Asghar told FMT that he felt euphoric at the warm reception he received from Pakistani defence, security and government officials, as well as the local folk of Beer Village, who welcomed him as the esteemed guest.
Beer Village is located in Haripur district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province within the Hazara division, and is about 100km by road, north of Islamabad.
“My visit to the village was not planned, and it was in conjunction with my maiden visit as RMAF chief to a defence exhibition during that period.
“The Pakistani officials had learnt of my roots and extended me the hospitality to renew my acquaintance with my relatives there.
“I truly appreciate their warm hospitality and gesture,” said Asghar, 58, who helmed the RMAF two years ago.
Asghar was in Pakistan to officially attend the International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) 2024 in Karachi.
During his visit to Karachi, he was inducted into the Air War College’s Hall of Fame. He later paid a courtesy call on Pakistan Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu in Islamabad.
Asghar said he had attended a course at the college between 2007-2008, and obtained a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies from Islamabad University.
Touching on his meeting with Sidhu, Asghar said they discussed matters concerning joint exercises and training, enhancing defence cooperation as well as collaborating in industrial technology as Pakistan had developed many state-of-the-art products.
He also visited Pakistan’s various defence centres of excellence: the National Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance & Integrated Air Operations Centre; cyber command headquarters; the National Aerospace Science and Technology Park at Nur Khan Base in Rawalpindi; as well as maritime and naval aviation facilities.
“There are some similarities in their crew training modules and flight operations and we can learn from their experience concerning the realm of air power and tactical-combat flight training.
“Such a resolute and robust collaboration can further consolidate our bilateral ties in training, maintenance and operational excellence,” said Asghar.
In a lighter vein, Asghar joked that his village’s name – Beer – had no connection whatsoever with the alcoholic beverage!
Asghar said Pakistani authorities made special arrangements to fly him to Beer Village by helicopter with full official protocol and heightened security.
Asghar took time off to visit the homes of his family members and relatives before offering prayers at the graves of his ancestors, including his grand-father, Malik Qalandar Khan, and uncle, Malik Muhammad Yaqub.
Asghar’s father Goriman Khan was born in the same village before migrating to then Malaya, where he joined the police force.
“It was a very sentimental trip to my ancestral village to reconnect with my roots and honour my family’s legacy,” said Asghar, whose wife Bibi Nasratjahan Gulab Khan accompanied him as her family is also from Haripur.