ISLAMABAD: Air Marshal (retd) Asghar Khan, the first native commander-in-chief of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), passed away at the age of 96 on Friday morning in Islamabad.

Khan, who became the youngest head of PAF at the age of 35, passed away after a long illness. He hailed from Abbottabad where he will be buried on Saturday.

“Khan headed the PAF diligently and with courage. With his leadership capabilities, he played a vital role in transforming the PAF into a modern air force,” present PAF chief Air Marshal Sohail Khan said in a statement issued by the PAF spokesman. “He had a good character, great commitment and professional capability.”

Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa paid tribute to the late fighter in a message posted on Twitter by military spokesman Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, calling him iconic.

The army chief expresses his grief on demise of Khan, who was an iconic soldier and will be remembered for his historic contributions for laying foundations of a strong PAF, Bajwa said.

Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan also shared a message of condolence on Twitter: Saddened to learn of Asghar Khan’s death early this morning. He transformed the PAF and was a man of steadfast principles and integrity. My prayers and condolences go to his family.

Khan, a former politician and a World War II veteran fighter pilot, was born in Jammu and Kashmir in 1921. He originally served as an officer in the British Indian Army.

In March 2017, the PAF Academy in Risalpur was named after Khan as a tribute to the veteran.