| Akhtar Abdur Rahman | |
|---|---|
| Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee | |
| In office 29 March 1987 – 17 August 1988 |
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| Preceded by | Rahimuddin Khan |
| Succeeded by | Iftikhar Ahmed Sirohey |
| Director-General Inter-Services Intelligence | |
| In office 13 April 1980 – 29 March 1987 |
|
| Preceded by | Muhammad Riaz Khan |
| Succeeded by | Hamid Gul |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 June 1924 Rampur |
| Died | 17 August 1988 Bahawalpur |
| Alma mater | Government College University |
| Profession | Soldier |
| Religion | Islam |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Pakistan |
| Service/branch | Pakistan Army ISI Joint Services |
| Years of service | 1947–1988 |
| Rank | General |
| Unit | Punjab Regiment |
| Commands | GOC 12th Infantry Division, Murree DG Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee |
| Battles/wars | Indo-Pakistan War of 1948 Indo-Pakistan War of 1965 Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 Soviet War in Afghanistan |
| Awards | Sitara-e-Basalat Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) |
General Akhtar Abdur Rahman Khan (Urdu: اختر عبد الرحمن) (b. 11 June 1924 – 17 August 1988), born in Rampur, was a 4-star general in the Pakistan Army. He served as Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee from 1987–1988 and as Director-General Inter-Services Intelligence from 1980-1987. As DG ISI General Akhtar masterminded the Afghan Jehad against the Soviet Union by supporting the Afghan Mujahideen and eventually managed to force the Soviets out of Afghanistan. A close aide of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, General Akhtar was known as the second most powerful man in the country during Zia's eleven-year dictatorship. He died in a mysterious plane crash that also killed President Zia and many other top Pakistani generals heading the Soviet war in Afghanistan, as well as the US Ambassador to Pakistan Arnold Lewis Raphel. General Akhtar's sons Humayun and Haroon are prominent politicians in Pakistan. Humayun Akhtar Khan has previously served as a Federal Minister while Haroon Akhtar Khan is currently a Senator.
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After his Masters Degree in Economics (1945) from Government College, Lahore, General Akhtar joined the Army on 16 February 1947, before becoming Captain in 1949. Over the years, he gradually moved up the ranks and in 1971, as Major-General, he was made General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 12th Infantry Division, Murree. After nearly a decade as Major General, in 1979 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in addition to being appointed Director General of the ISI. During his seven year tenure, the ISI became one of the world's most powerful spy agencies. In 1987 at the pinnacle of his career, General Akhtar was promoted to the rank of a full General and was appointed Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. However, a year later he was martyred in uniform in the plane crash along with General Zia.
When the Soviet Union deployed its 40th Army in Afghanistan, many of General Zia's leading generals believed that Pakistan would be the Soviet Union's next target. They felt that because of Pakistan's strategic location and given the fact that it has warm water ports in the Arabian Sea, it could be a prime target for future invasion. Since the top military brass believed that the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan threatened Pakistan's national security, Pakistan's premier intelligence agency the ISI headed by General Akhtar started providing financial, military, and strategic assistance to the Afghan mujahideen. The ISI received billions of dollars in military assistance from the CIA and Saudi Arabia to train and command the Afghan rebels in a bid to defeat the Soviets. This covert operation was known as Operation Cyclone, and was executed with the CIA provided the money and weapons, the ISI trained and commanded the Afghan Mujahideen groups, and the Mujahideen conducted Guerilla warfare, ultimately helping lead to the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan. General Akhtar is widely praised for his role in the operation and its significant role in the conflict.
On August 17, 1988 General Akhtar Abdur Rahman died in a mysterious plane crash which also killed the President of Pakistan General Zia-ul-Haq. General Akhtar and General Zia along with many other top Pakistani Army officials were earlier in Bahawalpur to witness a US M1 Abrams tank demonstration. After witnessing a failed demonstration in which the tank missed most of its targets, the Generals left Bahawalpur in a C-130 Hercules. Shortly after taking off, the control tower lost contact with the aircraft which began flying erratically and eventually nosedived and exploded on impact. The mysterious nature of the crash along with the fact that the aircraft carried so many high profile figures has led to numerous conspiracy theories. A board of inquiry was set up to investigate the crash and it concluded that the most probable cause of the crash was a criminal act of sabotage perpetrated in the aircraft. It also suggested that poisonous gases were released which incapacitated the passengers and crew, which would explain why no Mayday signal was given. It is widely believed that the CIA, KGB, or RAW as well as certain disgruntled officials within the Pakistan Army were involved.
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