Mujahid Anwar Khan

• Indo-Pakistani Conflicts
  • 2001 India Pakistan standoff
  • 2008 India Pakistan standoff
  • India–Pakistan border skirmishes (2019)
    • Operation Swift Retort
• War on terror
  • Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan NI(M) HI(M) SI(M) TI(M)
مجاہد انور خان
15th Chief of Air Staff
In office 19 March 2018 –18 March 2021
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, Anwar took over command of the PAF from his predecessor Sohail Aman. ^[2]

Early life and education

Born in a Punjabi Rajput Sulehria family originally from Zafarwal. Khan was commissioned in GD (P) Branch of PAF in December 1983. ^[1] 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.

He is a graduate of Combat Commanders' School, Command and Staff College, Jordan and National Defence University, Islamabad. ^[1] 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.

Awards and recognition

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), Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Civilian), ^{[3] [4]} and the Order of Merit of the Republic of Turkey. ^[5]

In 2024, he was appointed as the global goodwill ambassador of Niaz Support, a social enterprise in Pakistan that provides customized wheelchairs. ^[6]

Operation Swift Retort (2019)

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 2019.

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 F-16 and provided electronic signatures in support of its claim. ^[7] ISPR Asif Ghafoor rejected Indian claim of shooting down an F-16 and mentioned about capturing 2 Indian pilots including Wing Cmdr Abhinandan Varthaman later he confirmed only Wing Cmdr Abhinandan in custody and no second pilot attributed the mistake as an fog of war. ThePrint made an detailed OSINT analysis and found that the F-16 was shot down in Subzkot area in the Nowshera sector of Pakistan administered Kashmir. According to Indian reports the F-16 pilot was Wing Cmdr Shahzaz Ud Din who was lynched by locals mistaking him as an Indian. ^[8] According to an Foreign Policy magazine report citing two American official present in Pakistan do an F-16 jet count found none of the F-16 missing. ^[9] However The Pentagon said they are not aware of any kind of F-16 jet count happened. ^[10] IAF claim of F-16 shot down remains inconclusive till date.

As a result of the fog of war created out of the dogfight between two air forces, Indian Air Force 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. ^{[11] [12] [13]}

Awards and decorations

PAF GD(P) Badge RED (More than 3000 Flying Hours)
Parachutist Badge
Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Civilian) (Order of Excellence)		Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) [3] [4] (Order of Excellence)
Hilal-i-Imtiaz [1] (Military) (Crescent of Excellence)	Sitara-i-Imtiaz [1] (Military) [1] (Star of Excellence)	Tamgha-i-Imtiaz [1] (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
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 [5] 2018

Foreign Decorations

Foreign Award
Turkey	Order of Merit of the Republic of Turkey [5]

Effective dates of promotion

Insignia	Rank	Date
	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

Notes

1. Urdu: مجاہد انور خان

References

1. Siddiqui, Naveed (16 March 2018). "Air Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan designated new chief of air staff". Dawn newspaper. Archived from the original on 16 March 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
2. "Air Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan designated as new Chief of Air Staff". The Express Tribune newspaper. 16 March 2018. Archived from the original on 16 April 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
3. "President confers Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Civil) on Air Chief". Radio Pakistan website. Archived from the original on 19 March 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
4. "President confers Nishan-e-Imtiaz on Air Chief". Dunya News. 14 February 2008. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
5. "PAF chief honoured with top Turkish military award". The News International newspaper. Archived from the original on 13 September 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
6. Islamabad (28 January 2024). "Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan becomes global goodwill ambassador for Niaz Support". Daily IslamabadPost newspaper. Archived from the original on 29 August 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
7. Peri, Dinakar (5 April 2019). "Electronic signatures confirm F-16 hit: IAF". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 27 January 2026.
8. Desk, India Today Web (3 March 2019). "Pakistan F-16 pilot, downed by Indian jet, lynched over mistaken identity: Reports". India Today. Retrieved 27 January 2026.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
9. Seligman, Lara (5 February 2026). "Did India Shoot Down a Pakistani Jet? U.S. Count Says No". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
10. "'Not aware': Pentagon on Pak F-16 count after Feb aerial dogfight with IAF". Hindustan Times. 6 April 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
11. "IAF officer Squadron Leader Siddharth Vashisht cremated with full military honours". The Indian Express. 2 March 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
12. "Funeral Held For IAF Officer Who Died In Jammu And Kashmir Chopper Crash". NDTV.com. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
13. "Last rites of IAF officer Siddharth Vashisht killed in J&K chopper crash held in Chandigarh". The Times of India. 1 March 2019. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 29 October 2024.