Today, 20 August 2026, marks the 55th Shahadat Anniversary of Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed (Nishan-e-Haider), Pakistan’s youngest recipient of the country’s highest military gallantry award. 🇵🇰🕊️ On 20 August 1971, 20-year-old Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas was preparing for his second solo training flight in a T-33 jet trainer at PAF Base Masroor, Karachi. As he was taxiing towards the runway, his instructor, Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman, forced his way into the rear cockpit and took control of the aircraft. The aircraft took off and was turned towards India. After regaining consciousness, Rashid Minhas realized that the aircraft had been hijacked. He immediately informed PAF Base Masroor and fought to regain control of the aircraft. When he could not prevent the aircraft from being taken towards India, Rashid Minhas forced the T-33 to crash inside Pakistan, around 32 miles from the Indian border, sacrificing his own life to prevent the aircraft from being taken across the border. His supreme sacrifice at just 20 years of age became an enduring symbol of courage, patriotism, loyalty and devotion to duty. He was posthumously awarded the Nishan-e-Haider, becoming its youngest recipient. Just 20. A fearless pilot. An immortal sacrifice for Pakistan. 🇵🇰🕊️ 📍 PAF Base Masroor, Karachi → Sujawal, Sindh 📅 20 August 2026 #NationalUpdatesPK #RashidMinhasShaheed #NishanEHaider #Pakistan #pakistanairforce - @nationalupdatespk