Legendary PAF fighter pilot Group Captain (r) Saiful Azam passes away in Bangladesh

[HAIDER]

Legendary fighter pilot Saiful Azam, who was awarded Sitara-i-Jura’at for his heroics in the 1965 war against India, breathed his last in Bangladesh capital Dhaka on Sunday morning, according to officials and media reports.

The 80-year-old retired group captain died at his residence, local newspaper Jugantor said. He had been suffering from various old-age complications for a long time.

Also read: Masters of the sky

Bangladeshi army’s mouthpiece Inter Service Public Relation Directorate also confirmed the death to Anadolu Agency over the phone.

“We came to know about his death but we have not published it on our official web page as he is a retired official,” ISPR Director Lt. Col. Abdullah Ibn Zaid said.

Pakistan Air Force Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan expressed heartfelt grief on the demise of the great war veteran, according to a press release by PAF's media wing. PAF chief paid rich tribute to Azam, saying that the former fighter pilot will always be remembered for his professionalism and his part in the 1965 Indo-Pak and 1967 Arab-Israel wars.

According to APP, Azam was born in then East Bengal's Pabna District in 1941. He left home at 18 to enlist in PAF and was commissioned as a Pakistani fighter pilot in 1960.

During the 1965 war, he served in No. 17 Squadron at PAF's Sargodha base. Apart from inflicting heavy damage to Indian forces in 12 ground-attack missions, Azam also downed an Indian Air Force aircraft and was awarded Sitara-i-Jura’at.

According to available records, Azam is the unique air force figure in the history of Bangladesh who took part in wars as a fighter pilot of three different countries — Jordan, Iraq and Pakistan. He is the only fighter pilot who downed four Israeli aircraft during the 1967 Arab-Israel war, which is also a world record.

The United States government also awarded him as one of the world's 22 “Living Eagles” for his outstanding war skills and courage.

After Bangladesh's cessation in 1971, the veteran fighter joined the Bangladesh Air Force. Azam, also a former lawmaker from Bangladesh’s mid-northern Pabna-3 constituency, was regarded as a legendary figure by Bangladeshi people due to his untouched records as a fighter pilot.

In 1980, he retired from the military and developed a career in the civil service and later became a politician.

 

[Hex0maniac]

May Allah grant him Highest place in jannah.

 

[Gripen9]

He shot down 3 Israeli AF fighters 1 Mirage, 1 Vautour, 1 Mystere and damaged another Mystere.
He also shot down an India AF fighter in 1965. So 4 in total.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Thank you for Services for Pakistan's Security in 1965

 

[Thorough Pro]

He achieved what he achieved when he was a Pakistani and a PAF pilot.
He Left Pakistan for Bangladesh in 1971. He is no more Pakistani or PAF pilot. Period.
Stop hailing him as a PAF pilot.

 

[AwA.]

May Allah grant him Jannah.
His services for Pakistan will be remembered forever.

 

[Pan-Islamic-Pakistan]

Correct.

Can't hail a traitor , a hero. All his personal achievements is due to our training though.

Janab, deflate your overzealous nationalism a bit.

He was our hero, he fought for us. He put his life on the line.

When his region went to BD, he did the best he could for his people. Even in BD, he was not celebrated as he was in Pakistan.

 

[pakpride00090]

Janab, deflate your overzealous nationalism a bit.

He was our hero, he fought for us. He put his life on the line.

When his region went to BD, he did the best he could for his people. Even in BD, he was not celebrated as he was in Pakistan.

He made his choice. I don't really celebrate him and Pakistanis shouldn't. Although acknowledging his achievement is a good thing but he shouldn't be celebrated.

 

[Fawad alam]

May Allah grant highest place in Jannat,
He was legend and i feel very sad on his death.

 

[Hassan Psy]

He achieved what he achieved when he was a Pakistani and a PAF pilot.
He Left Pakistan for Bangladesh in 1971. He is no more Pakistani or PAF pilot. Period.
Stop hailing him as a PAF pilot.

Please talk sone sense, He was born in Bangladesh and stayed their as it was his home town. Thank god he didn't cone here, else he would have to face this shitty biased attitude

 

[aamirzs]

Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un (Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return)

 

[alphapak]

May Allah grant him Jannah.

It is a shame he couldn't build up Bangladesh Air Force.

 

[SecularNationalist]

Air chief paid him a tribute on his death.PAF issued a press release video.

 

[Thorough Pro]

Once you surrender your citizenship for a new country, you are no more a citizen of the previous country.
Which part of it does not make sense to you?

Please talk sone sense, He was born in Bangladesh and stayed their as it was his home town. Thank god he didn't cone here, else he would have to face this shitty biased attitude

 

[Thorough Pro]

So did admiral manssor-ul-haq and the Brigadier Raza Rizwan.
They both served Pakistan, would hail them as Pakistani heroes today?

Janab, deflate your overzealous nationalism a bit.

He was our hero, he fought for us. He put his life on the line.

When his region went to BD, he did the best he could for his people. Even in BD, he was not celebrated as he was in Pakistan.