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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Short description|Chief of Air Staff of Pakistan from 1994 to 1997}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=October 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix   = [[Air Chief Marshal]]
| honorific_prefix   = [[Air Chief Marshal]]
| name                = Abbas Khattak
| name                = Abbas Khattak
| native_name        = {{nq|عباس خٹک}}
| native_name        = {{nq|عباس خٹک}}
| native_name_lang    =  
| native_name_lang    =  
| honorific-suffix   = {{small|[[Nishan-e-Imtiaz|NI(M)]]  [[Hilal-e-Imtiaz|HI(M)]]  [[Sitara-e-Imtiaz|SI(M)]]  [[Sitara-e-Basalat|SBt]]}}
| honorific_suffix   = {{small|[[Nishan-e-Imtiaz|NI(M)]]  [[Hilal-e-Imtiaz|HI(M)]]  [[Sitara-e-Imtiaz|SI(M)]]  [[Sitara-e-Basalat|SBt]]}}
| image              =  
| image              =  
| caption            =  
| caption            =  
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| branch              = {{air force|PAK}}
| branch              = {{air force|PAK}}
| serviceyears        = 1960 – 1997
| serviceyears        = 1960 – 1997
| rank                = [[File:ACM.png|10px]][[File:US-O10 insignia.svg|30px]][[Air chief marshal|Air Chief Marshal]]
| rank                = [[File:ACM.png|10px]] [[Air chief marshal|Air Chief Marshal]]
| unit                = [[List of Pakistan Air Force aircraft squadrons|No. 19 squadron ']]<ref name="ISPR (Air Force Division)" /><br />{{small|([[Service number|S/No.]] '''[[Pakistan Air Force|PAK/]]4385{{rp|430}}'''<ref name="The Gazette of Pakistan">{{cite book|title=The Gazette of Pakistan|date=1980|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=98pPAQAAMAAJ&q=Abbas+Khattak+|access-date=6 January 2018|language=en|author1=Pakistan }}</ref>)}}
| unit                = [[List of Pakistan Air Force squadrons#Training Squadrons|No. 19 Squadron]]<ref name="ISPR (Air Force Division)" /><br />{{small|([[Service number|S/No.]] '''[[Pakistan Air Force|PAK/]]4385{{rp|430}}'''<ref name="The Gazette of Pakistan">{{cite book|title=The Gazette of Pakistan|date=1980|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=98pPAQAAMAAJ&q=Abbas+Khattak+|access-date=6 January 2018|language=en|author1=Pakistan }}</ref>)}}
| commands            = [[Deputy Chief of Air Staff|DCAS (Operations)]]<br />[[Deputy Chief of the Air Staff|DCAS (Training)]]<br />[[Air officer commanding|AOC]] [[PAF Base Masroor|Southern Air Command]]
| commands            = {{unbulleted list|[[Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Pakistan)|DCAS (Operations)]]|[[Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Pakistan)|DCAS (Training)]]|[[Air officer commanding|AOC]] [[PAF Base Masroor|Southern Air Command]]}}
| battles            = [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]<br />[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
| battles            = {{unbulleted list|[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]|[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]}}
| battles_label      =  
| battles_label      =  
| mawards            = [[File:Nishan-e-Imtiaz.png|40px]] {{small|[[Nishan-i-Imtiaz|Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military)]]}}<br />[[File:Hilal-e-Imtiaz.png|40px]] {{small|[[Hilal-i-Imtiaz|Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military)]]}}<br />[[File:Sitara-e-Imtiaz.png|40px]] {{small|[[Sitara-i-Imtiaz|Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military)]]}}<br />[[File:Sitara-e-Basalat.png|40px]] {{small|[[Sitara-i-Basalat|Sitara-e-Basalat]]}}<br />[[File:Order of Military Merit (Jordan) - Knight.png|40px]] {{small|[[Order of Military Merit (Jordan)|Order of Military Merit]]}}
| mawards            = {{unbulleted list|[[File:Nishan-e-Imtiaz.png|40px]] [[Nishan-i-Imtiaz|Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military)]]|[[File:Hilal-e-Imtiaz.png|40px]] [[Hilal-i-Imtiaz|Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military)]]|[[File:Sitara-e-Imtiaz.png|40px]] [[Sitara-i-Imtiaz|Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military)]]|[[File:Sitara-e-Basalat.png|40px]] [[Sitara-i-Basalat|Sitara-e-Basalat]]|[[File:Order of Military Merit (Jordan) - Knight.png|40px]] [[Order of Military Merit (Jordan)]]}}
| relations          =  
| relations          =  
| laterwork          =  
| laterwork          =  
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}}
}}


[[Air chief marshal (Pakistan)|Air Chief Marshal]] '''Mohammad Abbas Khattak''' {{small|{{small|[[Nishan-e-Imtiaz|NI(M)]] [[Hilal-e-Imtiaz|HI(M)]] [[Sitara-e-Imtiaz|SI(M)]] [[Sitara-e-Basalat|SBt]]}}}} ({{lang-ur|{{nq|عباس خٹک}}}} ; born: 16 July 1943) is a [[Four-star rank|four-star]] rank [[Air force officer|air force]] [[Four star General|general]] in the [[Pakistan Air Force]] who tenured as the [[Chief of Air Staff (Pakistan)|Chief of Air Staff]] (CAS) from 8 November 1994 until 7 November 1997.<ref>''The Story of the Pakistan Air Force 1988-1998: A Battle Against Odds'' (Oxford University Press, 2000)</ref><ref>{{Cite book
'''Mohammad Abbas Khattak''' {{small|{{small|[[Nishan-e-Imtiaz|NI(M)]] [[Hilal-e-Imtiaz|HI(M)]] [[Sitara-e-Imtiaz|SI(M)]] [[Sitara-e-Basalat|SBt]]}}}} ({{langx|ur|{{nq|عباس خٹک}}}} ; born: 16 July 1943) is a [[Four-star rank|four-star]] rank [[air force officer]] in the [[Pakistan Air Force]] who served as the [[Chief of Air Staff (Pakistan)|Chief of Air Staff]] (CAS) from 8 November 1994 until his retirement on 7 November 1997.<ref>''The Story of the Pakistan Air Force 1988-1998: A Battle Against Odds'' (Oxford University Press, 2000)</ref><ref>{{Cite book
   | last =Cheema
   | last =Cheema
   | first =Pervaiz Iqbal
   | first =Pervaiz Iqbal
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Abbas Khattak was born in [[Peshawar]], [[North-West Frontier Province (1901–2010)|NWFP]]  on 16 July 1943.{{rp|355}}<ref name="Shaheen Foundation, 2000">{{cite book|last1=Shaikh|first1=A. Rashid|title=The Story of the Pakistan Air Force, 1988-1998: A Battle Against Odds|date=2000|publisher=Shaheen Foundation|location=Karachi, Sindh, Pk.|isbn=9789698553005|pages=414|edition=1st|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FbLfAAAAMAAJ&q=1943|access-date=5 January 2018|language=en-pk|format=google books}}</ref> He was educated at the [[Cadet College Hasan Abdal]], and joined the [[Pakistan Air Force]] in 1960, from which he was directed to attend the famed [[Pakistan Air Force Academy]] in [[Risalpur]].{{rp|355}}<ref name="Shaheen Foundation, 2000"/> He [[Passing out (military)|passed out]] with the class of 35th [[General duty clause|GD]]([[Aircraft pilot|P]]), and gained [[Commissioned officer|commission]] on 20 January 1963 in [[List of Pakistan Air Force aircraft squadrons|No. 19 Squadron ''Sherdils'']].<ref name="ISPR (Air Force Division)">{{cite web|title=Feats of Courage|url=http://www.paf.gov.pk/courage.html|website=www.paf.gov.pk|publisher=ISPR (Air Force Division)|access-date=6 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019061646/http://www.paf.gov.pk/courage.html|archive-date=19 October 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{rp|355}}<ref name="Shaheen Foundation, 2000"/>
Abbas Khattak was born in [[Peshawar]], [[North-West Frontier Province (1901–2010)|NWFP]]  on 16 July 1943.{{rp|355}}<ref name="Shaheen Foundation, 2000">{{cite book|last1=Shaikh|first1=A. Rashid|title=The Story of the Pakistan Air Force, 1988-1998: A Battle Against Odds|date=2000|publisher=Shaheen Foundation|location=Karachi, Sindh, Pk.|isbn=9789698553005|pages=414|edition=1st|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FbLfAAAAMAAJ&q=1943|access-date=5 January 2018|language=en-pk|format=google books}}</ref> He was educated at the [[Cadet College Hasan Abdal]], and joined the [[Pakistan Air Force]] in 1960, from which he was directed to attend the famed [[Pakistan Air Force Academy]] in [[Risalpur]].{{rp|355}}<ref name="Shaheen Foundation, 2000"/> He [[Passing out (military)|passed out]] with the class of 35th [[General duty clause|GD]]([[Aircraft pilot|P]]), and gained [[Commissioned officer|commission]] on 20 January 1963 in [[List of Pakistan Air Force aircraft squadrons|No. 19 Squadron ''Sherdils'']].<ref name="ISPR (Air Force Division)">{{cite web|title=Feats of Courage|url=http://www.paf.gov.pk/courage.html|website=www.paf.gov.pk|publisher=ISPR (Air Force Division)|access-date=6 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019061646/http://www.paf.gov.pk/courage.html|archive-date=19 October 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{rp|355}}<ref name="Shaheen Foundation, 2000"/>


[[Pilot officer|P/Off.]]  Khattak was trained to fly the [[F-86 Sabre]] and took participation in the [[Indo-Pakistani Air War of 1965|various combat missions]] during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965|second war]] with [[India]] in 1965.<ref name="ISPR (Air Force Division)"/> During this time, [[Flying officer|F/Off.]] was among the eight fighter pilots who were selected to take part in famous aerial raid on [[Pathankot Air Force Station]] in India, a [[Squadron (aviation)|squadron]] commanded by then-[[Squadron Leader|Squadron-Leader]] Sajjad Haider.{{rp|488–489}}<ref name="Partridge Publishing">{{cite book|last1=Bhattacharya|first1=Brigadier Samir|title=NOTHING BUT!|date=2013|publisher=Partridge Publishing|isbn=9781482816266|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iLxnAgAAQBAJ&q=Abbas%20Khattak&pg=PA487|access-date=6 January 2018|language=en-ind|format=googlebooks}}</ref>{{rp|122}}<ref name="Manohar">{{cite book|last1=Mohan|first1=P. V. S. Jagan|last2=Chopra|first2=Samir|title=The India-Pakistan Air War of 1965|date=2005|publisher=Manohar|isbn=9788173046414|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FAhuAAAAMAAJ&q=Abbas+Khattak+sq+ldr|access-date=6 January 2018|language=en}}</ref> In 1970–71, [[Squadron Leader|Sq-Ldr.]] Khattak was posted with the [[Pakistan Armed Forces Eastern Command|Eastern Command]] in [[East Pakistan|East-Pakistan]], leading several mission against the [[Indian Air Force]] but was reposted in [[Sargodha Airbase|Sargodha Air Force Base]] before his country's [[Instrument of Surrender (1971)|surrender]] in [[Bangladesh Liberation War|Eastern Front]] of the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|third war]] with [[India]] in 1971.{{rp|69}}<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hussaini|first1=Syed Masood Akhtar|last2=Affairs|first2=Pakistan Air Force Directorate of Media|title=Pakistan Air Force over the years|date=2002|publisher=Directorate of Media Affairs, Pakistan Air Force|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NnMSAQAAMAAJ&q=Abbas+Khattak+|access-date=6 January 2018|language=en}}</ref>
[[Pilot officer|P/Off.]]  Khattak was trained to fly the [[F-86 Sabre]] and took participation in the [[Indo-Pakistani Air War of 1965|various combat missions]] during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965|second war]] with [[India]] in 1965.<ref name="ISPR (Air Force Division)"/> During this time, [[Flying officer|F/Off.]] was among the eight fighter pilots who were selected to take part in famous aerial raid on [[Pathankot Air Force Station]] in India, a [[Squadron (aviation)|squadron]] commanded by then-[[Squadron Leader]] [[Sajad Haider]].{{rp|488–489}}<ref name="Partridge Publishing">{{cite book|last1=Bhattacharya|first1=Brigadier Samir|title=NOTHING BUT!|date=2013|publisher=Partridge Publishing|isbn=9781482816266|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iLxnAgAAQBAJ&q=Abbas%20Khattak&pg=PA487|access-date=6 January 2018|language=en-ind|format=googlebooks}}</ref>{{rp|122}}<ref name="Manohar">{{cite book|last1=Mohan|first1=P. V. S. Jagan|last2=Chopra|first2=Samir|title=The India-Pakistan Air War of 1965|date=2005|publisher=Manohar|isbn=9788173046414|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FAhuAAAAMAAJ&q=Abbas+Khattak+sq+ldr|access-date=6 January 2018|language=en}}</ref> In 1970–71, [[Squadron Leader|Sq-Ldr.]] Khattak was posted with the [[Pakistan Armed Forces Eastern Command|Eastern Command]] in [[East Pakistan|East-Pakistan]], leading several mission against the [[Indian Air Force]] but was reposted in [[Sargodha Airbase|Sargodha Air Force Base]] before his country's [[Instrument of Surrender (1971)|surrender]] in [[Bangladesh Liberation War|Eastern Front]] of the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|third war]] with [[India]] in 1971.{{rp|69}}<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hussaini|first1=Syed Masood Akhtar|last2=Affairs|first2=Pakistan Air Force Directorate of Media|title=Pakistan Air Force over the years|date=2002|publisher=Directorate of Media Affairs, Pakistan Air Force|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NnMSAQAAMAAJ&q=Abbas+Khattak+|access-date=6 January 2018|language=en}}</ref>


After the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|war]], [[Wing Commander (rank)|Wg-Cdr.]] Khattak was directed to attend the war course at the [[National Defence University, Pakistan|National Defence University]] in [[Islamabad]].<ref name="Dateline Islamabad">{{Cite news
After the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|war]], [[Wing Commander (rank)|Wg-Cdr.]] Khattak was directed to attend the war course at the [[National Defence University, Pakistan|National Defence University]] in [[Islamabad]].<ref name="Dateline Islamabad">{{Cite news
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   | date =22 November 2008
   | date =22 November 2008
   | url = http://www.dawn.com/news/881550/islamabad-dateline-top-gun-vs-double-agents
   | url = http://www.dawn.com/news/881550/islamabad-dateline-top-gun-vs-double-agents
   | access-date =18 September 2022}}</ref>
   | access-date =18 September 2016}}</ref>


In 1988, [[Air Commodore|Air-Commodore]] Khattak was appointed as an [[Air officer commanding|AOC]] of the [[PAF Base Faisal|Southern Air Command]], serving until 1990.{{rp|48}}<ref>{{cite journal|title=Shaheen: Journal of the Pakistan Air Force|date=1988|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uV8owzvrKrkC&q=Air+Cdre+Khattak|access-date=6 January 2018|publisher=Air Headquarters.|language=en}}</ref> In 1991, [[Air vice-marshal|AVM]] Khattak was eventually posted at the [[Air Headquarters (Pakistan Air Force)|Air AHQ]] in [[Islamabad]] as an [[Deputy Chief of the Air Staff|DCAS (Training)]], where he played a pioneering role in aviation and flight safety programs.{{rp|327}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Jane's Defence Weekly|date=July 1991 |publisher=Jane's Publishing Company|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h6xDAQAAIAAJ&q=Khattak|access-date=6 January 2018|language=en}}</ref> In 1994, [[Air Marshal|Air-Marshal]] Khattak was promoted to [[Deputy Chief of the Air Staff|DCAS (Operations)]] at the [[Air Headquarters (Pakistan Air Force)|Air AHQ]] in [[Islamabad]].{{rp|206}}<ref name="Springer">{{cite book|last1=Siddiqa-Agha|first1=A.|title=Pakistan's Arms Procurement and Military Buildup, 1979-99: In Search of a Policy|date=2001|publisher=Springer|isbn=9780230513525|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=beJ8DAAAQBAJ&q=Abbas%20Khattak%20DCAS%20(Ops)&pg=PA206|access-date=6 January 2018|language=en}}</ref>
In 1988, [[Air Commodore|Air-Commodore]] Khattak was appointed as [[Air officer commanding|AOC]] of the [[PAF Base Faisal|Southern Air Command]], serving until 1990.{{rp|48}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Shaheen: Journal of the Pakistan Air Force|date=1988|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uV8owzvrKrkC&q=Air+Cdre+Khattak|access-date=6 January 2018|publisher=Air Headquarters|language=en}}</ref> In 1991, [[Air vice-marshal|AVM]] Khattak was posted to the [[Air Headquarters (Pakistan)|Air Headquarters]] (AHQ) in Islamabad as [[Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Pakistan)|DCAS (Training)]], where he played a pioneering role in aviation and flight safety programs.{{rp|327}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Jane's Defence Weekly|date=July 1991 |publisher=Jane's Publishing Company|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h6xDAQAAIAAJ&q=Khattak|access-date=6 January 2018|language=en}}</ref> In 1994, [[Air Marshal|Air-Marshal]] Khattak was promoted to [[Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Pakistan)|DCAS (Operations)]] at AHQ.{{rp|206}}<ref name="Springer">{{cite book|last1=Siddiqa-Agha|first1=A.|title=Pakistan's Arms Procurement and Military Buildup, 1979-99: In Search of a Policy|date=2001|publisher=Springer|isbn=9780230513525|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=beJ8DAAAQBAJ&q=Abbas%20Khattak%20DCAS%20(Ops)&pg=PA206|access-date=6 January 2018|language=en}}</ref>


== Chief of Air Staff ==
== Chief of Air Staff ==


On 8 November 1994, [[Prime Minister of Pakistan|Prime Minister]] [[Benazir Bhutto]] approved the promotion papers of [[Air Marshal|Air-Mshl.]] Khattak to be promoted to the [[Four-star rank|four-star]] rank, [[Air Chief Marshal]]. This promotion was controversial since Air Mshl. Khattak superseded two senior [[air officer]]s: [[Air Marshal|Air-Mshl.]] Shafique Haider (the [[Vice Chief of the Air Staff (Pakistan)|VCAS]]), and Air Mshl. [[Dilawar Hussain|Dlavar Hussain]] ([[Chairman]] [[Pakistan Aeronautical Complex|PAC]]).{{rp|49–50}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Globe|date=1994|publisher=Afzal Mahmood|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xzhnAAAAMAAJ&q=Director+general|access-date=6 January 2018|language=en}}</ref> The reason this appointment was highly controversial is because the departing Chief of Air Staff Farooq Feroze Khan struck a deal behind closed doors with Benazir and Zardari to appoint him as the Joint Chief of Staff and in exchange he will allow Zardari to promote Khattak as the Chief of Air Staff. Khattak and Zardari have been accused of receiving millions of dollars in kickback from a Mirage deal.<ref>former Air Force employee</ref>
On 8 November 1994, [[Prime Minister of Pakistan|Prime Minister]] [[Benazir Bhutto]] approved the promotion papers of Air-Mshl. Khattak to be promoted to the [[Four-star rank|four-star]] rank, [[Air Chief Marshal]]. This promotion was controversial since Air-Mshl. Khattak superseded two senior [[air officer]]s: Air-Mshl. Shafique Haider (the [[Vice Chief of Air Staff (Pakistan)|Vice Chief of the Air Staff]]), and Air-Mshl. [[Dilawar Hussain (air marshal)|Dilawar Hussain]] ([[Chairman]] [[Pakistan Aeronautical Complex|PAC]]).{{rp|49–50}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Globe|date=1994|publisher=Afzal Mahmood|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xzhnAAAAMAAJ&q=Director+general|access-date=6 January 2018|language=en}}</ref> The reason this appointment was highly controversial is because the departing Chief of Air Staff Farooq Feroze Khan struck a deal behind closed doors with Benazir and Zardari to appoint him as the Joint Chief of Staff and in exchange he would allow Zardari to promote Khattak as the Chief of Air Staff. Khattak and Zardari have been accused of receiving millions of dollars in kickback from a Mirage deal.<ref>former Air Force employee</ref>


During his tenureship as an [[Chief of Air Staff (Pakistan)|air chief]], [[Air Chief Marshal|ACM]] Khattak made attempts to acquire the [[Mirage 2000|Mirage-2000]] from [[Qatar]] but vetoed the acquisition of [[Mikoyan MiG-29|MiG-29F]] and the [[Sukhoi Su-27|Su-27]] aircraft from the [[Eastern Europe]], despite the strong backing of the then- [[Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee|Chairman joint chiefs]], [[Air Chief Marshal|ACM]] [[Farooq Feroze Khan|Feroze Khan]], due to their poor war performances.{{rp|58–60}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Air Force Chief says that F-16s "Not Indispensable"|date=1994|publisher=Daily Report: Near East & South Asia, The Service|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=92dPTgGKdosC&q=Farooq+Feroze+Khan+mig+29|access-date=5 January 2018|language=en}}</ref> During his tenure, Pakistan worked with [[China]]  to develop the [[Hongdu JL-8|K-8 Karakorum]].<ref>[http://www.pacom.mil/forum/SPRING_97/Chiefcon_r.html Asia Pacific Defense Forum Spring 1998] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070828103454/http://www.pacom.mil/forum/SPRING_97/Chiefcon_r.html |date=28 August 2007 }}</ref> After his retirement he was succeeded by Air Chief Marshal [[Parvaiz Mehdi Qureshi|PQ Mehdi]].
During his tenureship as [[Chief of Air Staff (Pakistan)|air chief]], ACM Khattak made attempts to acquire the [[Mirage 2000|Mirage-2000]] from [[Qatar]] but vetoed the acquisition of [[Mikoyan MiG-29|MiG-29F]] and the [[Sukhoi Su-27|Su-27]] aircraft from the [[Eastern Europe]], despite the strong backing of the then-[[Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee|Chairman joint chiefs]], ACM [[Farooq Feroze Khan|Feroze Khan]], due to their poor war performances.{{rp|58–60}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Air Force Chief says that F-16s "Not Indispensable"|date=1994|publisher=Daily Report: Near East & South Asia, The Service|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=92dPTgGKdosC&q=Farooq+Feroze+Khan+mig+29|access-date=5 January 2018|language=en}}</ref> During his tenure, Pakistan worked with [[China]]  to develop the [[Hongdu JL-8|K-8 Karakorum]].<ref>[http://www.pacom.mil/forum/SPRING_97/Chiefcon_r.html Asia Pacific Defense Forum Spring 1998] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070828103454/http://www.pacom.mil/forum/SPRING_97/Chiefcon_r.html |date=28 August 2007 }}</ref> After his retirement he was succeeded by Air Chief Marshal [[Parvaiz Mehdi Qureshi|PQ Mehdi]].


He is married and has two sons.<ref name="Dateline Islamabad" />
He is married and has two sons.<ref name="Dateline Islamabad" />


== Awards and Decorations ==
== Awards and decorations ==
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
| colspan="4" |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=PAF GDP Red.png|width=250}}
| colspan="4" |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=PAF GDP Red.png|width=250}}
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==See also==
==See also==
 
{{Portal|Biography}}
*[[History of the Pakistan Air Force]]
*[[History of the Pakistan Air Force]]


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== External links ==
== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090225095224/http://paffalcons.com/cas/index.php PAF s' Chief of Air Staffs]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090225095224/http://paffalcons.com/cas/index.php PAF s' Chief of Air Staffs]
*[http://www.defencejournal.com/2000/sept/pathankot.htm Devastation of Pathankot]
*[http://www.defencejournal.com/2000/sept/pathankot.htm Devastation of Pathankot] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930012945/http://www.defencejournal.com/2000/sept/pathankot.htm |date=30 September 2007 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070819025043/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1965War/SR-Pathankot.html The Day the PAF Got Away]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070819025043/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1965War/SR-Pathankot.html The Day the PAF Got Away]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070912073728/http://www.ccha.edu.pk/alumni.htm Alumni of Cadet College Hasan Abdal]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070912073728/http://www.ccha.edu.pk/alumni.htm Alumni of Cadet College Hasan Abdal]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Khattak, Abbas}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Khattak, Abbas}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:People from Peshawar]]
[[Category:People from Peshawar]]
[[Category:Pashtun people]]
[[Category:Pashtun military personnel]]
[[Category:Cadet College Hasan Abdal alumni]]
[[Category:Cadet College Hasan Abdal alumni]]
[[Category:Pakistan Air Force Academy alumni]]
[[Category:Pakistan Air Force Academy alumni]]
[[Category:Pilots of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]
[[Category:Pilots of the India–Pakistan war of 1965]]
[[Category:Pakistan Air Force officers]]
[[Category:Pilots of the India–Pakistan war of 1971]]
[[Category:Pilots of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
[[Category:National Defence University (Pakistan) alumni]]
[[Category:National Defence University, Pakistan alumni]]
[[Category:Chiefs of the Air Staff (Pakistan)]]
[[Category:Pakistan Air Force air marshals]]
[[Category:Chiefs of Air Staff, Pakistan]]
[[Category:Aviation safety pioneers]]
[[Category:Aviation safety pioneers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Military Merit (Jordan)]]

Latest revision as of 12:10, 25 March 2026


Air Chief Marshal
Abbas Khattak
NI(M)  HI(M)  SI(M)  SBt
عباس خٹک
Chief of Air Staff
In office
8 November 1994 – 7 November 1997
Preceded byACM Farooq Feroze Khan
Succeeded byACM Parvaiz Mehdi Qureshi
President of Pakistan Squash Federation
In office
1997–1998
Personal details
Born
Mohammad Abbas Khattak

(1943-07-16) 16 July 1943 (age 83)
Jehangira, NWFP in British Sub continent
(Present-day in Peshawar, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan)
Nickname(s)Muhammad Abbas Khattak
Military service
Allegiance Pakistan
Branch/service Pakistan Air Force
Years of service1960 – 1997
RankFile:ACM.png Air Chief Marshal
UnitNo. 19 Squadron[1]
(S/No. PAK/4385:430[2])
Commands
Battles/wars
Awards

Mohammad Abbas Khattak NI(M) HI(M) SI(M) SBt (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist. ; born: 16 July 1943) is a four-star rank air force officer in the Pakistan Air Force who served as the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) from 8 November 1994 until his retirement on 7 November 1997.[3][4]

Biography[edit | edit source]

Abbas Khattak was born in Peshawar, NWFP on 16 July 1943.:355[5] He was educated at the Cadet College Hasan Abdal, and joined the Pakistan Air Force in 1960, from which he was directed to attend the famed Pakistan Air Force Academy in Risalpur.:355[5] He passed out with the class of 35th GD(P), and gained commission on 20 January 1963 in No. 19 Squadron Sherdils.[1]:355[5]

P/Off. Khattak was trained to fly the F-86 Sabre and took participation in the various combat missions during the second war with India in 1965.[1] During this time, F/Off. was among the eight fighter pilots who were selected to take part in famous aerial raid on Pathankot Air Force Station in India, a squadron commanded by then-Squadron Leader Sajad Haider.:488–489[6]:122[7] In 1970–71, Sq-Ldr. Khattak was posted with the Eastern Command in East-Pakistan, leading several mission against the Indian Air Force but was reposted in Sargodha Air Force Base before his country's surrender in Eastern Front of the third war with India in 1971.:69[8]

After the war, Wg-Cdr. Khattak was directed to attend the war course at the National Defence University in Islamabad.[9]

In 1988, Air-Commodore Khattak was appointed as AOC of the Southern Air Command, serving until 1990.:48[10] In 1991, AVM Khattak was posted to the Air Headquarters (AHQ) in Islamabad as DCAS (Training), where he played a pioneering role in aviation and flight safety programs.:327[11] In 1994, Air-Marshal Khattak was promoted to DCAS (Operations) at AHQ.:206[12]

Chief of Air Staff[edit | edit source]

On 8 November 1994, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto approved the promotion papers of Air-Mshl. Khattak to be promoted to the four-star rank, Air Chief Marshal. This promotion was controversial since Air-Mshl. Khattak superseded two senior air officers: Air-Mshl. Shafique Haider (the Vice Chief of the Air Staff), and Air-Mshl. Dilawar Hussain (Chairman PAC).:49–50[13] The reason this appointment was highly controversial is because the departing Chief of Air Staff Farooq Feroze Khan struck a deal behind closed doors with Benazir and Zardari to appoint him as the Joint Chief of Staff and in exchange he would allow Zardari to promote Khattak as the Chief of Air Staff. Khattak and Zardari have been accused of receiving millions of dollars in kickback from a Mirage deal.[14]

During his tenureship as air chief, ACM Khattak made attempts to acquire the Mirage-2000 from Qatar but vetoed the acquisition of MiG-29F and the Su-27 aircraft from the Eastern Europe, despite the strong backing of the then-Chairman joint chiefs, ACM Feroze Khan, due to their poor war performances.:58–60[15] During his tenure, Pakistan worked with China to develop the K-8 Karakorum.[16] After his retirement he was succeeded by Air Chief Marshal PQ Mehdi.

He is married and has two sons.[9]

Awards and decorations[edit | edit source]

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PAF GD(P) Badge RED (More than 3000 Flying Hours)
Nishan-e-Imtiaz

(Military)

(Order of Excellence)

Hilal-e-Imtiaz

(Military)

(Crescent of Excellence)

Sitara-e-Imtiaz

(Military)

(Star of Excellence)

Sitara-e-Basalat

(Star of Good Conduct)

Tamgha-e-Diffa

(General Service Medal)

Sitara-e-Harb 1965 War

(War Star 1965)

Sitara-e-Harb 1971 War

(War Star 1971)

Tamgha-e-Jang 1965 War

(War Medal 1965)

Tamgha-e-Jang 1971 War

(War Medal 1971)

10 Years Service Medal
20 Years Service Medal 30 Years Service Medal Tamgha-e-Sad Saala Jashan-e-

Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam

(100th Birth Anniversary of

Muhammad Ali Jinnah)

1976

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

The Order of Military Merit

(Grand Cordon)

(Jordan)

Foreign Decorations[edit | edit source]

Foreign Awards
 Jordan The Order of Military Merit (Grand Cordon) Template:Ribbon devices/alt

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Feats of Courage". www.paf.gov.pk. ISPR (Air Force Division). Archived from the original on 19 October 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  2. ↑ Pakistan (1980). The Gazette of Pakistan. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  3. ↑ The Story of the Pakistan Air Force 1988-1998: A Battle Against Odds (Oxford University Press, 2000)
  4. ↑ Cheema, Pervaiz Iqbal (2002). The Armed Forces of Pakistan:Air Chiefs. New York University Press. pp. 199/200. ISBN 0-8147-1633-4.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Shaikh, A. Rashid (2000). The Story of the Pakistan Air Force, 1988-1998: A Battle Against Odds (google books) (1st ed.). Karachi, Sindh, Pk.: Shaheen Foundation. p. 414. ISBN 9789698553005. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  6. ↑ Bhattacharya, Brigadier Samir (2013). NOTHING BUT! (googlebooks). Partridge Publishing. ISBN 9781482816266. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  7. ↑ Mohan, P. V. S. Jagan; Chopra, Samir (2005). The India-Pakistan Air War of 1965. Manohar. ISBN 9788173046414. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  8. ↑ Hussaini, Syed Masood Akhtar; Affairs, Pakistan Air Force Directorate of Media (2002). Pakistan Air Force over the years. Directorate of Media Affairs, Pakistan Air Force. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Niaz, Anjum (22 November 2008). "ISLAMABAD DATELINE: Top Gun Vs Double Agents". Dawn Newspaper. Islamabad: Dawn Media Group. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  10. ↑ Shaheen: Journal of the Pakistan Air Force. Air Headquarters. 1988. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  11. ↑ Jane's Defence Weekly. Jane's Publishing Company. July 1991. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  12. ↑ Siddiqa-Agha, A. (2001). Pakistan's Arms Procurement and Military Buildup, 1979-99: In Search of a Policy. Springer. ISBN 9780230513525. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  13. ↑ Globe. Afzal Mahmood. 1994. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  14. ↑ former Air Force employee
  15. ↑ Air Force Chief says that F-16s "Not Indispensable". Daily Report: Near East & South Asia, The Service. 1994. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  16. ↑ Asia Pacific Defense Forum Spring 1998 Archived 28 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine

External links[edit | edit source]

Military offices
Preceded by
Farooq Feroze Khan 		Chief of Air Staff
1994 – 1997 		Succeeded by
Parvaiz Mehdi Qureshi

Template:Military of Pakistan

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