Akhtar Hussain Malik

Akhtar Hussain Malik
Allegiance  Pakistan
Service/branch  Pakistan Army
Years of service 1947–1969
Rank Lieutenant General
Commands held 12th Division
Battles/wars Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Operation Grand Slam
Operation Gibraltar
Awards Hilal-i-Jurat (MI)

Lieutenant General Akhtar Hussain Malik (died 22 August 1969) was a distinguished General, a war hero of Pakistan Army in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1965.

Early years

Malik was born to an old farming Ahmadi Muslim family in a small village named Pindori, located in Punjab. He was the son of Malik Ghulam Nabi, a Headmaster at a local school. Despite the unavailability of schools in his village, his father made an effort to send him to a school miles away, where he and his friends had to walk for hours every day. After graduating from college, he enlisted as a sepoy in the British Army (during the time of the British Raj). But his personal qualities and education were soon noticed and he was sent to the officers' training school in Dera Doon. Malik's brilliance was recognized throughout his service in the British Army.

Personality

Major General Akhtar Hussain Mailk was known for his towering presence, unsullied boldness in strategy, quick thinking, and his love for his country. Although he was highly admired and respected by his subordinates, he was very outspoken. As a brilliant tactician he is also given for planning Operation Gibraltar and Operation Grand Slam with finalization from Ayub Khan.[1]

1965 war

As GOC 12th Division, he was the overall commander for Operation Grand Slam in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1965. For his successful handling of the initial phase of the operation, he was awarded the Hilal-i-Jurat, the second highest gallantry award of the Pakistan Army. Controversially, the command was handed over to General Yahya Khan in mid operation, resulting in delay and eventual failure of the operation. The cause for this midway switch over is an object of speculation to this day.

Legacy

Qudrat Ullah Shahab an eminent Urdu writer and civil servant from Pakistan said that

"At a time when Major (General) Akhtar Hussain Malik was to take over Akhnoor to pave the way to take Srinager, the capital of Kashmir, he was wrongly removed from the command, and General Yahya Khan was put in his position. Perhaps the aim was to deprive Pakistan success in Akhnoor, Yahya Khan accomplished this task very well."[2]

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto the ninth Prime Minister of Pakistan and its fourth President said

"Had General Akhtar Malik not been stopped in the Chamb-Jaurian Sector, the Indian forces in Kashmir would have suffered serious reverses, but Ayub Khan wanted to make his favorite, General Yahya Khan, a hero."[3]

Death

Malik was posted to CENTO in Ankara, Turkey where he died in a road accident. His body was brought back to Pakistan and was buried in Rabwah.

References

  1. ↑ Pakistan's Drift into Extremism: Allah, the Army, and America's War on Terror By Hassan Abbas Pg 44
  2. ↑ http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/12/27/426904/-A-Brief-Overview-of-Pakistan-s-Intelligence-Service
  3. ↑ Pakistan's Drift into Extremism: Allah, the Army, and America's War on Terror By Hassan Abbas Pg 51

External links

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