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Khyber Khan

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Air Vice Marshal
M. Khyber Khan
SQA
ایم خیبر خان
Deputy Chief of the Air Staff
Pakistan Air Force
In office
1 February 1969 – 19 March 1970
7th Commandant PAF Academy
In office
January 1958 – December 1959
Commander PAF Station Peshawar
In office
August 1950 – April 1951
Commander No. 14 Squadron PAF
In office
October 1948 – November 1949
Personal details
Born
Mohammad Khyber Khan

(1924-03-15)15 March 1924
Pabbi, North-West Frontier Province, British India
Died27 July 2007(2007-07-27) (aged 83)
Pakistan
EducationGovernment Gordon College
RAF Central Flying School
Air Command and Staff College
Joint Services Staff College (UK)
Imperial Defence College
Military service
Branch/service Royal Indian Air Force (1942–47)
 Pakistan Air Force (1947–72)
Years of service1942–72
Rank Air Vice Marshal
CommandsDCAS (PAF)
PAF Academy
PAF Station Peshawar
No. 14 Squadron PAF
Battles/wars
AwardsSitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam

Air Vice Marshal Mohammad Khyber Khan (Urdu: محمد خیبر خان; 15 March 1924 — 7 July 2007) was a two-star rank pioneer officer of the Pakistan Air Force, fighter pilot, aerobatic pilot and diplomat.[1]

Asghar Khan and Khyber Khan were considered among the likely successors to President Yahya Khan during the collapse of his regime. Khyber was described as "a young, energetic, and popular air force officer in his early forties - who happens to look very much like a younger Ayub Khan."[2]

Early life

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Mohammad Khyber Khan was born into a Pashtun family on 15 March 1924 in Pabbi, near Peshawar. He received his early education from Government Gordon College.[3]

Royal Indian Air Force career

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Plt Off Khyber Khan, c. 1942

Khyber Khan was commissioned into the RIAF on 21 December 1942 from the 15th course.[4][circular reference] He served with No. 22 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RIAF and 151 OTU from 15 June 1943 to 4 July 1944. Afterwards, he was a squadron pilot with No. 9 Squadron from 19 November 1944 to 30 August 1945.

While attempting to land his Harvard IIB at Cox's Bazar on 4 April 1945, it swung badly due to heavy crosswind, causing the undercarriage to collapse.[5]

From 1 August 1945 to 18 January 1946, he was with No. 4 Squadron in Yelahanka and was attached as a squadron pilot to No. 2 Squadron. Before the Partition of British India, Flight Lieutenant Khyber was attached to the Advanced Flying School (India) in Ambala.[citation needed]

Pakistan Air Force career

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After the partition, he was posted as Chief Flying Instructor PAF Conversion School.

Flt Lt. Khyber was among several officers flying liaison missions in T-6 Harvards in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-1948. He delivered a dispatch from Kashmir regarding the successful Siege of Skardu carried out by the Pakistan Army.[6]

On 15 September 1947, the first flying training school was raised in Pakistan and the first training aircraft was airborne at 1005 hours on 22nd September. It was flown by Flt Lt. Khyber Khan and his student Flight Cadet Akhtar.[7]

Wing Commander Khyber Khan was selected to attend the Air Command and Staff College in the USA on 25 April 1951. During his time there, he presented the Commander of the College, General George Kenney, with a pictorial representation of both the USAF and RPAF shields, along with the emblem of the Royal Pakistan Air Force, in a ceremony. It was noted that Khan made these presentations as tokens of appreciation for the opportunity to attend the school and for the hospitality and friendship he received during his tour. He was one of 26 officers from 22 allied nations attending the school.[3][8]

Khyber Khan was promoted to Air Commodore and appointed as Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Operations) on 26 December 1960.[4]

Diplomatic career

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Air Vice Marshal Khyber Khan was appointed as Pakistan's High Commissioner to Kenya and presented his credentials to President Kenyatta on 7 April 1970 with a salary of 2200 rupees.[9][10]

On 3 March 1972, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto announced the retirement of 43 senior Pakistan Armed Forces personnel including Air Vice Marshal Khyber Khan.[11]

He was appointed as Pakistan's Ambassador to Mauritania in 1975 and accredited to Mali, The Gambia and Senegal.[12][13] He signed a trade agreement on 13 March 1975, with Ahmed Ould Die, Secretary General of the Ministry of Commerce of Mauritania, on behalf of their governments.[14]

In 1978, Khyber made a publication in the Pakistan Bar Council Journal.[15]

He relinquished his position as Ambassador of Mauritania on the afternoon of 16 May 1979 and began a 33-day fully paid leave to Pakistan starting on 17 May.[16]

Death

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Khyber Khan died on 27 July 2007 in Pakistan.[citation needed]

Effective dates of promotion

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Insignia Rank Date
Air Vice Marshal July 1968
Air Commodore 26 December 1960
Group Captain 2 January 1958
Wing Commander 1951
Squadron Leader October 1948
Flight Lieutenant August 1947
Flying Officer 21 December 1943
Pilot Officer 21 June 1943

References

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  1. ^ Statistical Pocket-book of Pakistan. 1979.
  2. ^ Reports Service: South Asia Series. Vol. 12–13. American Universities Field Staff. 1968.
  3. ^ a b "R.P.A.F. officer for training in U.S.A." 27 April 1951.
  4. ^ a b "Promoted Air Commodore". 27 December 1960.
  5. ^ "Harvard IIB FE666". 4 April 1945.
  6. ^ They Polished the Royal Pakistan Air Force. 2016. p. 34.
  7. ^ History of the Pakistan Air Force, 1947-1982.
  8. ^ ROYAL PAKISTAN AIR SHIELD. Army Navy Air Force Register. 21 July 1951. p. 20.
  9. ^ Africa Research Bulletin. 1970.
  10. ^ National Assembly of Pakistan (PDF). 1973. p. 33.
  11. ^ Rizvi, Hasan Askari (2000). Military, State, and Society in Pakistan. p. 144.
  12. ^ "The Europa Year Book 1978: A World Survey Vol. II".
  13. ^ Starred Questions and Answers (PDF). 8 June 1976.
  14. ^ Foreign Affairs Pakistan. Vol. 2. 1975.
  15. ^ Pakistan Bar Council Journal. Vol. 1. 1978.
  16. ^ The Gazette of Pakistan. 1979.
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