Ghani Akbar

Squadron Leader (R) Ghani Akbar SJ (Urdu: غاني أكبر), is a retired fighter pilot with the Pakistan Air Force and recipient of Pakistan's third highest military award, the Sitara-e-Jurat (Star of Valour).

He is best known for his exceptional performance as a fighter pilot during the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War.

Ghani Akbar was born in a small Pashtun village in Nowshera, prior to the creation of Pakistan.^[1] Growing up he participated in the Pakistan Movement, and was a firsthand witness to the violence between Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims during the partition of India.

In 1958, Akbar applied to the Inter Services Selection Board and was accepted into the Pakistan Air Force Academy for training as a fighter pilot.^[1]

On 6 September 1965, India launched a major offensive toward Lahore to relieve pressure in Kashmir, prompting Pakistan to halt Operation Grand Slam and counterattack in Punjab. That evening, Squadron Leader Sajad Haider led eight PAF F-86 Sabres from No. 19 Squadron in a strike on the Pathankot Air Base. Reaching the target around 5:30 p.m., they heavily damaged the airfield and destroyed more than a dozen IAF aircraft, including newly acquired MiG-21s, leaving the base inoperable for the rest of the war.^[2][3]

Ghani Akbar (who at the time was a Flight Lieutenant) was flying in the eighth position, and was therefore the last man to drop his bombs over the airbase. However, upon dropping his payload he was unsatisfied with the damage he had inflicted, and spotted multiple other IAF targets still intact.

Akbar doubled back, and despite being ordered to retreat by his commanding officers, he initiated a second attack, and proceeded to destroy another IAF MiG-21 aircraft.^[1][4][5][6] Upon completing his second attack, Akbar realized he was extremely low on fuel and would be unable to reach Peshawar in time to land safely.^[1][4][5][6] Fearing that he would have to eject over Indian territory, Akbar swiftly retreated, and despite facing heavy anti-air fire and low visibility due to smog, he successfully landed at a PAF Base in Sargodha.^[1][4][5][6] Upon completing his second attack, Akbar realized he was extremely low on fuel and would be unable to reach Peshawar in time to land safely.^[1][4][5][6] Fearing that he would have to eject over Indian territory, Akbar swiftly retreated, and despite facing heavy anti-air fire and low visibility due to smog, he successfully landed at a PAF Base in Sargodha.^[1][4][5][6] Throughout his career as a fighter pilot, Akbar initially flew the American North American F-86 Sabre, and later the Canadair Sabre (Canadian variant), which he cited as superior.

The Sitara-e-Jurat citation reads:

CITATION
FLIGHT LIEUTENANT GHANI AKBAR

Flight Lieutenant Ghani Akbar flew 13 ground attack and 12 air defence missions during the Indo-Pakistan War. He destroyed one aircraft in a ground strike mission and was credited with 5 tanks destroyed and 5 damaged during close support missions. Throughout he flew aggressively, fearlessly and in a most professional manner. For his flying ability, determination and courage he was awarded Sitara-i-Juraat.^[7]