From ‘Rafale hunter’ to ‘national crush’: Who is Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed?

ISLAMABAD: During the recent Pakistan-India tensions, Pakistan Air Force Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed has become the most popular Pakistan Air Force officer, whose profile is being searched the most on the internet.

A single sentence by Pakistan Air Force Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed going viral on social media:

“I am Air Vice Marshal, and I will start from where I left off… Pakistan Air Force 6, Indian Air Force 0.” has made him a national heartthrob in an instance.

He uttered this sentence at the start of a late-night press briefing, after which social media was flooded with memes, video clips and laudatory posts.

At the age of above 50, Aurangzeb Ahmed was commissioned into the Pakistan Air Force in 1992. His career spans three decades, during which he has commanded a fighter squadron and an operational air base.

His confident and enthusiastic briefings on the performance of the Pakistan Air Force during the recent Indo-Pak tensions made him a public hero.

FROM DGPR TO NATIONAL FACE

Since 2022, Aurangzeb Ahmed has been holding the post of DGPR (Director General Public Relations), and in this capacity, he has become the public face of the Pakistan Air Force.

His recent briefings, especially regarding effective air operations against India, have made him the center of media attention.

PRIVATE LIFE

Despite his public popularity, very little information is available about Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed’s personal life. He is considered discreet and reticent in personal matters. His spirit of service can be gauged from the fact that he has been awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military).

SOCIAL MEDIA BUZZ, BUT WITHOUT AN OFFICIAL ACCOUNT

Although Aurangzeb Ahmed does not have a verified Instagram account, he has become a top trending figure on social media. Clips of his press conference have gone viral on social media platforms. In these briefings, he debunked several rumours, such as the false news of the capture of an Indian pilot. He also shared details of Pakistan’s air strikes, including the targeting of Indian Rafale jets and the destruction of 26 Indian military targets.

Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed’s confident speech, strategic understanding and military acumen have made him an important and prominent national figure.

Taliban arrest 14 people for playing music and singing