Wars with India

F-86 in flight: Flight Lieutenant Mehdi was shot down by an Indian Folland Gnat while flying a F-86 in 1971.^{: cont. [6]}

In 1965, Pilot Officer Mehdi participated in close air support combat operations during the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965, where he flew his Sabre against Indian Folland Gnats.^{: 199 [5]} After the war, Mehdi was promoted to flying officer in 1966 and flight-lieutenant in 1969.^{: 199 [5]}

In 1969, Flight-Lieutenant Mehdi was then dispatched to serve in the Dacca airbase of the Pakistan Air Force in East Pakistan, serving in No. 14 Squadron Tail choppers.^[7] In 1970, Mehdi took over the command of a flight of the squadron, stationed at Dacca airbase.^{: contents [8]} In 1971, Mehdi participated in the air operations in East Pakistan against the Indian Army and the insurgent group it supported, Mukti Bahini.^[8]

On 22 November 1971, Mehdi flew a combat mission in his F-86 Sabre in support of operation in Garibpur against the Indian Air Force.^{: 105–106 [9]} He was flying with a finger-four formation of the ground attack/bomber unit near the town of Garibpur, when his F-86 Sabre was shot down by a Folland Gnat piloted by Fg Off Donald Lazarus^[10] of 22 Squadron IAF. His wingman, F/Off Khalil Ahmad also suffered a similar fate, and was captured by Indian troops. Flight Lieutenant Mehdi parachuted down to 50 yards behind the Chaugachha Upazila, where he was captured by Indian Army soldiers; he was physically attacked by the soldiers before being rescued by Captain H. S. Panag, the Indian Army section commander.^[7] He was the first Pakistani prisoner of war of the conflict and was eventually sent to Fort Williams.^[7] His capture made the front pages of the Indian newspapers, and the photos of his capture were widely aired on the television screens by the Pakistani news media.^{: 231 [11]} Upon watching the news, President Yahya Khan imposed the state of emergency and ordered the military for the preparation of war with India on 23 November 1971.^{: contents [8]}

According to East Pakistani sources, No. 14 Squadron Tail choppers suffered minor casualties due to a lack of effective radars that could have provided them with an early warning, whereas the attacking Indian Air Force planes were directed by Indian radar controllers at Barrackpore.^[12]

Repatriation and command appointments

The Delhi Agreement, signed by the Governments of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, made it possible for POWs to be repatriated to Pakistan from India in 1973–75. Upon his return, Mehdi was directed to attend the war course at the Air War College, where he earned a master's degree in War studies in 1976.^{: 177 [13]} In 1977, Squadron-Leader, Mehdi served to join the faculty of the Combat Commanders School (CCS), a TOPGUN training school, which he remained associated with several years.^{: 200–201 [13]}

From 1977 to 1979, Wing-Commander Mehdi served as the commanding officer of No. 9 Squadron Griffins, stationed at Sargodha Air Force Base (AFB).^{: 296 [14]} In 1981–83, Group-Captain Mehdi was appointed as the base commander of Sargodha AFB.^{: 199 [4]} During this time, Mehdi qualified as a combat pilot to fly the F-16s.^{: 25 [15]}

In 1991–93, Air-Commodore Mehdi was appointed air officer commanding of the Southern Air Command, based in Sindh, Pakistan, and was promoted to two-star rank, and transferred to command the Northern Air Command.^{: 199 [4]} In 1993, AVM Mehdi took over the command of the Air Defence Command, then-based in the Chaklala AFB.^{: 199 [4]} In 1995, Mehdi was promoted to the three-star rank, posted to the Air Headquarters (AHQ) in Islamabad as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Operations). He remained in this capacity until 1997.^{: 199 [4]}

In 1997, Air-Marshal Mehdi was elevated and appointed as the Vice Chief of Air Staff (VCAS) under then-Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Abbas Khattak.^{: 199 [4][16]}

Chief of Air Staff

Contingency plan of Kargil in 1999.

On 7 November 1997, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif approved the promotion of Mehdi to four-star rank, air chief marshal, and Medhi subsequently took over command of the Pakistan Air Force as its Chief of Air Staff (CAS) on 8 November 1997.^{: 113–114 [17][16][18]} As air chief, Mehdi played a crucial role in expanding the educational scope of the Air War College in Karachi, and backed up the military's plan for enhancing communications capabilities between the branches of the Pakistani military.^{: 137–177 [13]}

In 1998, Mehdi supported authorizing the nuclear weapon testing during a national security meeting with the civilian cabinet.^[19] Gen. Mehdi issued directives to the F-16s belonging to No. 11 Squadron Arrows to escort the C-130H strategically airlifting six-to-seven nuclear device to the weapon-testing sites in Balochistan, Pakistan.^[19][20] Mehdi did not comment or offer any opinion when Prime Minister Sharif relieved the military commission of then-Chairman Joint chiefs General Jehangir Karamat in 1998.^[21]

Kargil conflict

Mehdi commanded the Pakistan Air Force during a two-month long military confrontation with the Indian Army in 1999. Meeting with the chairman of the joint chiefs, Mehdi advised against involving the Air Force, stating:

(sic)...any intervention by the Pakistan Air Force into disputed land of Indian Kashmir would be perceived as an escalation to all-out declared war."^[21] Despite the strong urging of the JS HQ, the AHQ issued orders to their commanders to restrict the war efforts, knowing that "cross-border attacks either on the side of the LoC or the international border would invite an immediate response from the Indian Air Force, possibly in the shape of a retaliatory strike against the home base of the intruding fighters–thus starting the first round.^[21]

Furthermore, the aerial embargo placed by the United States in 1989–91 had badly affected the operational capabilities of the air force to carry out day-and-night combat missions.^[21] After much discussions, the F-16s were deployed but within the country's airspace and did not take part in the war.^[21] After the Indian Air Force initiated Operation Safed Sagar in support of the Indian Army, F-16s from the Northern Air Command were deployed for combat air patrol to protect Skardu Air Force Base against any Indian Air Force incursion.^[21]

In several meetings, Mehdi objected General Musharraf's grand strategy, pointing out the aftermath of Chengiz Khan, a successful mission of PAF that, however, led the start of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, which ended disasterously for Pakistan.^[21] Therefore, Mehdi objected to any direct confrontation^[21] but favoured the patrolling missions and remaining silent in support of other officers who gave vital criticism of Musharraf.^[21]

Retirement

In military and political circles, Mehdi's image was widely known to have an imposing personality, and a direct but strict attitude towards his principles.^[21] His retirement was eventually confirmed when a junior-most air force general was promoted succeed him, leading to speculations that "PQ Mehdi's rather straight-faced and forthright dealings with a somewhat junior-general Pervez Musharraf (although both graduated with same class) particularly during Kargil conflict was a good reason to believe that the general decided to appoint a not-very-senior air chief marshal whom he could order around like one of his Corps Commanders.".^[21]

Therefore, General Musharraf favoured superseding five senior air force generals and appointed a sixth-in-line to the four-star rank once Mehdi was due for retirement.^[21]

Foreign decorations

Foreign Awards
Turkey	Turkish Legion of Merit