Mushaf Ali Mir

{{short description|Pakistani Air Chief Marshal (1947-2003)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = Air Chief Marshal | name = Mushaf Ali Mir | native_name = {{nq|مصحف علی میر}} | honorific_suffix = NI(M) HI(M) SI(M) SBt | image = Mushaf-Ali-Mir.jpg | image_size = 190px | caption = ACM Mushaf Ali Mir (1947–2003) | order = 9th Chief of Air Staff | office = | term_start = 20 November 2000 | term_end = 20 February 2003 | predecessor = Pervaiz Mehdi Qureshi | successor = Kaleem Saadat | office2 = Chairman<br>Pakistan Aeronautical Complex | term_start2 = September 2000 | term_end2 = December 2000 | successor2 = Air Marshal Pervez A Nawaz | predecessor2 = ''Himself'' (as Director General) | office3 = Director General<br>Pakistan Aeronautical Complex | term_start3 = January 1999 | term_end3 = September 2000 | predecessor3 = Air Marshal Saeed Anwer | successor3 = ''Himself'' (as Chairman) | birth_date = {{birth date|1947|03|05|df=y}} | birth_place = Lahore, Punjab Province (British India)<br>(now Punjab, Pakistan) | death_date = {{Death date and age|2003|02|20|1947|03|05|df=y}} | death_place = Kohat Pass, Kohat District, Pakistan | death_cause = Aviation accident | resting_place = Mominpura Graveyard | resting_place_coordinates = | spouse = | children = | relatives = Yunus Hussain (brother-in-law) | nickname = ''Mashoo''<br>''Mir'' | branch = {{air force|PAK}} | service_years = 1966–2003 | rank = 40px 30px Air Chief Marshal | unit = No. 25 Squadron ''Night Strike Eagles'' | commands = {{ubl|DCAS (Air Operations)|Central Air Command|Northern Air Command|Project ROSE|Project Green Flash|ACAS (Plans)|Joint Intelligence X (JIX)}} | battles = {{Tree list}} *Indo-Pakistani war of 1971 *Afghan Civil War (1996–2001) *2001–2002 India–Pakistan standoff *War on terror **War in Afghanistan (2001–03) {{Tree list/end}} | mawards = '''See list''' }}

Air Chief Marshal '''Mushaf Ali Mir'''{{efn|Punjabi, Urdu:{{nq|مصحف على مير}}}} (5 March 1947 – 20 February 2003) was an influential statesman and a four-star rank air officer who served as the ninth Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), appointed on 20 November 2000 until his accidental death in a plane crash on 20 February 2003.<ref name="Defence Journal, 2003" />

In 2001–02, he also commanded and provided the strategy to deploy troops during the military standoff with India. In addition, Air Chief Marshal Mir later went onto facilitate the United States military's war logistics for war operations in Afghanistan. His appointment was cut short when a former PAF Fokker F-27 in which he was a passenger crashed near Kohat, Pakistan.

His death has been subject of numerous conspiracy theories, with many American authors charging him of having advanced knowledge on terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001.<ref name="Simon and Schuster, 2004" />

==Biography== [[File:Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 EAF cropped from DF-ST-99-04919.jpg|thumb|left|250px|F-6 in Flight: In 1971, Flying Officer Mir flew his F-6 Farmer against the Indian Air Force's MiG-21, shooting down the Indian MiG with his missile.{{rp|103–104}}<ref name="Pen and Sword"/>]] Mushaf Ali Mir was born in Lahore, Punjab in British India on 5 March 1947.{{rp|11}}<ref name="Impact International, 2003">{{cite book|title=Mushaf, Zia, and Liaquat Ali Khan|date=2003|publisher=News & Media|location=Lahore, Pakistan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eWcxAQAAIAAJ&q=5+march|access-date=17 January 2018|language=en}}</ref> He hailed from the lower middle class family and was of Kashmiri descent, that practiced the Shia'a principles of Islam.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paffalcons.com/cas/mushaf-ali-mir.php |title=PAF Falcons - PAF s' Chief of the Air Staffs |website=www.paffalcons.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100314014900/http://paffalcons.com/cas/mushaf-ali-mir.php |archive-date=2010-03-14}}</ref> Mushaf's oldest sister, Surayya Jabeen, was married to Yunus Hussain, who died in the 1965 war.<ref name="Sentinels">{{cite book|title=Sentinels in the Sky: A Saga of PAF's Gallant Air Warriors|last=Qadri|first=Azam|year=2014|publisher=PAF Book Club|pages=60}}</ref>

His father, Farzand Ali Mir, was a calligrapher who died when Mushaf was still young. He attended Govt. Wattan Islamia High School in Lahore.<ref>{{cite news |first=Khawaja |last=Naseer |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_22-2-2003_pg7_31 |title=A jewel of the Walled City |journal=Daily Times |date=22 February 2003}}</ref> Upon his matriculation from a local school in Lahore, Mir initially attended the Government College University but joined the Pakistan Air Force in 1966 which directed him to attend the famed Pakistan Air Force Academy in Risalpur, after the second war with India.<ref name="Defence Journal, 2003">{{cite web|last1=Hussain|first1=Air-Cdre. (Brig) Jamal|title=Obituary: Remembering a Friend|url=http://www.defencejournal.com/2003/mar/remembering.htm|website=www.defencejournal.com|publisher=Defence Journal|access-date=17 January 2018|location=Islamabad|language=en-pk|format=web cache|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050117015113/http://www.defencejournal.com/2003/mar/remembering.htm|archive-date=17 January 2005}}</ref><ref name="Dawn Wire Service, 2000">{{cite news|last1=Correspondents|first1=Staff writers|title=New Air Chief designated|url=http://people.virginia.edu/~pm9k/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/2000/nov04.html|access-date=17 January 2018|work=people.virginia.edu.|agency=Dawn Newspaper|issue=6/42|publisher=Dawn Wire Service|date=4 November 2000|location=Islamabad, Pakistan|language=en-pk}}</ref>

In 1967, he gained commission in the Pakistan Air Force as a Pilot officer in the GD(P) branch through the Second Short Course.<ref name="Dawn Wire Service, 2000"/>

At the PAF Academy, he qualified to fly the F-6 Farmer fighter jet, and was posted to join the No. 25 Squadron ''Night Strike Eagles'' in 1970. In 1971, F/Off. Mir successfully flew his F-6 Farmer against the Indian Air Force's MiG-21, and was credited with shooting an Indian Air Force jet down with his missile.{{rp|103–104}}<ref name="Pen and Sword">{{cite book|last1=Bowman|first1=Martin|title=Cold War Jet Combat: Air-to-Air Jet Fighter Operations 1950-1972|date=2016|publisher=Pen and Sword|location=New York, U.S.|isbn=9781473874633|pages=259|edition= 1st|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QleqCwAAQBAJ&q=Mushaf+Ali+Mir+1971+war&pg=PA103|access-date=17 January 2018|language=en-us|chapter-format=google books|chapter={{small|Chapter 3: The Indo-Pak Wars}}}}</ref>

After the war in 1971, Flt. Lt. Mir attended the Air War College where he attained his master's in War studies, and later went on to attend the National Defence University where he graduated with a master's in Strategic studies.<ref name="Defence Journal, 2003" /> During this time, he became acquainted with then Brig. Pervez Musharraf.<ref>{{cite web|title=Obituary|url=http://www.defencejournal.com/2003/mar/remembering.htm|website=www.defencejournal.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050117015113/http://www.defencejournal.com/2003/mar/remembering.htm|archive-date=17 January 2005}}</ref><ref name="Pakistan Observers">{{cite news|last1=Hali|first1=Sultan M.|title=Tributes to a humble soul - PakObserver|url=https://pakobserver.net/tributes-to-a-humble-soul/|access-date=17 January 2018|work=PakObserver|agency=Pakistan Observers|publisher=Pakistan Observers, 2017|date=3 February 2017}}</ref>

==War and command appointments in the military==

In the 1970s, Mir joined the Combat Commander's School, first serving as a student before joining its faculty, eventually commanding an Aggressor squadron composing of Dassault Mirage IIIER to act as an Indian IAF's MiG-29M.{{rp|104–105}}<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hussaini|first1=Syed Masood Akhtar|last2=Affairs|first2=Pakistan Air Force Directorate of Media|title=Pakistan Air Force over the years|date=2002|publisher=Directorate of Media Affairs, Pakistan Air Force|language=en}}</ref> Wing-Commander Mir was a commanding officer of the No. 33 Wing attached at the Northern Air Command and later took over the command of the Southern Air Command as its AOC.<ref name="Dawn Wire Service, 2000" /> In the 1980s, Gp-Capt. Mir was posted as an air attaché at the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, D.C. in United States.<ref name="Rediff News, 2003"/>

He qualified to fly the F-16 Fighting Falcon, as a Group Captain of No. 33 Wing at Kamra Air Base, with personnel from No. 14 Squadron.<ref name="Rediff News, 2003">{{cite news|last1=Varma|first1=KJM|title=Pakistan's air chief killed in plane crash|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/feb/20pak.htm|access-date=19 January 2018|work=rediff.com|agency=Rediff News|publisher=Rediff News, 2003|date=20 February 2003}}</ref>

In 1994–95, Air commodore Mir, as an ACAS (Plans) at Air AHQ, visited Poland to hold discussions to acquire the Russian Su-27 Flanker but returned since the aircraft was not available.{{rp|94–95}}<ref name="Shaheen Foundation, 2000">{{cite book|last1=Shaikh |display-authors=etal |first1=A. Rashid|title=The Story of the Pakistan Air Force, 1988-1998: A Battle Against Odds|date=2000|publisher=Shaheen Foundation|location=karachi, Pakistan|isbn=9789698553005|pages=414|edition=1st|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FbLfAAAAMAAJ&q=Mushaf+Ali|access-date=18 January 2018|language=en}}</ref>

In 1995, AVM Mir was appointed as Project-Director of Project Green Flash, aiming to acquire Mirage 2000-V from France, and begin his lobbying to acquire the aircraft after test piloting the fighter jet.{{rp|97–98}}<ref name="Shaheen Foundation, 2000"/> In 1996, Air Vice Marshal Mir was appointed as Project-Director of Project Falcon that was started to negotiate with Turkey and Jordan to acquire F-16As/Bs.{{rp|99–100}}<ref name="Shaheen Foundation, 2000"/>

In 1996–99, Air Vice Marshal Mir took over the command of the Northern Air Command headquartered in Peshawar, and became associated with the ISI, where he aided in providing the aerial support during the civil war in Afghanistan.<ref name="Impact International, 2003" /> During this time, Air Vice Marshal Mir was posted as a military adviser to the Saudi Arabian Army and later assumed the short-time command of the Pakistan Armed Forces-Middle East Command before returning to Pakistan for the command appointments.<ref name="Rediff News, 2003"/>

In 1999, Air Marshal Mir was appointed as the chairman of Pakistan Aeronautical Complex at Kamra.<ref name="Dawn Wire Service, 2000" />

==Chief of Air Staff==

In 2000, ACM PQ Mehdi's retirement was confirmed by President Rafiq Tarar, and the Pakistan MoD sent potentials list of three-star air officers for the promotion of the four-star rank.<ref name="The Hindu, Pakistan Bureau">{{cite news |title=New Pak. Air chief supersedes 5 seniors|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2000/11/13/stories/03130006.htm|access-date=18 January 2018|agency=Pakistan Bureau|date=13 November 2000|location=Islamabad, Pakistan|work=The Hindu|language=en-uk}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

At the time of promotion to the four-star appointment, there were six senior air marshals who were in the race which included in seniority: *Air-Mshl. Farooq Qari – Vice Chief of Air Staff at Air Headquarters (AHQ) in Islamabad.<ref name="The Hindu, Pakistan Bureau"/> *Air-Mshl. Zahid Anis – DCAS (Air Operations) at AHQ in Islamabad.<ref name="The Hindu, Pakistan Bureau"/> *Air-Mshl. Qazi Javed Ahmad – DCAS (Personnel) at AHQ in Islamabad.<ref name="The Hindu, Pakistan Bureau"/> *Air-Mshl. Pervez Iqbal Mirza – AOC Southern Air Command headquartered in Karachi.<ref name="The Hindu, Pakistan Bureau"/> *Air-Mshl. Riazuddin Shaikh – DCAS (Administration) at AHQ in Islamabad.<ref name="The Hindu, Pakistan Bureau"/> *Air-Mshl. Mushaf Ali Mir – Chairman of Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) in Kamra.<ref name="The Hindu, Pakistan Bureau"/>

Eventually, the race for the appointment for the air chief was rumored between Air Marshal Farooq Qari and Air Marshal Riazuddin.<ref name="The Hindu, Pakistan Bureau"/>

On 13 November 2000, President Rafiq Tarar surprisingly approved the appointment of junior-most Air-Mshl. Mir to be promoted to as the four-star air officer in the air force, and appointed him as the Chief of Air Staff.<ref name="The Hindu, Pakistan Bureau" /> The surprise promotion and command appointment was said to be at the behest of special and personal requests made by then Chairman Joint chiefs Gen. Pervez Musharraf.<ref name="The Hindu, Pakistan Bureau"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/00nov19/inter.htm#5 |title=5 Pak Air Marshals to retire on Monday |journal=Daily Excelsior |date=18 November 2000}}</ref>

Despite the agitation and criticism, Air Chief Marshal Mir eventually assumed the command of the air force as its chief on 20 November 2000.<ref name="Dawn Wire Service, 2000" />

After the deadly terrorist attacks in New York in the United States in 2001, ACM Mir successfully negotiated with the United States Air Force of releasing the spare parts and updating the software of the F-16s.{{rp|82}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Afghanistan in Transition|date=2003|publisher=Indian Council of World Affairs|location=New Delhi|pages=231|edition= first|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wzBuAAAAMAAJ&q=air+chief+mushaf+ali+mir+F-16s|access-date=19 January 2018|language=en}}</ref>

During his tenure, the PAF's F-6 aircraft were retired from service, and were transferred to Bangladeshi Air Force.{{rp|63}}<ref>{{cite book|last1=Chakravarti|first1=S. R.|title=Foreign policy of Bangladesh|date=1994|publisher=Har-Anand Publications|isbn=9788124102381|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2jVuAAAAMAAJ&q=F-6|access-date=19 January 2018|language=en}}</ref> During the military standoff with the Indian Army, ACM Mir placed the air force at war level command, issuing orders for targeting the Indian military posts.<ref>{{cite news|title=PAF ready to face any challenge: Mushaf|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/40526|access-date=19 January 2018|work=DAWN.COM|date=5 June 2002}}</ref>

==Death in the air crash== {{Rquote |1=right |2=This is a very sad day for me. I have lost a very good friend. This is a sad day for the whole nation. The death of Mushaf Ali Mir is a great loss for the country. |3=President Musharraf, 2003<ref name="BBC Pakistan Bureau"/>}} [[File:AP-BDR Fokker F.27-200 PIA SHJ 21NOV00 (6969463089).jpg|left|250px|thumb|A civilian PIA Fokker F27 in flight. A similar but military F27 was involved in the 2003 crash.]] On 20 February 2003, Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir boarded on a Fokker F-27 aircraft operated by the Air Force, along with his wife and 15 senior air force officers from Chaklala Air Force Base for a routine flight to Northern Air Command based in Kohat, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan to review annual preparations and readiness.

The plane lost contact from its military radars at the Northern Air Command and crashed after hitting the highest peak of the mountain at the Tolanj mountain range in Kohat due to an extreme fog and winter temperature.<ref name="GulfNews, 2003">{{cite news|last1=Yusufzai|first1=Rahimullah|title=Doomed plane might have hit mountain peak|url=http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/general/doomed-plane-might-have-hit-mountain-peak-1.348035|access-date=19 January 2018|work=GulfNews|date=22 February 2003}}</ref><ref name="BBC Pakistan Bureau">{{cite news|title=Funeral held for Pakistan air chief|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2787061.stm|access-date=19 January 2018|agency=BBC|publisher=BBC Pakistan Bureau|date=21 February 2003}}</ref><ref name="Dawn Newspaper, AM Goraya">{{cite news|last1=Goraya|first1=Abdul-Majid|title=PAF chief killed in air crash: Two AVMs, Mushaf's wife among 17 dead •Inquiry begins|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/83166|access-date=19 January 2018|work=DAWN.COM|agency=Dawn Newspaper|publisher=Dawn Newspaper, AM Goraya|date=21 February 2003|location=Kohat Pass|language=en-pk}}</ref> Among the casualties were other high-ranking officials of the Pakistan Air Force, including three Principal Staff Officers – Air Vice Marshal Abdul Razzaq Anjum, DCAS (Training & Evaluation) and Air Vice Marshal Saleem Nawaz, DCAS (Administration) – and Air Commodore Rizwan Ullah Khan, Personal Staff Officer and the air crew.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.defencejournal.com/2003/mar/paf-shaheeds.htm |title=Obituary: Dedicated to the Glorious PAF Shaheeds |journal=Defence Journal |date=March 2003}}</ref>

Upon his accidental death, the Pakistan government give him a state funeral, with many foreign dignitaries attending his funeral and was buried in Mominpura cemetery in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.<ref name="Dawn Newspaper, 2003">{{cite news|last1=staff writers|first1=agencies.|title=Air chief's death condoled|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/83256/air-chief-s-death-condoled|access-date=19 January 2018|work=DAWN.COM|agency=Dawn Newspaper|publisher=Dawn Newspaper, 2003|date=22 February 2003}}</ref>

The Air Force Flight Safety and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) ruled out the "act of sabotage" and termed the incident as an accident.<ref name="BBC Pakistan Bureau" /> Additional inquiries in 2015 resulted by the air force and civilian investigations, the Government declared the aircraft as faulty, not an act of sabotage.<ref name="News International, 2015">{{cite news|last1=GEO Urdu|display-authors=etal|title=Fokker that caused martyrdom of Mushaf Ali Mir was faulty|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/8825-fokker-that-caused-martyrdom-of-mushaf-ali-mir-was-faulty|access-date=19 January 2018|work=thenews.com.pk|agency=News International|publisher=News International, 2015|date=5 October 2015|language=en}}</ref>

Further military insights revealed at the parliamentary committee noted that the aircraft was in fact faulty, as it was first identified as such by the Navy's inspection team as early as 1993.<ref name="The Nation, Rahman 2015 report">{{cite news|last1=Rahman|first1=Javaid|title='Faulty plane behind air chief's crash-death'|url=https://nation.com.pk/06-Oct-2015/faulty-plane-behind-air-chief-s-crash-death|access-date=19 January 2018|work=The Nation|agency=The Nation|publisher=The Nation|date=6 October 2015|language=en-pk|quote=The committee head Rana Afzaal, giving three months time to present report to the committee, said "due to a faulty aircraft we lost Air chief."}}</ref> The Navy purchased the aircraft for its reconnaissance missions before it was transferred to Army Aviation in 1993, which then transferred the plane to Air Force in 1994, which never reviewed the inspection protocol to assess the performance of the aircraft.<ref name="The Nation, Rahman 2015 report"/>

'''Reactions'''

{{flag icon|United States}} United States: American ambassador to Pakistan Nancy Jo Powell expressed her sorrow and grief over the tragic air crash on behalf of the United States.<ref name="Dawn Newspaper, 2003"/> {{flag icon|Iran}} Iran: Iranian President Syed Mohammad Khatami convened a message to President Pervez Musharraf saying: "While expressing condolence and sympathy to Your Excellency as well as the noble people of Pakistan, I pray to Almighty Allah for forgiveness and Divine blessings for the deceased, and patience and fortitude for the survivors."<ref name="Dawn Newspaper, 2003"/>

{{flag icon|Afghanistan}} Afghanistan: Afghan President Hamid Karzai sent a cable where he noted: "On behalf of the people, government of transitional Islamic state of Afghanistan and on my own behalf, I would like to express deepest sorrow and condolences to Your Excellency and to the families of the victims and to the brotherly people of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan."<ref name="Dawn Newspaper, 2003"/>

{{flag icon|India}} India: Indian air chief Air Chief Marshal S. Krishnaswamy conveyed sympathies on behalf of the Indian IAF and his own behalf on the sudden and untimely demise of Mushaf Ali Mir.<ref name="Dawn Newspaper, 2003"/>

{{flag icon|Pakistan}} Pakistan: Foreign Minister K.M. Kasuri termed the death of Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir a great loss for Pakistan and its military, and he quoted: "We have lost one of our great sons and a fine soldier; he was an outstanding soldier and his services to Pakistan will always be remembered."<ref name="Rediff News, 2003" />

===Conspiracy theories=== {{Main|September 11 attacks advance-knowledge conspiracy theories|September 11 attacks|Pakistan-United States military relations|Allegations of support system in Pakistan for Osama bin Laden}} [[File:North face south tower after plane strike 9-11.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The 9/11 attacks in the United States in 2001. Many American authors have leveled charges on Air Chief Marshal Mir having the advanced knowledge during his time as a spymaster in ISI in 1999.{{rp|105}}<ref name="Random House, 2003"/>]]

Since the plane crash in 2003, Air Chief Marshal Mir's death has attracted significant amount of attention and has been subject of conspiracy theories in media and literature.<ref name="Farrar, Straus and Giroux" /> According to Gerald Posner, an American journalist, Mir's death in a plane crash was not an accident but an act of sabotage, which he claimed in his book: ''Why America Slept: The Failure to Prevent 911'', written in 2003.{{rp|105–194}}<ref name="Random House, 2003">{{cite book|last1=Posner|first1=Gerald|author-link1=Gerald Posner|title=Why America slept: the failure to prevent 9/11|date=2003|publisher=Random House|location=New York, U.S.|isbn=9780375508790|pages=241|edition= first|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GbPrAAAAIAAJ&q=mushaf+ali+mir|access-date=19 January 2018|language=en-us|format=google books}}</ref>

Several American authors of counterterrorism studies have suspected him of having advanced intelligence knowledge on the planning of the terrorist attacks in the United States by al-Qaeda, during his time when Mir was serving in the ISI as its spymaster.{{rp|269}}<ref name="Simon and Schuster, 2004">{{cite book|last1=Unger|first1=Craig|author-link1=Craig Unger|title=House of Bush, House of Saud: The Secret Relationship Between the World's Two Most Powerful Dynasties|date=2004|publisher=Simon and Schuster|location=New York, U.S.|isbn=9780743266239|pages=361|edition=1st|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AyEMV1sd5S4C&q=mushaf+ali+mir+and+america&pg=PA269|access-date=19 January 2018|language=en|format=google books}}</ref>{{rp|contents}}<ref name="Skyhorse Publishing Inc.">{{cite book|last1=Grundy|first1=George|author-link1=|title=Death of a Nation: 9/11 and the Rise of Fascism in America|date=2017|publisher=Skyhorse Publishing Inc.|location=Washington D.C.|isbn=9781510721265|edition=1st|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y3DRDgAAQBAJ&q=mushaf+ali+mir+and+america&pg=PT180|access-date=19 January 2018|language=en|chapter-format=google books|chapter={{small|Abu Zubaidah and the Dead Saudis}}}}</ref>{{rp|conts.}}<ref name="Red Wheel Weiser, 2006">{{cite book|last1=Marrs|first1=Jim|author-link1=Jim Marrs|title=The Terror Conspiracy: Deception, 9/11 and the Loss of Liberty|date=2006|publisher=Red Wheel Weiser|location=Bloomington|isbn=9781934708361|edition= first|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e-tkQzvFVkgC&q=mushaf+ali+mir+and+america&pg=PT35|access-date=19 January 2018|language=en}}</ref>{{rp|contents}}<ref name="Farrar, Straus and Giroux">{{cite book|last1=Sullivan|first1=John Jeremiah|author-link1=John Jeremiah Sullivan|title=Blood Horses: Notes of a Sportswriter's Son|date=2005|publisher=Farrar, Straus and Giroux|isbn=9781429928083|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lMyJ_k81zh8C&q=mushaf+ali+mir+and+america&pg=PT298|access-date=19 January 2018|language=en|format=google books}}</ref>

Subsequently, Posner and his American colleagues have claimed that Osama bin Laden and other Afghan Arabs had struck a deal with Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) through Mir in 1996 to get protection, arms, and supplies for Al-Qaeda. The meeting was blessed by the Saudi royal family through Prince Turki bin Faisal Al Saud — the Saudi intelligence chief.<ref name="Farrar, Straus and Giroux"/>

However, after the terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001, and a reversal of Pakistani and Saudi stances favoring the Afghan Taliban and their allies al-Qaeda, the three Saudi princes associated with the deals died within days, and seven months after that, Mir's plane crashed in the Kohat region of Pakistan.<ref name="Farrar, Straus and Giroux"/>

Prince Turki bin Faisal, on the other hand, was removed as intelligence chief and sent as Ambassador to United Kingdom during the same time.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Johanna |last=McGeary |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,480226,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110125213/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,480226,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 November 2006 |title=Confessions of a Terrorist |magazine=Time |date=31 August 2003}}</ref>

In 2015, the Air Force's Flight Inquiry Board and the CAA dismissed the claims of sabotage when they submitted their year long investigation reports to the Public Accounts Committee of the Pakistan Parliament, citing the poor maintenance of the aircraft.<ref name="News International, 2015" /> They backed up their evidence when identifying the faulty Fokker F27 Friendship that the Air Force had transferred the plane to Navy but the aircraft was returned to the Air Force due to its faults during its flight.<ref name="News International, 2015" />

According to the analysis written in 2003 by Najam Sethi, a Pakistani commentator, the claims might have been "untrue" but the allegations are very explosives directed towards the Pakistani military.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sethi|first1=Najam|author-link1=Najam Sethi|title=Come Clean|url=http://www.najamsethi.com/2003/09/05/|website=www.najamsethi.com|publisher=Najam Sethi|access-date=19 January 2018|location=Islamabad|language=en-pk|date=5 September 2003}}</ref>

== Awards and decorations == {| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" | colspan="4" |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=PAF GDP Red.png|width=250}} |- | |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Nishan-e-Imtiaz.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Hilal-e-Imtiaz.png|width=130}} | |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Sitara-e-Imtiaz.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Sitara-e-Basalat.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Sitara-e-Harb 1965 War Ribbon.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Sitara-e-Harb 1971 War.png|width=130}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Jang 1965 War.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Jang 1971 War.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Baqa (1998).png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=10 years Service Medal.png|width=130}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=20 years Service Medal.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=30 years Service Medal.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Sad Saala Jashan-e-Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Hijri Tamgha.png|width=130}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Jamhuriat Tamgha 1988.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha Pakistan.svg|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Independence Day Golden Jubilee Medal, 2006.svg|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Amalgamation Medal 1976 (UAE).png|width=130}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Defence Force Medal (UAE).png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Merit.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Meritorious Service Order 1st Class (UAE).png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=US Legion of Merit Commander ribbon.png|width=130}} |- |}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" | colspan="4" |'''PAF''' '''GD(P)''' Badge '''RED''' (More than '''3000''' Flying Hours) |- | colspan="2" |'''Nishan-e-Imtiaz''' '''(Military)'''

(''Order of Excellence'') | colspan="2" |Hilal-i-Imtiaz '''(Military)'''

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

(''100th Birth Anniversary of Muhammad Ali Jinnah'')

'''1976''' |'''Hijri Tamgha''' (''Hijri Medal'')

'''1979''' |- |'''Tamgha-e-Jamhuriat''' (''Democracy Medal'')

'''1988''' |'''Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha''' (''Resolution Day''

''Golden Jubilee Medal'')

'''1990''' |'''Tamgha-e-Salgirah Pakistan''' (''Independence Day''

''Golden Jubilee Medal'')

'''1997''' |'''UAE''' '''Defence Forces''' '''Unification Medal'''

'''(UAE)''' |- |'''Abu Dhabi Defence Forces''' '''Service Medal'''

'''(UAE)''' |'''Order of Merit of the Republic of Turkey''' '''(Turkey)''' |'''Military Merit Order''' '''1st Class'''

'''(UAE)''' |Legion of Merit '''(Degree of Commander)'''

'''(USA)''' |}

=== Foreign decorations === {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="3" style="background:#006400; color:#FFFFFF; text-align:center" |'''Foreign Awards''' |- !'''{{flag|UAE}}''' |'''UAE Defence Unification Medal''' |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Amalgamation Medal 1976 (UAE).png|width=130}} |- !'''{{flag|UAE}}''' |'''Abu Dhabi Defence Forces Service Medal''' |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Defence Force Medal (UAE).png|width=130}} |- !'''{{flag|Turkey}}''' |'''Turkish Legion of Merit''' |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Merit.png|width=130}} |- !'''{{flag|UAE}}''' |'''Military Merit Order - 1st Class''' |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Meritorious Service Order 1st Class (UAE).png|width=130}} |- !'''{{flag|USA}}''' |'''The Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander)''' |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=US Legion of Merit Commander ribbon.png|width=130}} |}

== See also == *Pakistan Air Force

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090225095224/http://paffalcons.com/cas/index.php PAF's Chiefs of Air Staff]

{{s-start}} {{s-mil}} {{s-bef|before=Parvaiz Mehdi Qureshi}} {{s-ttl|title=Chief of Air Staff|years=2000 – 2003}} {{s-aft|after=Kaleem Saadat}} {{end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mir, Mushaf Ali}} Category:1947 births Category:2003 deaths Category:Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in Pakistan Category:Pakistani people of Kashmiri descent Category:Government College University, Lahore alumni Category:Pakistan Air Force Academy alumni Category:PAF Air War College alumni Category:Pakistani military personnel of the India–Pakistan war of 1971 Category:Pilots of the India–Pakistan war of 1971 Category:Pakistani flying aces Category:National Defence University (Pakistan) alumni Category:Intelligence analysts Category:Pakistani spies Category:People of Inter-Services Intelligence Category:Military personnel from Lahore Category:Project-706 Category:Air attachés for Pakistan Category:Chiefs of the Air Staff (Pakistan) Category:Burials at Mominpura Graveyard Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 2003