Farooq Feroze Khan

Farooq Feroze Khan Burki (17 August 1939 – 9 October 2021), also known as Feroze Khan, was a Pakistani four-star air officer who served as the sixth Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force from 1991 to 1994 and eighth Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee from 1994 to 1997.

His career in the Air Force is subjected to distinction as he was the only air force officer whose career spanned more than 40 years of military service.

Biography Early life and career in the military

In the United States, he trained as a fighter pilot on the F-104 Starfighter. He was known for his skills while maneuvering the aircraft in a combat mode from a subsonic to supersonic speed. Upon returning in the 1960s, he was attached to the Royal Air Force as a military liaison officer, and flew British aircraft.

In 1966–67, Squadron Leader Feroze was among the first group of fighter pilots who were sent to France for their conversion from American F-104 Starfighters to French Dassault Mirage III's.

War and command appointments After the third war with India in 1971, Wing-Commander Feroze joined the faculty of the Combat Commanders' School in Sargodha, instructing pilots on the methods of combat flight.

In 1982–83, Air-Commodore Feroze was elevated as the base commander of the PAF Base Sargodha, witnessing the introduction of American-built F-16s. In 1984–85, Air-Cdre. Feroze was promoted to the two-star promotion when Air Vice-Marshal Feroze was appointed AOC of the Southern Air Command based in Karachi, and later as the Central Air Command based in Sargodha. During this time, Air-Marshal Feroze took an interest and participated in board of inquiry that investigated the mysterious circumstances involved in the death of President Zia-ul-Haq.

In 1990, Air-Mshl. Feroze was taken on secondment by Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto as Managing Director of the Pakistan International Airlines, until 1991.

Chief of Air staff On 9 March 1991, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif promoted Air-Mshl. Feroze to the four-star rankof Air Chief Marshal (ACM) and the new Chief of Air Staff (CAS). ACM Feroze assumed the command of the Air Force at a difficult time, when the military embargo by the United States on a suspicion of a covert nuclear weapons program was enforced.

Chairman joint chiefs In 1994, the extension made him the most senior military officer in the Pakistani military but this became a subject of controversy in the Air Force, when many senior air officers showed resentment towards this decision taken by the Benazir Bhutto Government. Upon the retirement of Gen. Shamim Alam Khan on 8 November 1994, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto approved ACM Feroze to Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee—this was the first time the chairmanship was rotated to the Air Force since its inception in 1976. In 1995, Gen. Feroze Khan also provided his crucial military support and political advocacy for the development of the Shaheen program with a view to keeping the second-strike capability.

Critics observed that ACM Feroze's preference of "flying solo" and his nature of working alone further complicated the matters in the military that required the comprehensive collaboration and teamwork in national security issues. According to the critical paper penned by defense analyst, Ikram Sehgal, "ACM Feroze marked ineffectiveness in the post of Chairman and its institution."

Upon retiring on 9 November 1997, Gen. Jehangir Karamat was eventually appointed to replace him and who took the role of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee to new heights and took the four-tiered military into a responsive and efficient fighting machine in the 21st century. His uniform was placed in the PAF Museum, Karachi, where he was retired in his estate.

Awards and decorations

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

(Order of Excellence)Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military)

(Crescent of Excellence)Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military)

(Star of Excellence)Sitara-e-Basalat (Star of Valour)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

(100th Birth Anniversary of Muhammad Ali Jinnah)

1976Hijri Tamgha (Hijri Medal)

1979Tamgha-e-Jamhuriat (Democracy Medal)

1988Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha (Resolution Day

Golden Jubilee Medal)

1990Tamgha-e-Salgirah Pakistan (Independence Day

Golden Jubilee Medal)

1997Military Order of Oman

Class I

(Oman)Conseil International du Sport Militaire Medal of Merit

(Grand Knight)King Hamad Order of the Renaissance

Class I

(Bahrain)Order of Merit of the Republic of Turkey (Turkey)Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander)

(USA)Order of Military Merit (Jordan) Grand CordonOrder of Civil Merit of the Syrian Arab Republic (Wisam al Istehqaq)

(Syria)Aeronautical Medal (France)Order of Abdulaziz al Saud

(1st Class)

(Saudi Arabia)

Foreign Decorations