FOOLS_NIGHTMARE
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After the outstanding performance in the 1965 war, PAF had become a role model of excellence and performance which every fledgling Airforce wanted to emulate. The demand for its professional help in training and developing them was unprecedented. Many Arab ,African and even the Chinese sought PAFs assistance in the development of their Airforce capabilities. A number of Pakistan Air Force personnel were deputed to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq and Syria, primarily to train,fly and provide technical assistance.
Although encompassing PAFs entire contributions in one thread is not possible i will try to highlight some of them.
ZIMBABWE
The Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) underwent a series of restructuring in the early 1980s,it sought Pakistani assistance to remain operational.Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe requested Pakistan to detach an officer to head the AFZ and serve as its commander. Subsequently, Air Vice-Marshal Azim Daudpota was appointed Commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe, serving in the position from July 1983 to January 1986. A large number of other PAF officers were deployed in Zimbabwe as well. PAF trained most of the Zimbabwean pilots in the initial days along with construction of Thornhill Air Base.
SAUDI ARABIA
The PAF has been in contact with the RSAF since the early 1960s. King Faisal turned to Pakistan's assistance for air force training and maintenance. In the 1960s, Pakistan helped the RSAF build and pilot its first jet fighters. Pakistan Air Force pilots flew RSAF Lightnings in 1969 to repel South Yemeni incursions on Saudi Arabia's southern border. Many Pakistanis continue to serve as combat pilots in the Royal Saudi Air Force.
United Arab Emirates
Defence relations between Pakistan and the UAE began shortly before the UAE's formation in 1971.PAF personnel held prominent positions as advisers and trainers in the UAEAF. The UAEAF is dubbed to have been "an extension of the Pakistan Air Force" at one point. The first Chief of Air Staff of the UAE, appointed by Sheikh Zayed, was Air Cdre Ayaz Ahmed Khan, followed by Ghulam Haider, Jamal A. Khan and Feroz A. Khan, all of whom were Pakistan Air Force (PAF) officers. In total, the first five Chiefs of Air Staff of the UAE Air Force were Pakistanis.The succeeding commanders were native officers, although group Captain ranked officers of the PAF continued serving as Deputy Chief of Air Staff. As of 2004, the UAEAF had around 55 Pakistani flying instructors.
Al Dhafra air base 1983 (Pilots Graduation Ceremony trained by Pakistan)
LIBYAN AIRFORCE
Libyan Mirage pilots were supervised by several PAF instructors,headed by Sqn Ldr Farooq Umar (later AVM),contracted for this purpose in 1971 and stationed at Ukba ibn Nafi AB.Even in the early 90s PAF pilots flew a number of classified missions for the Libyans.Below is AVM Farooq Umar describing his prowess viz a viz India.
https://just1.tv/videos/interview-air-vice-marshal-r-farooq-umar/
BANGLADESH AIRFORCE
The Pakistan Air Force prior to 1971 had many Bengali pilots, air traffic controllers, technicians and administrative officers, they provided the nascent Bangladesh Air Force with a good number of trained personnel. Defence co-operation with Pakistan was at its zenith under the military regimes of Zia ur Rahman and Hussain Mohammad Ershad. Strategic co-operation lead to gifting of several squadrons of refurbished Shenyang F-6 fighter aircraft from Pakistan to the Bangladesh Air Force in the late 1980s.
Saiful Azam remains the only fighter pilot who has flown for four air forces (Pakistan, Jordan, Iraq and Bangladesh) at war, along with the distinction of having kills against two different air forces (India and Israel). As of 2012, according to the Pakistan government, he holds the record for shooting down more Israeli aircraft than any other pilot.
PAFs help to other brotherly nations in their time of need has immortalised our professionals for times to come. It will be unfair if i did not mention the heroics of Air Commodore Sattar Alvi.
CONCLUSION
There were/are many unsung heroes of PAF who helped other nations build their airforces. Their missions and numbers may remain classified for some unforeseeable future. The pride these professionals bestowed upon us is a feat which no other non Western airforce has ever achieved. May Allah bless them for times to come.
Although encompassing PAFs entire contributions in one thread is not possible i will try to highlight some of them.
ZIMBABWE
The Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) underwent a series of restructuring in the early 1980s,it sought Pakistani assistance to remain operational.Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe requested Pakistan to detach an officer to head the AFZ and serve as its commander. Subsequently, Air Vice-Marshal Azim Daudpota was appointed Commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe, serving in the position from July 1983 to January 1986. A large number of other PAF officers were deployed in Zimbabwe as well. PAF trained most of the Zimbabwean pilots in the initial days along with construction of Thornhill Air Base.
SAUDI ARABIA
The PAF has been in contact with the RSAF since the early 1960s. King Faisal turned to Pakistan's assistance for air force training and maintenance. In the 1960s, Pakistan helped the RSAF build and pilot its first jet fighters. Pakistan Air Force pilots flew RSAF Lightnings in 1969 to repel South Yemeni incursions on Saudi Arabia's southern border. Many Pakistanis continue to serve as combat pilots in the Royal Saudi Air Force.
United Arab Emirates
Defence relations between Pakistan and the UAE began shortly before the UAE's formation in 1971.PAF personnel held prominent positions as advisers and trainers in the UAEAF. The UAEAF is dubbed to have been "an extension of the Pakistan Air Force" at one point. The first Chief of Air Staff of the UAE, appointed by Sheikh Zayed, was Air Cdre Ayaz Ahmed Khan, followed by Ghulam Haider, Jamal A. Khan and Feroz A. Khan, all of whom were Pakistan Air Force (PAF) officers. In total, the first five Chiefs of Air Staff of the UAE Air Force were Pakistanis.The succeeding commanders were native officers, although group Captain ranked officers of the PAF continued serving as Deputy Chief of Air Staff. As of 2004, the UAEAF had around 55 Pakistani flying instructors.
Al Dhafra air base 1983 (Pilots Graduation Ceremony trained by Pakistan)
LIBYAN AIRFORCE
Libyan Mirage pilots were supervised by several PAF instructors,headed by Sqn Ldr Farooq Umar (later AVM),contracted for this purpose in 1971 and stationed at Ukba ibn Nafi AB.Even in the early 90s PAF pilots flew a number of classified missions for the Libyans.Below is AVM Farooq Umar describing his prowess viz a viz India.
https://just1.tv/videos/interview-air-vice-marshal-r-farooq-umar/
BANGLADESH AIRFORCE
The Pakistan Air Force prior to 1971 had many Bengali pilots, air traffic controllers, technicians and administrative officers, they provided the nascent Bangladesh Air Force with a good number of trained personnel. Defence co-operation with Pakistan was at its zenith under the military regimes of Zia ur Rahman and Hussain Mohammad Ershad. Strategic co-operation lead to gifting of several squadrons of refurbished Shenyang F-6 fighter aircraft from Pakistan to the Bangladesh Air Force in the late 1980s.
Saiful Azam remains the only fighter pilot who has flown for four air forces (Pakistan, Jordan, Iraq and Bangladesh) at war, along with the distinction of having kills against two different air forces (India and Israel). As of 2012, according to the Pakistan government, he holds the record for shooting down more Israeli aircraft than any other pilot.
PAFs help to other brotherly nations in their time of need has immortalised our professionals for times to come. It will be unfair if i did not mention the heroics of Air Commodore Sattar Alvi.
CONCLUSION
There were/are many unsung heroes of PAF who helped other nations build their airforces. Their missions and numbers may remain classified for some unforeseeable future. The pride these professionals bestowed upon us is a feat which no other non Western airforce has ever achieved. May Allah bless them for times to come.
