A great navigator, Sqn Ldr Wasti was instrumental for the PAF in the 1965 war

Squadron Leader Khalid Hassan Wasti, then a Flight Lieutenant, was among the first group of select aircrew who were honoured to carry out para-drop supply missions inside Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Towards the end of August, 1965, the Pakistan Army had requested the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) to provide supply drop missions inside the Kashmir valley, where they had already launched the famous Operation Gibraltar. The task to carry out these demanding missions, that too during night, was given to the Number 35 Wing of the PAF. The Wing was then under the command of by Wing Commander Zahid Butt. The missions were challenging, and demanded exceptional professionalism from the navigators. Wasti prepared these missions meticulously and lived up to his reputation of being a thorough navigator. The first aircraft led by Wing Commander Butt took off from Chaklala at two in the morning on August 23, 1965. Half an hour later, the second Hercules aircraft was airborne with Flight Lieutenant Nazir as the captain and Flight Lieutenant Wasti as navigator. The aircraft was loaded with rations, fuel, ammunition and miscellaneous supplies. As they took off, the formation realised that the weather was bad. While flying at high level the crew could spot occasional thunder and lightening in close vicinity of the aircraft. However, they remained undeterred and carried on. As they entered the Kashmir valley, Wasti picked up Wular Lake on radar and gave the final heading for the drop zone. Maintaining heading and speed, the captain flew towards the drop zone. Wasti’s meticulous planning had paid off and the aircraft reached the target on the planned time of arrival. Over the drop zone, he commanded the load-master to release the package. Soon 28,000 pounds of supplies hurled down in the darkness. The mission was a great success and on return, the crew was told that they had achieved the mission with great precision.

Later, during the 1965 War, Flight Lieutenant Wasti participated in numerous operational missions which included bombing missions at Wagah-Attari sector against Indian Army, a commando drop missions against Indian Air Force (IAF) Bases, including like Halwara and Adampur.

Early Life

Born to the religious family, Squadron Leader Wasti received his primary education from Govt High School Mirpurkhas. He later completed his FSc from DJ Science College, Karachi with flying colours. Following this, he joined PAF College Risalpur, in 1959, with the 28 GD(P) course and graduated as an operational navigator on June 28, 1959. Wasti received his first posting at the Number Six Squadron where he flew the Bristol Freighter transport aircraft for a couple of years. With the induction of new C-130 aircraft in the PAF, Wasti was among the very few who received the chance to learn how to operate the state-of-the-art transport aircraft. Soon he attained mastery on the new weapons system and became the top navigator of his squadron.

A Sad Demise

Squadron Leader Wasti, while flying cross-country training mission on a C-130 aircraft in northern areas of Pakistan, crashed on February 27, 1970. The ill-fated crew gave the last call to the ground station at about 1630 hours. Later a massive search and rescue effort was launched which spotted the wreckage of the aircraft in the Indus Valley, close to Gilgit. Circumstantial evidence suggested that the aircraft struck a high peak in extreme weather. All the crew members on board attained Shahadat. Wasti, a great warrior, professional navigator, and humble officer, embraced Shahadat in line of duty. The remains of the gallant crew were later buried with full military honours at the PAF graveyard in Chaklala.