Shahid Lateef

Shahid Lateef (; , is a retired Pakistan Air Force three-star air marshal, geostrategist and military strategist, and political commentator. Lateef is from Pakistan city of Sahiwal.

A veteran fighter pilot, Lateef was commissioned in April, 1974 in the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), serving in influential staff appointments during his air force career. He completed an academic degree with top honours, and was awarded a Sword of Honour from the PAF Academy in Risalpur.

Biography Lateef hailed from Sahiwal in Punjab,having a humble background with his late father being a stenographer clerk in the government. Years before Lateef was to be commissioned as an officer, he was an exceptional student at PAF Public School, Lower Topa. One of Latif's closest associates was Group Captain (R) Shamsher Ali (later commissioned in the Air Defence branch of PAF and served as DG NAB,Lahore) who had numerous anecdotal encounters with Lateef throughout his life.Both friends were extraordinarily gifted in the domain of athletic activities.In 1970, Lateef was inducted in the PAF Academy in Risalpur, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and participated in the war with India in 1971. Graduated with BA degree in 1974, he stood at the top of his class in his alma mater and conferred with Sword of Honour. He was then chosen to command a fighter squadron, fighter wing and a fighter base in the PAF.

He was to actively encouraged to the rank of Air vice Marshal, and was given the JF-17 Project; a programme that was not able to start due to difficulties, forcing the PAF to continue to operate obsolete equipment. Through his efforts, the JF-17 project finally came to life. He served the Air Force of Pakistan from September, 1971 to April, 2006. In recognition of his services he was awarded the Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military), Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military) and Sitara-i-Basalat.

Defense analyst After retirement from the PAF, Lateef started a new career as a defense analyst and appeared on a number of talk shows and gave his expert analysis on geopolitical affairs. Lateef has given bold opinions against several political developments and personalities in the country. However, later into his life, Lateef reportedly distanced himself from the public eye, simultaneously cutting off relations with some of his closest confidants, including Group Captain (R) Shamsher. This alarming change in behaviour has suspected to stem from a throat disease Lateef suffers from which makes it unpleasant for him to maintain social interaction.

Awards and decorations

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

(Crescent 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-Jang 1971 War (War Medal 1971)Tamgha-e-Baqa (Nuclear Test Medal)

1998Tamgha-e-Istaqlal Pakistan (Escalation with India Medal)

Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam

(100th Birth Anniversary of

Muhammad Ali Jinnah)

1976Hijri Tamgha (Hijri Medal)

1979Jamhuriat Tamgha (Democracy Medal)

1988Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha (Resolution Day

Golden Jubilee Medal)

1990Tamgha-e-Salgirah Pakistan (Independence Day

Golden Jubilee Medal)

1997Military Unity Star (UAE)

Foreign Decorations Foreign AwardsMilitary Unity Star (1986)