Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman has expressed profound grief on the demise of legendary Air Marshal Asghar Khan, the first Pakistani commander-in-chief of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).

Paying rich tribute to the selfless services of iconic Asghar Khan, the air chief said that he was a beacon of inspiration for the Pakistan Air Force. He said that PAF was very lucky to have a person like Air Marshal Asghar Khan as its founding father who was a man of sterling character, great humility, outstanding professionalism and unflinching determination.

“He made devoted efforts in transforming a nascent air force into a formidable force as envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, said the air chief, adding that the PAF profusely owed him for the countless contributions he made. He added that owing to his great achievements, Air Marshal Asghar Khan would be remembered as the ‘Father of Pakistan Air Force’ for the times to come.

Air Marshal Asghar Khan was born on January 17, 1921, at Jammu Kashmir, in a family with distinctive military traditions. After completing his education from Aitcheson College in Lahore, he joined Royal Indian Air Force in December, 1940. He participated in the 2nd World War as a young fighter pilot.

After creation of Pakistan in 1947, he was transferred to the Royal Pakistan Air Force and became the first commandant of RPAF College, Risalpur.

He also actively participated in the Kashmir war between India and Pakistan which broke out immediately after the independence. He had the honour of receiving the 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. As the commander-in-chief, Asghar Khan transformed the PAF into a modern air force with the induction of new jet fighters, bombers, trainers, transport aircraft and helicopters. During his command, PAF inducted a wide spectrum of aircraft, which included state-of-the-art F-86 Sabres, T-33 Jet trainers, T-37 Tweety Birds, B-57 bombers, formidable F-104 Star Fighters, and ubiquitous C-130 Hercules aircraft. He also introduced fighter training programs and combat courses to train fighter pilots in modern air warfare.

In recognition of his selfless services to the nation, PAF Academy, Risalpur was named after Air Marshal Asghar Khan in 2017.

Published in Daily Times, January 6^th 2018.