Abdul Hamid Khan (general)
Encyclopedia
General Abdul Hamid Khan, (Urdu
: عبد الحمید خان) HQA, SPk, SQA, was a Pakistan Army General. He was the Chief of Staff (COS) Pakistan Army
under President
General Yahya Khan
during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War.
, then Major General Abdul Hamid Khan served as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 11th Infantry Division
at Kasur. This division in addition to 10th Infantry Division under Major General Sarfraz Khan repelled the Indian thrust at Lahore
on 6 September 1965. His division captured the district of Khem Karan in Indian Punjab, though further advances were checked. He then repulsed multiple counter-attacks by the Indian Army in an effort to retake Khem Karan.
, then based in Kharian
(it is currently based in Mangla
). After martial law was imposed by General Yahya Khan
on 25 March 1969, Lt Gen Hamid Khan was made the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan Army and Deputy Martial Law Administrator of the country. During that time he briefly held the cabinet portfolio of Home Affairs for four months.
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
: عبد الحمید خان) HQA, SPk, SQA, was a Pakistan Army General. He was the Chief of Staff (COS) Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
under President
President of Pakistan
The President of Pakistan is the head of state, as well as figurehead, of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Recently passed an XVIII Amendment , Pakistan has a parliamentary democratic system of government. According to the Constitution, the President is chosen by the Electoral College to serve a...
General Yahya Khan
Yahya Khan
General Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan Qizilbash, H.Pk, HJ, S.Pk, psc was the third President of Pakistan from 1969 to 1971, following the resignation of Ayub Khan...
during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War.
1965 Battle of Khem Karan
During the 1965 Indo-Pakistani WarIndo-Pakistani War of 1965
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 was a culmination of skirmishes that took place between April 1965 and September 1965 between Pakistan and India. This conflict became known as the Second Kashmir War fought by India and Pakistan over the disputed region of Kashmir, the first having been fought in 1947...
, then Major General Abdul Hamid Khan served as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 11th Infantry Division
11th Infantry Division (Pakistan)
The 11th Infantry Division is an active formation of the Pakistan Army. It is currently deployed in Lahore as part of IV Corps, and is responsible for the defence of that city and the surrounding areas....
at Kasur. This division in addition to 10th Infantry Division under Major General Sarfraz Khan repelled the Indian thrust at Lahore
Battle of Lahore
The Battle of Lahore or the Lahore Front were a series of battles in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 fought in around Lahore. The battle ended with an Indian tactical victory however Indian forces stopped their assault on Lahore once they had reached outskirts of the city having captured Burki...
on 6 September 1965. His division captured the district of Khem Karan in Indian Punjab, though further advances were checked. He then repulsed multiple counter-attacks by the Indian Army in an effort to retake Khem Karan.
Career in the Yahya Government
After the war, Abdul Hamid Khan was promoted to Lieutenant General and served as the commander of I CorpsI Corps (Pakistan)
The I Corps, also known as I Strike Corps, of the Pakistan Army headquartered in Mangla, Azad Kashimir Province of Pakistan. Known as I Strike Corps, it is one of two strike corps within its ten manouvre Army corps...
, then based in Kharian
Kharian
Kharian is a city of Gujrat District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The chief city of Kharian Tehsil, it lies almost midway between Lahore and Islamabad on the Grand Trunk Road . This is the road which connects the city all the way to Bangladesh, India and Afghanistan and was used during...
(it is currently based in Mangla
Mangla
Mangla town is located in Mirpur District, Azad Kashmir at the border with Jhelum district Punjab, with Jhelum river making the boundary. Mangla is an ancient town and is slated to be named after Mangla Devi. It is also the site of crossing of river Jhelum by Alexander forces facing Raja Porus...
). After martial law was imposed by General Yahya Khan
Yahya Khan
General Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan Qizilbash, H.Pk, HJ, S.Pk, psc was the third President of Pakistan from 1969 to 1971, following the resignation of Ayub Khan...
on 25 March 1969, Lt Gen Hamid Khan was made the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan Army and Deputy Martial Law Administrator of the country. During that time he briefly held the cabinet portfolio of Home Affairs for four months.