The PAF unit involved was No 14. Squadron Tail-choppers, which had on strength 20 Canadair Sabre Mk6s. These were the Canadair built versions of the F-86 Sabre which were upgraded with AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles and powered by the more powerful Avro Canada Orenda engine. These Sabres were smuggled into Pakistan through a clandestine deal organized between Germany and Iran This Squadron was commanded by Flight Lieutenant Parvaiz Mehdi Qureshi who later rose to become the CAS a role in which he was famous for his forthright and straight-faced dealings where he looked after the interests of the PAF