Mujahid Anwar Khan

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]

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
President	Arif-ur-Rehman Alvi
Prime Minister	Imran Khan
Preceded by	ACM Sohail Aman
Succeeded by	ACM Zaheer Ahmad Babar
Personal details
Born	1962 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan[1] Pakistan
Military service
Allegiance	Pakistan
Branch/service	Pakistan Air Force
Years of service	1983– 2021
Rank	Air Chief Marshal
Commands	DCAS (Operations) DCAS (Support) ACAS (Operations) Director General Air Force Strategic Command Director General C4I
Battles/wars	Indo-Pakistani Conflicts 2001 India-Pakistan standoff 2008 Indo-Pakistan standoff India–Pakistan border skirmishes (2019) Operation Swift Retort War on Terror Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Awards	Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Civilian) Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military) Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Military) Turkish Legion of Merit

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