Military Career Akhtar Abdur Rahman

1 military career

1.1 rising through ranks
1.2 soviet-afghan war
1.3 assassination

military career
rising through ranks

general akhtar abdur rahman joined british indian army in 1946, before becoming captain in pakistan army in 1949. after witnessing traumatic events during partition, akhtar appointed instructor @ artillery school in nowshera. later, selected infantry training course british army , sent on deputation complete course in united kingdom. upon returning pakistan, promoted rank of major , posted military adviser east-pakistan army april 1954 october 1954. later transferred general combatant headquarters (ghq) staff officer, position held april 1956 february 1957. actively participated in indo-pakistani war of 1965 , appointed @ iv corps operational field officer. in 1965 war gallantly defended lahore sector , led promotion lieutenant-colonel , remained second-in-command of infantry regiment in lahore. after war, promoted rank of colonel while being stationed iv corps. later, promoted rank of brigadier , transferred northern parts of country commanded infantry brigade in azad kashmir.

in 1971, promoted two-star general rank of major-general , served general officer commanding (goc) of 12th infantry division stationed in murree. goc of 12th infantry division, general akhtar considered close prime minister zulfiqar ali bhutto , received bhutto whenever visited command office of 12th division. did not take part in 1977 millitary coup , privately opposed martial law remove prime minister zulfikar ali bhutto. 6 months after military coup of 1977 appointed adjutant general @ general headquarters next 2 years. during time, general akhtar became aware of conspiracy in lieutenant-general faiz ali chishti of x corps, close associate of general zia-ul-haq, secretly became rebellious , conspired stage military coup in country. of 1979, akhtar received call general chishti , met him @ office in chaklala military district (cmd). @ meeting, general chishti informed him of conspiracy aimed topple general zia-ul-haq , seeked assistance. according news international s intelligence unit, chishti under impression since rahman had not been promoted, accept invitation; when promised after coup worked out successfully, not promoted become 1 of pillars of new regime. after returning ghq, general akhtar contacted general zia-ul-haq , foiled plot against zia. in june 1979 after counter-coup had been foiled, president general zia-ul-haq awarded general akhtar promotion lieutenent general , appointed him director general of isi.

soviet-afghan war

when soviet union deployed 40th army in afghanistan, pakistan s top military brass led general akhtar believed pakistan soviet union s next target. felt because of pakistan s strategic location , given fact has warm water ports in arabian sea, prime target future invasion. considering soviet invasion of afghanistan threatened pakistan s national security, pakistan s premier intelligence agency isi headed general akhtar started providing financial, military, , strategic assistance afghan mujahideen. isi received billions of dollars in military assistance cia , saudi arabia train , command afghan rebels in bid defeat soviets. covert operation known operation cyclone, , executed cia providing money , weapons, isi training , commanding afghan mujahideen groups, , mujahideen conducting guerrilla warfare, leading soviet withdrawal afghanistan. during time, general akhtar developed highly effective working relationship key figures in united states including cia director william casey , congressman charlie wilson.

during tenure dg isi, general akhtar s influence on pakistan s atomic weapons program grew , worked tirelessly collect around him colleagues equally dynamic , determined make isi organisation influence domestic , external policies of country , under him isi became recognized 1 of powerful spy agencies in world. in 1987 @ pinnacle of career after having achieved remarkable success in afghan war , protecting pakistan s nuclear program, general akhtar promoted four-star rank , appointed chairman of joint chiefs of staff committee, highest ranking four-star assignment in pakistan armed forces.

assassination

on august 17th, 1988, general akhtar died in plane crash along several other high profile casualties including president of pakistan general zia-ul-haq , ambassador pakistan arnold lewis raphel. general akhtar had accompanied general zia bahawalpur in c-130b hercules presidential aircraft witness m1 abrams tank demonstration. after generals witnessed demonstration, aircraft departed bahawalpur airport , expected reach islamabad international airport.[110] shortly after smooth takeoff, control tower lost contact aircraft. witnesses saw plane in air claimed flying erratically , nosedived , exploded on impact, killing 31 passengers on board. shortly after plane crash, senate chairman ghulam ishaq khan became president , announced zia s death on radio , tv. [113] there speculation various state intelligence agencies including soviet kgb, indian raw, israeli mossad, , afghan khad (in retaliation pakistani support of mujahideen in afghanistan) or alliance of 4 countries intelligence agencies along dissident groups within pakistan army involved in incident.

shortly after crash, board of inquiry set investigate it. concluded probable cause of crash criminal act of sabotage perpetrated in aircraft . suggested poisonous gases released incapacitated passengers , crew, explain why no mayday signal given.[116] there speculation other facts involving details of investigation. flight recorder (black box) not located after crash , previous c-130 aircraft did have them installed. day, cause of plane crash remains mystery , has given rise many conspiracy theories.