Aziz Ahmed
Encyclopedia
Aziz Ahmed, HPk, was a career Pakistani statesman
and diplomat during the Cold war
served as 12th Foreign Minister, serving under executed Prime minister
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
. Prior to 1960 to 1967, Ahmed served as the Foreign policy adviser
to the military government
of President
Ayub Khan.
First appointed and served as the Pakistan Ambassador to the United States
in 1959, Aziz Ahmed was the closest Foreign policy adviser to the President Ayub Khan during 1960 until 1967. He initially gained national prominence when he served as the Foreign secretary
under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who was then Foreign Minister, and took retirement in the opposition of Tashkent Agreement, signed by Ayub Khan to maintain and hold ceasefire with India
in 1965. After a power struggle
between Mujibur Rehman, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
, and General Yahya Khan in 1970 which led to disintegration
of United Pakistan, Ahmad joined hands with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and served as the Foreign minister of Pakistan. His term was cut short after the successful implementation of military coup d'état, codename Operation Fair Play
, and subsequently retired from the civil services after he made strong comments against the military dictatorship of General Zia-ul-Haq. From 1977 until his death in 1982, Ahmed lived a quiet life in Islamabad
and died in 1982.
of Amritsar
, British Indian Empire in 1906 to a middle-Working family
which belonged to an Urdu-speaking class. Ahmed received his education at Amritsar and moved to Lahore
for his further studies and permanently settled there. There, he attended the Government College University
in 1924, and graduated with a B.Sc.
in Political science
in 1928. He proceeded his higher studies in United Kingdom
where with a scholarship offered and awarded by the British government, Ahmad subsequently studied at the University of Cambridge
in 1929. In 1933, Aziz gained M.Sc.
in Political science, followed by another M.Sc. in Foreign policy
. Upon his return Ahmed passed the civil service exam and gained commissioned in Indian Civil Service.
prior to partition (1947) and was instrumental in getting the Debt Alleviation Act of 1935 passed into legislation. Aziz Ahmed subsequently held several senior positions in successive administrations in newly-independent Pakistan
. He was appointed as the first Chief Secretary of East-Pakistan
at a time when General Muhammad Ayub Khan was the General Officer Commanding
for East Pakistan. The two developed a close friendship and when Ayub Khan declared martial law and assumed full powers in 1958, Aziz Ahmed was made the highest ranking civil servant in his government as Secretary General Cabinet Division and Deputy Martial Law Administrator.
Subsequently he was sent as Pakistan Ambassador to the United States
in 1959 and was instrumental in developing the strong ties between the two countries, that characterized both the Eisenhower and the Kennedy administrations of the early sixties. He returned in 1963 to take up the post of Foreign Secretary
at a time when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
was the Foreign Minister
. He gained further prominence at the national level in Pakistan, following the 1965 war
with India. He was opposed to the signing of the Tashkent Declaration
by Ayub Khan as was Bhutto. He retired from government service in 1966 and was assigned to head the National Press Trust.
was preparing and planning an offense attack on West-Pakistan
, therefore the government decided to launch the counter-attack.
Aziz and Bhutto played an important role in drafting the Gibraltar
, and along with Bhutto, Aziz spurred on by pressing the Government to take advantage of the disturbed situation in the valley and direct the Army to send raiders into Indian held Kashmir for conducting guerrilla activities there and to help the locals organizing a movement with a view to eventually starting an uprising against the occupying power. Throughout this war, Ahmed assisted Bhutto on numerous occasions on the war and initially gained Bhutto's confidence, soon the pair became good friends. During this war, Morrice James somehow continued Ayub Khan to accept the cease-fire appeal from India
, and that Pakistan may not be able fight with out weapons. At the UNSC
, Aziz joined Bhutto where Bhutto famously announced that, "Pakistan will fight, fight for a thousand years". Soon Aziz received a message from Khan to announce Pakistan's willingness for ceasefire. Aziz and Bhutto disagreed with Khan's policy, though the pair did assist Khan in Tashkent to sign the Tashkent Agreement with India under the auspicious of Soviet Union
. Soon after this agreement, Ahmed took the retirement from the Foreign Service and expressed a strong oppostion against the government of Ayub Khan.
, followed by 1971 Winter war
, Bhutto was hastily made President
on 20th December of 1971. After he was made President, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
summoned Aziz Ahmed out of retirement and appointed him Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
. Subsequently, Aziz Ahmed was regarded as one of Bhutto's closest confidantes as Minister of State for Defence and Foreign Affairs and finally as Foreign Minister for a few months, before the government was toppled in the military coup of 1977. Aziz Ahmed assisted in negotiating the Simla Agreement between Pakistan and India
in 1972 and organizing the Islamic Summit in 1974, where he headed Pakistan's delegation. As Minister of Defence, he played a key role in re-building Pakistan's defense capability after the 1971 war with India as well as the development of the country's nuclear programme. Aziz convinced Richard Nixon
to ensure the supply of weapons to Pakistan to counter the Indian hegemony.
Aziz worked with Bhutto building ties with China, and the Arab world and also helped Bhutto to negotiate with Soviet Union
for economical assistance. His term as Foreign Minister cut short and was arrested by Military police
after the successful commenced of Operation Fair Play
in 1977. Aziz was placed in Adiala Jail with and witnessed the oppression against Bhutto and his friends.
Released in 1980, Aziz's health had deteriorated though he remained a staunch opponent of martial law and the military government of General Zia-ul-Haq
. Aziz peacefully died in 1982 and was buried in Lahore Cemetery by his family. He was a recipient of Pakistan's highest civil award, Hilal-e-Pakistan. On his death, he was survived by his wife Shereen Ahmed, two sons and two daughters.
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
and diplomat during the Cold war
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
served as 12th Foreign Minister, serving under executed Prime minister
Prime Minister of Pakistan
The Prime Minister of Pakistan , is the Head of Government of Pakistan who is designated to exercise as the country's Chief Executive. By the Constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan has the parliamentary democratic system of government...
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977, and prior to that, 4th President of Pakistan from 1971 to 1973. Bhutto was the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party — the largest and most influential political party in Pakistan— and served as its chairman until his...
. Prior to 1960 to 1967, Ahmed served as the Foreign policy adviser
Foreign Secretary of Pakistan
The Foreign Secretaries of Pakistan is the bureaucratic head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Secretary, as in all other ministries of Government of Pakistan, works under the Minister who is the member of National Assembly...
to the military government
Military government
Military government can refer to conditions under either Military occupation, or Military dictatorship.-Military Government:Military government is the form of administration by which an occupying power exercises governmental authority over occupied territory.The Hague Conventions of 1907 specify...
of 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...
Ayub Khan.
First appointed and served as the Pakistan Ambassador to the United States
Pakistan Ambassador to the United States
The embassy of Pakistan in Washington, D.C. was built in 28 August 1947, when Pakistan attained independence from Great Britain and separated from India to form the Dominion of Pakistan. From the onset, Pakistan adopted a pro-American policy with relations taking an upturn in 1954 when Pakistan...
in 1959, Aziz Ahmed was the closest Foreign policy adviser to the President Ayub Khan during 1960 until 1967. He initially gained national prominence when he served as the Foreign secretary
Foreign Secretary of Pakistan
The Foreign Secretaries of Pakistan is the bureaucratic head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Secretary, as in all other ministries of Government of Pakistan, works under the Minister who is the member of National Assembly...
under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who was then Foreign Minister, and took retirement in the opposition of Tashkent Agreement, signed by Ayub Khan to maintain and hold ceasefire with India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in 1965. After a power struggle
Pakistani general election, 1970
General elections were held for the first time in Pakistan in on 7 December 1970, although the polls in East Pakistan, originally scheduled for October, were delayed by disastrous floods and rescheduled for later in December and January 1971....
between Mujibur Rehman, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977, and prior to that, 4th President of Pakistan from 1971 to 1973. Bhutto was the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party — the largest and most influential political party in Pakistan— and served as its chairman until his...
, and General Yahya Khan in 1970 which led to disintegration
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military conflict between India and Pakistan. Indian, Bangladeshi and international sources consider the beginning of the war to be Operation Chengiz Khan, Pakistan's December 3, 1971 pre-emptive strike on 11 Indian airbases...
of United Pakistan, Ahmad joined hands with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and served as the Foreign minister of Pakistan. His term was cut short after the successful implementation of military coup d'état, codename Operation Fair Play
Operation Fair Play
Operation Fairplay was the code-name for the coup d'etat conducted at midnight on July 4, 1977 by the Pakistan Army's 111th Infantry Brigade led by Chief of Army Staff General Zia-ul-Haq against the elected civilian government of then-Prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.-1977 election:The coup was...
, and subsequently retired from the civil services after he made strong comments against the military dictatorship of General Zia-ul-Haq. From 1977 until his death in 1982, Ahmed lived a quiet life in Islamabad
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
and died in 1982.
Early life and education
Aziz Ahmed was born in T-T DistrictTarn Taran district
Tarn Taran district is one of the districts in the state of Punjab in North-West Republic of India. Some of its main cities are Tarn Taran Sahib which is located near Amritsar and Patti, City of Taran Taran is a holy place for Sikhs of India and abroad.Tarn Taran district was formed in 2006 from...
of Amritsar
Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
, British Indian Empire in 1906 to a middle-Working family
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
which belonged to an Urdu-speaking class. Ahmed received his education at Amritsar and moved to Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
for his further studies and permanently settled there. There, he attended the Government College University
Government College University
Government College University, Lahore is a co-educational public university located on The Mall in Lahore, Pakistan...
in 1924, and graduated with a B.Sc.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
in 1928. He proceeded his higher studies in United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
where with a scholarship offered and awarded by the British government, Ahmad subsequently studied at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in 1929. In 1933, Aziz gained M.Sc.
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in Political science, followed by another M.Sc. in Foreign policy
Foreign policy
A country's foreign policy, also called the foreign relations policy, consists of self-interest strategies chosen by the state to safeguard its national interests and to achieve its goals within international relations milieu. The approaches are strategically employed to interact with other countries...
. Upon his return Ahmed passed the civil service exam and gained commissioned in Indian Civil Service.
Career as civil servant
Aziz Ahmed was a senior member of the Indian Civil Service (ICS) and later Civil Service of Pakistan (CSP). In 1948, Ahmed served in East BengalEast Bengal
East Bengal was the name used during two periods in the 20th century for a territory that roughly corresponded to the modern state of Bangladesh. Both instances involved a violent partition of Bengal....
prior to partition (1947) and was instrumental in getting the Debt Alleviation Act of 1935 passed into legislation. Aziz Ahmed subsequently held several senior positions in successive administrations in newly-independent Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. He was appointed as the first Chief Secretary of East-Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
at a time when General Muhammad Ayub Khan was the General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth nations to a general officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, a general might be the GOC II Corps or GOC 7th Armoured Division...
for East Pakistan. The two developed a close friendship and when Ayub Khan declared martial law and assumed full powers in 1958, Aziz Ahmed was made the highest ranking civil servant in his government as Secretary General Cabinet Division and Deputy Martial Law Administrator.
Subsequently he was sent as Pakistan Ambassador to the United States
Pakistan Ambassador to the United States
The embassy of Pakistan in Washington, D.C. was built in 28 August 1947, when Pakistan attained independence from Great Britain and separated from India to form the Dominion of Pakistan. From the onset, Pakistan adopted a pro-American policy with relations taking an upturn in 1954 when Pakistan...
in 1959 and was instrumental in developing the strong ties between the two countries, that characterized both the Eisenhower and the Kennedy administrations of the early sixties. He returned in 1963 to take up the post of Foreign Secretary
Foreign Secretary of Pakistan
The Foreign Secretaries of Pakistan is the bureaucratic head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Secretary, as in all other ministries of Government of Pakistan, works under the Minister who is the member of National Assembly...
at a time when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977, and prior to that, 4th President of Pakistan from 1971 to 1973. Bhutto was the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party — the largest and most influential political party in Pakistan— and served as its chairman until his...
was the Foreign Minister
Foreign Minister of Pakistan
The Foreign Minister of Pakistan heads the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The current Foreign Minister is Hina Rabbani Khar who took office as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs on 11 February 2011, and as full Minister of Foreign Affairs on 20 July, 2011...
. He gained further prominence at the national level in Pakistan, following the 1965 war
Indo-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...
with India. He was opposed to the signing of the Tashkent Declaration
Tashkent Declaration
The Tashkent Declaration of 10 January 1966 was a peace agreement between India and Pakistan. In September 1965 before the two had engaged in the short run Indo-Pakistani War of 1965...
by Ayub Khan as was Bhutto. He retired from government service in 1966 and was assigned to head the National Press Trust.
Indo-Pakistan war of 1965
Ahmed initially gained public prominence with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1965. On 4th September, 1965, following the amid skirmishes, Ahmed received a warning from the Pakistan Embassy to Turkey, that Indian ArmyIndian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
was preparing and planning an offense attack on West-Pakistan
West Pakistan
West Pakistan , common name West-Pakistan , in the period between its establishment on 22 November 1955 to disintegration on December 16, 1971. This period, during which, Pakistan was divided, ended when East-Pakistan was disintegrated and succeeded to become which is now what is known as Bangladesh...
, therefore the government decided to launch the counter-attack.
Aziz and Bhutto played an important role in drafting the Gibraltar
Operation Gibraltar
Operation Gibraltar was the codename given to the strategy of Pakistan to infiltrate Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state of India, and start a rebellion against Indian rule...
, and along with Bhutto, Aziz spurred on by pressing the Government to take advantage of the disturbed situation in the valley and direct the Army to send raiders into Indian held Kashmir for conducting guerrilla activities there and to help the locals organizing a movement with a view to eventually starting an uprising against the occupying power. Throughout this war, Ahmed assisted Bhutto on numerous occasions on the war and initially gained Bhutto's confidence, soon the pair became good friends. During this war, Morrice James somehow continued Ayub Khan to accept the cease-fire appeal from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, and that Pakistan may not be able fight with out weapons. At the UNSC
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
, Aziz joined Bhutto where Bhutto famously announced that, "Pakistan will fight, fight for a thousand years". Soon Aziz received a message from Khan to announce Pakistan's willingness for ceasefire. Aziz and Bhutto disagreed with Khan's policy, though the pair did assist Khan in Tashkent to sign the Tashkent Agreement with India under the auspicious of Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. Soon after this agreement, Ahmed took the retirement from the Foreign Service and expressed a strong oppostion against the government of Ayub Khan.
Foreign Minister
Soon after the East-Pakistan disasterBangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....
, followed by 1971 Winter war
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military conflict between India and Pakistan. Indian, Bangladeshi and international sources consider the beginning of the war to be Operation Chengiz Khan, Pakistan's December 3, 1971 pre-emptive strike on 11 Indian airbases...
, Bhutto was hastily made 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...
on 20th December of 1971. After he was made President, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977, and prior to that, 4th President of Pakistan from 1971 to 1973. Bhutto was the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party — the largest and most influential political party in Pakistan— and served as its chairman until his...
summoned Aziz Ahmed out of retirement and appointed him Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Pakistan)
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs is the junior minister in the government and the deputy head of Ministry of Foreign Affairs after the Foreign Minister. The current Minister of State for Foreign Affairs is Ahmed Poria who took charge in July, 2011....
. Subsequently, Aziz Ahmed was regarded as one of Bhutto's closest confidantes as Minister of State for Defence and Foreign Affairs and finally as Foreign Minister for a few months, before the government was toppled in the military coup of 1977. Aziz Ahmed assisted in negotiating the Simla Agreement between Pakistan and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in 1972 and organizing the Islamic Summit in 1974, where he headed Pakistan's delegation. As Minister of Defence, he played a key role in re-building Pakistan's defense capability after the 1971 war with India as well as the development of the country's nuclear programme. Aziz convinced Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
to ensure the supply of weapons to Pakistan to counter the Indian hegemony.
Aziz worked with Bhutto building ties with China, and the Arab world and also helped Bhutto to negotiate with Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
for economical assistance. His term as Foreign Minister cut short and was arrested by Military police
Military police
Military police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...
after the successful commenced of Operation Fair Play
Operation Fair Play
Operation Fairplay was the code-name for the coup d'etat conducted at midnight on July 4, 1977 by the Pakistan Army's 111th Infantry Brigade led by Chief of Army Staff General Zia-ul-Haq against the elected civilian government of then-Prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.-1977 election:The coup was...
in 1977. Aziz was placed in Adiala Jail with and witnessed the oppression against Bhutto and his friends.
Released in 1980, Aziz's health had deteriorated though he remained a staunch opponent of martial law and the military government of General Zia-ul-Haq
Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq
General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq , was the 4th Chief Martial Law Administrator and the sixth President of Pakistan from July 1977 to his death in August 1988...
. Aziz peacefully died in 1982 and was buried in Lahore Cemetery by his family. He was a recipient of Pakistan's highest civil award, Hilal-e-Pakistan. On his death, he was survived by his wife Shereen Ahmed, two sons and two daughters.
See also
- Muhammad Ayub Khan
- Zulfikar Ali BhuttoZulfikar Ali BhuttoZulfikar Ali Bhutto was 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977, and prior to that, 4th President of Pakistan from 1971 to 1973. Bhutto was the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party — the largest and most influential political party in Pakistan— and served as its chairman until his...
- Pakistan Ambassador to the United StatesPakistan Ambassador to the United StatesThe embassy of Pakistan in Washington, D.C. was built in 28 August 1947, when Pakistan attained independence from Great Britain and separated from India to form the Dominion of Pakistan. From the onset, Pakistan adopted a pro-American policy with relations taking an upturn in 1954 when Pakistan...