FAMILY BACKGROUND

One of Akhtar Abdul Rahman’s ancestors name was Adil khan, who was very close to the Mughal emperor Shahjahan. He was given a vast area of land as ‘Jageer’ around Jastarwal now in Indian Punjab. Akhtar Abdul Rahman’s Father Dr Abdul Rahman was one of the early MBBS doctors in the history of subcontinent. Dr Abdul Rahman did his MBBS from King Edward Medical College Lahore. He served for a long time in Peshawar. However, when Akhtar Abdul Rahman was very young his father Dr Abdul Rahman died. So he along with his mother came back to his ancestral village.

EARLY LIFE & EDUCATION

The anecdote of General Akhtar Abdul Rahman’s life, who is one of the finest generals of Pakistan army, is that being a child he would never have know that he will become a mastermind for the devastation of a world super power. He was born on 11 June 1924 and his father, Dr. Abdul Rahman died when he was three and a half years old. He completed his high school education from the Ajnala High school and after that he entered the Islamia College Amritsar.He enrolled in GCU in 1941, subsequently earning a Bachelor of science in statistics in 1945 followed by a MSc in Economics in 1947. Soon after completing his education he joined the Army and was commissioned in 1946. He led the journey of his life without a father, not knowing that he is going to even the scores with a super power in the near future, he was raised and educated by his mother.

MILITARY CAREER

General Akhtar Abdul Rahman joined the British Indian Army in 1946, before Pakistan Army in 1949. After witnessing the traumatic events during the partition, He was appointed as an instructor at the Artillery School in Nowshehra . Later, he was selected for an infantry training course with the British Army and was sent on deputation to complete a course in the United Kingdom.Upon returning to Pakistan, he was promoted to the rank of Major and posted as a Military to East-Pakistan Army from April 1954 to October 1954. He was later transferred to GHQ as a staff officer a position he held from April 1956 to February 1957.

He actively participated in the war of 1965, and was appointed at IV corps as an operational field officer. In the 1965 war he gallantly defended the Lahore sector and that led to his promotion to lieutenant colonel and he remained 2nd in Command of the infantry regiment in Lahore. After the war, he was promoted to the rank of colonel while being stationed with the IV Corps. Later, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier and transferred to northern parts of the country where he commanded an infantry brigade in Asad Kashmir. In 1971, he was promoted to the Two-Star General rank of Major General and served as GOC of the 12th infantry division stationed in Murree. as GOC of the 12th Infantry Division. Six months after the military coup of 1977 he was appointed as adjutant general at the GHQ for the next two years. In June 1979 he was promoted to lieutenant general and appointed as Director General of the ISI. During Afghan war his strategy, commitment and courage stopped the ambitions of USSR. He remained head of ISI for almost 8 years and this period of his utmost success is remembered all the time. In 1987, at the pinnacle of his career after having achieved remarkable success as in the Afghan war and protecting Pakistan’s Nuclear Program, General Akhtar was promoted to the four star rank and appointed Chairman Joint Chiefs of staff Committee the highest ranking four-star assignment in the Pakistan Military.

PAK INDIA WARS

General Akhtar Abdul Rahman took part in three Wars between India and Pakistan in 1948, 1965 and 1971. He proved his mettle in each war working at different positions. Soon after partition Pakistan and India came across in battle field in 1948. Then a Lieutenant, he was appointed in Kashmir at Pando. He took part in an operation against Indian forces known as Pando Tekri operation. It was a 10000 feet high peak which was to be captured for strategic point of view. Akhtar Abdul Rahman and his comrades fought with bravery and after two days of intense warfare, without supply from headquarters conquered the peak.

During war of 1965, he was promoted as lieutenant colonel and this time he proved his skills and courage in Lahore. He was second in command of an artillery regiment. He faced the Indian army at barki sector of Lahore. Brave soldiers of soil stopped the ambitions of Indian planners and destroyed the Indian Army that despite many advantages over Pakistani forces they couldn’t capture even a single inch of Pakistan’s area. When it became evident for India that they can’t move forward they planned to open other sectors. As an immediate response Akhtar Abdul Rahman was ordered to design another defense against Indian advancement at Rajhistan sector. Within hours Pakistan’s army established a defense line at Rajhistan sector. In victory of 1965 Akhtar Abdul Rahman was one the most prominent military officers of Pakistan who contributed towards defeat of Indian forces. He was serving as Brigadier during war of 1971. He was in Kasur Sector and commanding different military units. A huge attack of enemy was retreated just within nine hours. At the time of ceasefire Pakistan had captured a large area of Indian territory.

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