excellence) | Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Order of Excellence) | ||
Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military) (Crescent of Excellence) | Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military) (Star of Excellence) | Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Military) (Medal of Excellence) | Tamgha-e-Baqa 1998 |
Tamgha-e-Istaqlal Pakistan 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 |
Tamgha-e-Jamhuriat (Democracy Medal) 1988 | Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha (Resolution Day Golden Jubilee Medal) 1990 | Tamgha-e-Salgirah Pakistan (Independence Day Golden Jubilee Medal) 1997 | Order of Merit of the Republic of Turkey [8] [9] [10] 2018 |
Foreign Award | ||
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![]() | Order of Merit of the Republic of Turkey [8] [9] [10] | ![]() |
Insignia | Rank | Date |
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![]() ![]() | Air Chief Marshal | 19 March 2018 |
![]() ![]() | Air Marshal | 29 February 2016 |
![]() ![]() | Air Vice Marshal | 2 July 2013 |
![]() ![]() | Air Commodore | 1 September 2009 |
![]() | Group Captain | 15 March 2004 |
![]() | Wing Commander | 1 August 1998 |
![]() | Squadron Leader | 9 August 1990 |
![]() | Flight Lieutenant | 8 March 1987 |
![]() | Flying Officer | 1 March 1985 |
![]() | Pilot Officer | 5 December 1983 |