Khalid Khawaja
Encyclopedia
Squadron Leader
Khalid Khawaja (1951–2010) was a former Air Force
officer, and the former Air Force's intelligence officer
of the Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence agency.
A former member of Special Service Wing
(SSW) and a vetern of Soviet war in Afghanistan
, 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 once suspected of being involved in the murder of American reporter Daniel Pearl
. This was later proved to be false but he did connect Pearl with men who would eventually kill him.
in January 1971. He completed his aviation training to became an aviator of Alouette III
, and was selected to sent to PAF Special Warfare School. After his graduation in JUNE 1973, Khawaja as flying officer, was selected and joined the 312th Special Service Wing
as a flight specialist. A former member of Special Service Wing, Squadron Leader Khawaja actviely participated in Soviet war in Afghanistan
along with elite Black Storks, also known as Special Service Group. In 1985, Squadron Leader Khawaja pursued his career to became an intelligence officer
. After passing the selection exam, KhawaJa joined ISI where he actively participated in Soviet war in Afghanistan. In 1987, former President
and Chief of Army Staff General
Zia-ul-Haq
had dismissed from his position for his "outspoken views", a subsequent forced-retirement given by the Pakistan's Judge Advocate General Branch
in 1987.
described Khawaja as the "point man" for Mansoor Ijaz
, which it describes as "...a US citizen of Pakistani origin with close ties to the right wing of the Republican Party".
The Asia Times says that Ijaz is negotiating a peace with the remaining elements of the Taliban, with Khawaja's assistance.
The Associated Press
names Khawaja a spokesman for a Pakistani human rights group named Defense of Human Rights.
, Khawaja spoke in their defence saying they were being unfairly targeted by Canadian authorities because of deference to the United States, and Islamophobia. He has also said that Canada is "selfish and self-centred" and deserves to be bombed by terrorists.
), which he denied.
on April 30, 2010 – a month after being kidnapped by a group calling themselves the "Asian Tigers
", while filming a documentary about Colonel Imam
. Imam, British journalist Asad Qureshi and Qureshi's driver Rustam Khan were also kidnapped with Khawaja. Qureshi and Khan were released in September 2010. Imam was killed in January 2011.
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
Khalid Khawaja (1951–2010) was a former Air Force
Pakistan Air Force
The Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...
officer, and the former Air Force's intelligence officer
Intelligence officer
An intelligence officer is a person employed by an organization to collect, compile and/or analyze information which is of use to that organization...
of the Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence agency.
A former member of Special Service Wing
Special Service Wing
The Special Service Wing, codename the SS Wing, or previously known as 312th Special Service Wing or Maroon berets, is an special operations aerospace unit of the Pakistan Air Force . The SS Wing or Maroon Berets are an elite special operations force based upon United States Air Force's Special...
(SSW) and a vetern of Soviet war in Afghanistan
Soviet war in Afghanistan
The Soviet war in Afghanistan was a nine-year conflict involving the Soviet Union, supporting the Marxist-Leninist government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan against the Afghan Mujahideen and foreign "Arab–Afghan" volunteers...
, Khawaja described himself as a close associate of Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden was the founder of the militant Islamist organization Al-Qaeda, the jihadist organization responsible for the September 11 attacks on the United States and numerous other mass-casualty attacks against civilian and military targets...
in the early days of the Afghan resistance against the Soviet Union. He was once suspected of being involved in the murder of American reporter Daniel Pearl
Daniel Pearl
Daniel Pearl was an American journalist who was kidnapped and killed by Al-Qaeda.At the time of his kidnapping, Pearl served as the South Asia Bureau Chief of the Wall Street Journal, and was based in Mumbai, India. He went to Pakistan as part of an investigation into the alleged links between...
. This was later proved to be false but he did connect Pearl with men who would eventually kill him.
Military career
Khawaja gained commission in Pakistan Air ForcePakistan Air Force
The Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...
in January 1971. He completed his aviation training to became an aviator of Alouette III
Aérospatiale Alouette III
The Aérospatiale Alouette III is a single-engine, light utility helicopter developed by Sud Aviation. It was manufactured by Aérospatiale of France, and under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in India as Hal Chetak and Industria Aeronautică Română in Romania.The Alouette III is the...
, and was selected to sent to PAF Special Warfare School. After his graduation in JUNE 1973, Khawaja as flying officer, was selected and joined the 312th Special Service Wing
Special Service Wing
The Special Service Wing, codename the SS Wing, or previously known as 312th Special Service Wing or Maroon berets, is an special operations aerospace unit of the Pakistan Air Force . The SS Wing or Maroon Berets are an elite special operations force based upon United States Air Force's Special...
as a flight specialist. A former member of Special Service Wing, Squadron Leader Khawaja actviely participated in Soviet war in Afghanistan
Soviet war in Afghanistan
The Soviet war in Afghanistan was a nine-year conflict involving the Soviet Union, supporting the Marxist-Leninist government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan against the Afghan Mujahideen and foreign "Arab–Afghan" volunteers...
along with elite Black Storks, also known as Special Service Group. In 1985, Squadron Leader Khawaja pursued his career to became an intelligence officer
Intelligence officer
An intelligence officer is a person employed by an organization to collect, compile and/or analyze information which is of use to that organization...
. After passing the selection exam, KhawaJa joined ISI where he actively participated in Soviet war in Afghanistan. In 1987, former President
President of Pakistan
The President of Pakistan is the head of state, as well as figurehead, of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Recently passed an XVIII Amendment , Pakistan has a parliamentary democratic system of government. According to the Constitution, the President is chosen by the Electoral College to serve a...
and Chief of Army Staff General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Zia-ul-Haq
Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq
General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq , was the 4th Chief Martial Law Administrator and the sixth President of Pakistan from July 1977 to his death in August 1988...
had dismissed from his position for his "outspoken views", a subsequent forced-retirement given by the Pakistan's Judge Advocate General Branch
Judge Advocate General Branch
The Judge Advocate General Branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces is composed of Pakistan's Military senior officers, lawyers and judges who provide legal services to the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines at all levels of command...
in 1987.
Asia Times Comments
A November 9, 2005, article in the Asia TimesAsia Times
Asia Times was a newspaper launched in Thailand by Thai tycoon Sondhi Limthongkul in 1995. The newspaper hired talent from around the world to produce a regional English-language newspaper....
described Khawaja as the "point man" for Mansoor Ijaz
Mansoor Ijaz
Mansoor Ijaz is an American businessman of Pakistani Ancestry. He is an investment banker and media commentator, mostly in relation to Pakistan, Iraq and Afghanistan....
, which it describes as "...a US citizen of Pakistani origin with close ties to the right wing of the Republican Party".
The Asia Times says that Ijaz is negotiating a peace with the remaining elements of the Taliban, with Khawaja's assistance.
The Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
names Khawaja a spokesman for a Pakistani human rights group named Defense of Human Rights.
Friend of Khadr Family
A noted friend of the Egyptian-Canadian Khadr familyKhadr family
The Khadr family is a Canadian family noted for their ties to Osama bin Laden and alleged connections to al Qaeda. The family maintains that they have not broken any Canadian laws, and they have never been charged with any crimes by Canadian authorities.The Khadr family comprises:*The father,...
, Khawaja spoke in their defence saying they were being unfairly targeted by Canadian authorities because of deference to the United States, and Islamophobia. He has also said that Canada is "selfish and self-centred" and deserves to be bombed by terrorists.
Arrest
Khawaja was arrested in Aabpara on January 26, 2007, on charges of distributing hate material (Section 295A of the Pakistan Penal CodePakistan penal code
The Pakistan Penal Code usually called PPC is a penal code for all offences charged in Pakistan. It was originally prepared by Lord Macaulay with a great consultation in 1860 on the behalf of the Government of British India as the Indian Penal Code...
), which he denied.
Death
He was found dead in MiranshahMiranshah
Miranshah is the capital or headquarters of North Waziristan in Pakistan. It is the site of a town, which has s small airfield that was built by the British for World War II. The area in which Miranshah sits is extremely dangerous mainly due to Taliban activities and U.S. Drone...
on April 30, 2010 – a month after being kidnapped by a group calling themselves the "Asian Tigers
Asian Tigers
The Asian Tigers is a Pakistani militant group, first publicised when they claimed credit for the kidnapping of former Pakistani intelligence officers Khalid Khawaja, Colonel Imam, British journalist Asad Qureshi and Qureshi's driver Rustam Khan in March 2010. Khawaja was killed in April 2010....
", while filming a documentary about Colonel Imam
Colonel Imam
Colonel Sultan Amir Tarar , best known as Colonel Imam, was a Pakistan Army officer and special warfare operation specialist. He was a member of the Special Service Group of the army, an intelligence officer of the Inter-Services Intelligence and served as Pakistani Consul General at Herat,...
. Imam, British journalist Asad Qureshi and Qureshi's driver Rustam Khan were also kidnapped with Khawaja. Qureshi and Khan were released in September 2010. Imam was killed in January 2011.