Khalid Khawaja
Khalid Khawaja | |
|---|---|
Khawaja in c. 2006 | |
| Nickname | Colonel Khawaja |
| Born | 3 July 1951 |
| Died | April 30, 2010 (aged 58-59) |
| Cause of death | Assassination (gunshot wounds) |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | Pakistan |
| Branch | |
| Service years | 1971–1986 |
| Rank | Squadron Leader |
| Unit | 16 Squadron Panthers 26 Squadron Black Spiders |
| Conflicts | |
Squadron leader Colonel Khalid Khawaja (Urdu: خالد خواجہ; 3 July 1951 – April 30, 2010) was Pakistani fighter pilot and intelligence officer-turned human rights activist, who served as the Squadron leader of Pakistan Air Force's No. 16 Squadron Panthers, and was also associated with both the Special Service Wing (SSW) and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
As Squadron Leader, he led several combat missions against the Indian Air Force during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, commanding Pakistan Air Force's elite No. 26 Squadron and later the No. 16 Squadron Panthers.
A veteran of Soviet–Afghan War, Khawaja described himself as a close associate of Osama bin Laden in the early days of the Afghan resistance against the Soviet Union. He was also described as having close ties to Abdul Rashid Ghazi, the leader of the Lal Masjid.
He was also the co-founder and spokesperson for the Defence of Human Rights Pakistan (DHR), a human rights organization led by Abdul Rashid Ghazi.
He was assassinated on April 30, 2010 in the North Waziristan town of Mir Ali.