Akhtar Hussain Malik

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(PA – 148) Lieutenant General Akhtar Hussain Malik (d. 22 Aug 1969) was a distinguished General, a war hero of Pakistan Army in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1965 and follower of the religion Ahmadiyya.

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[edit] Early years

Malik was born in a middle class farming family in Punjab. Despite unavailability of schools in his village, he was sent 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 army. But his personal qualities and education was noticed soon and he was sent to the officers training school in Dera Doon. This was a time when muslims in India were discriminated against, but Malik's brilliance was recognized throughout his service in the British Army.

He was said to be a man of towering presence and was known for his acuteness of mind and boldness of spirit. He was loved and admired by his subordinates, but was far too outspoken to be of any comfort to most of his superiors. His professional excellence, however, was acknowledged both in military and civilian circles.

[edit] 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.

Qudrat Ullah Shahab had been a Minister of Information, Secretary to the President (Ayub Khan), and an Ambassador in Holland, and he was very informed and well connected person. He said that:

"At a time when Major (General) Akhtar Hussain Malik was to take over Akhanoor 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."

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, one of the main players of this game (Operation Grandslam), also later argued that,

“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.”

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.

Lieutenant General Akhtar Hussain Malik belonged to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

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