Naseem Rana
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-General Naseem Rana (Urdu: نسيم رانا; born 20 September 1942) is a retired three-star
general in the Pakistan Army
, who in the course of Pakistan war in Afghanistan, played a pivotal role in leading the ISI in promoting Pakistani Interest during the Afghanistan Civil War to provide help to irregular hardline Taliban forces against the Indian and Russian backed Northern Alliance
. He was the director-general of the Inter-Services Intelligence
from 1995 to October 1998, in which, he was responsible for gathering information against the Northern Alliance and provided his backing to the Taliban which later defeated the Northern Alliance and occupied around much of the Afghanistan.
. After receiving his initial education, Rana went on to join the Pakistan Military Academy
in 1960 as he received the letter of acceptance. Rana' gained his B.Sc.
in Information technology
and specialized in military communications. After his graduation, Rana was given commissioned in the Corps of Signals Engineering
on 19 April 1964. Rana participated in Indo-Pakistani war of 1965
and led a Signals platoon. After the war, Rana was sent to complete a military staff course in Quetta. In 1967, Rana joined the Command and Staff College
in Quetta
and where he gained M.Sc.
in Military science
in 1969. Following his degree, Rana was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and commanded the Signal battalion.
Stationed close to Indo-Pakistan border, Rana' commanded the Signals battlion during the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971
. After the war, Rana' served in Lahore and later joined the National Defence University in 1974. In 1976, Rana obtained M.Sc.
in Operational analysis and was promoted to the rank of Colonel. Following his degree, Rana was made Colonel on the Staff of the 40th Army Infantry Division and served there until 1980. In 1981, Rana went to United States
and attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College.
where he gained specialized degree in operational and command analysis in 1984. After his education, Rana began in active duty and was stationed near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border where major battle against Soviet Union and her ally Soviet Afghanistan was undertaking. As part of the successful covert operations
, Rana remained a vital part in the war and coordinated joint operations in the war. In 1989, Rana was made instructor at the School of Infantry and Tactics, and academic professor at the Command and Staff College Quetta during the period between 1989 till 1991. In 1991, Rana was promoted to 1-star Brigadier General and was made director-general of the Combat Development Directorate, and in 1993, he was made directorate-general of the Weapon and Equipment Directorate. In 1994, Rana was promoted to Major-General was made General Officer Commanding
of the 85th Signals Division in the Peshawar. In two week, he was made the General Officer Commanding of the 40th Army Infantry Division in Peshawar where he supervised covert support to Pakistan-based Taliban forces fighting against the Northern Alliance.
In 1995 critical developments were taking place in Afghanistan. Therefore, Chief of Army Staff of that time, General Abdul Waheed Kakar appointed him as the Director of the Inter-Services Intelligence
(ISI).
. Rana commanded the ISI. In 1997, independent brigades of 40th Infantry and the Frontier Force Regiment
moved to protect the Pakistan Border from any infiltrations
, a post he headed as Lieutenant-General until 2001. As Defence Secretary, Rana oversaw the victory of Taliban in Afghanistan in 2000 where Taliban had control over 90% of the country based on his intelligence support. As aftermath of terrorist attacks on the United States
on September 11, 2001, General Musharraf immediately removed him from the post as he was one of the primary planner and figure in the conflict that arise the Taliban in Afghanistan. Within days, Rana was re-located and decided to remained silence, and lives a quiet life in Islamabad.
. His role in the Pakistan war in Afghanistan was vital as he served as the commander of entire Pakistan Army's combatant elements in the Afghanistan. In 2005, Dr. Ayesha Siddiqa, one of Pakistan's top military scientist, wrote and published a book, titled "The Military Economy" providing the accounts of his military involvements in Afghanistan. Dr. Ayesha Siddiqa rendered him as Georgy Zhukov
of Pakistan, due to his resemblance to Georgy Zhukov. She also noted in her book over his operational leadership that was highly compared to Georgy Zhukov by dr. Siddiqa.
3 star rank
An officer of three-star rank is a very senior commander in many of the armed services holding a rank described by the NATO code of OF-8. The term is also used by some armed forces which are not NATO members...
general in the 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...
, who in the course of Pakistan war in Afghanistan, played a pivotal role in leading the ISI in promoting Pakistani Interest during the Afghanistan Civil War to provide help to irregular hardline Taliban forces against the Indian and Russian backed Northern Alliance
Northern Alliance
The Afghan Northern Alliance is a military-political umbrella organization created by the Islamic State of Afghanistan in 1996.Northern Alliance may also refer to:*Northern Alliance , a Canadian white supremacist group...
. He was the director-general of the Inter-Services Intelligence
Inter-Services Intelligence
The Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence , is Pakistan's premier intelligence agency, responsible for providing critical national security intelligence assessment to the Government of Pakistan...
from 1995 to October 1998, in which, he was responsible for gathering information against the Northern Alliance and provided his backing to the Taliban which later defeated the Northern Alliance and occupied around much of the Afghanistan.
Military career
Rana was born in middle class and stricken family of Rawalpindi, British Indian Empire in 1942, in the midst of World war IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After receiving his initial education, Rana went on to join the Pakistan Military Academy
Pakistan Military Academy
The Pakistan Military Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service military academy. It is located at Kakul near Abbottabad in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan....
in 1960 as he received the letter of acceptance. Rana' gained his 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 Information technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
and specialized in military communications. After his graduation, Rana was given commissioned in the Corps of Signals Engineering
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...
on 19 April 1964. Rana participated in Indo-Pakistani war of 1965
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...
and led a Signals platoon. After the war, Rana was sent to complete a military staff course in Quetta. In 1967, Rana joined the Command and Staff College
Command and Staff College
The Command and Staff College was established in 1907 at Quetta, Balochistan, British Raj, now in Pakistan, and is the oldest and the most prestigious institution of the Pakistan Army. It was established in 1905 in Deolali and moved to its present location at Quetta in 1907 under the name of Quetta...
in Quetta
Quetta
is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
and where he 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 Military science
Military science
Military science is the process of translating national defence policy to produce military capability by employing military scientists, including theorists, researchers, experimental scientists, applied scientists, designers, engineers, test technicians, and military personnel responsible for...
in 1969. Following his degree, Rana was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and commanded the Signal battalion.
Stationed close to Indo-Pakistan border, Rana' commanded the Signals battlion during the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971
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...
. After the war, Rana' served in Lahore and later joined the National Defence University in 1974. In 1976, Rana obtained 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 Operational analysis and was promoted to the rank of Colonel. Following his degree, Rana was made Colonel on the Staff of the 40th Army Infantry Division and served there until 1980. In 1981, Rana went to United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College.
Staff appointments
Rana is a prominent attendee of the international Defence Management course in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where he gained specialized degree in operational and command analysis in 1984. After his education, Rana began in active duty and was stationed near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border where major battle against Soviet Union and her ally Soviet Afghanistan was undertaking. As part of the successful covert operations
Operation Cyclone
Operation Cyclone was the code name for the United States Central Intelligence Agency program to arm, train, and finance the Afghan mujahideen during the Soviet war in Afghanistan, 1979 to 1989...
, Rana remained a vital part in the war and coordinated joint operations in the war. In 1989, Rana was made instructor at the School of Infantry and Tactics, and academic professor at the Command and Staff College Quetta during the period between 1989 till 1991. In 1991, Rana was promoted to 1-star Brigadier General and was made director-general of the Combat Development Directorate, and in 1993, he was made directorate-general of the Weapon and Equipment Directorate. In 1994, Rana was promoted to Major-General was made 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...
of the 85th Signals Division in the Peshawar. In two week, he was made the General Officer Commanding of the 40th Army Infantry Division in Peshawar where he supervised covert support to Pakistan-based Taliban forces fighting against the Northern Alliance.
In 1995 critical developments were taking place in Afghanistan. Therefore, Chief of Army Staff of that time, General Abdul Waheed Kakar appointed him as the Director of the Inter-Services Intelligence
Inter-Services Intelligence
The Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence , is Pakistan's premier intelligence agency, responsible for providing critical national security intelligence assessment to the Government of Pakistan...
(ISI).
Civil War in Afghanistan
In 1996, a wide spread of insurgency was spread in all over the AfghanistanAfghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. Rana commanded the ISI. In 1997, independent brigades of 40th Infantry and the Frontier Force Regiment
Frontier Force Regiment
For Pakistan's Border Guard see: Frontier CorpsThe Frontier Force Regiment is one of six Infantry regiments in the Pakistan Army. At present, the regiment consists of 67 battalions and has its regimental depot at Abbottabad in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. For that reason Abbottabad is also known as Home of...
moved to protect the Pakistan Border from any infiltrations
Defence Secretary
Shortly after General Musharraf installed a military government, Rana was appointed as the Defence SecretaryDefence Secretary of Pakistan
Defence Secretary of Pakistan is the highest bureaucratic position within the Ministry of Defence of Pakistan. Following is the list of the defence secretaries to date....
, a post he headed as Lieutenant-General until 2001. As Defence Secretary, Rana oversaw the victory of Taliban in Afghanistan in 2000 where Taliban had control over 90% of the country based on his intelligence support. As aftermath of terrorist attacks on the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on September 11, 2001, General Musharraf immediately removed him from the post as he was one of the primary planner and figure in the conflict that arise the Taliban in Afghanistan. Within days, Rana was re-located and decided to remained silence, and lives a quiet life in Islamabad.
Miscellaneous
During the 1995 till 2001, Rana was the central planner in Pakistan war in Afghanistan where he was responsible for coordinating military, intelligence, and strategic operations against the Northern AllianceNorthern Alliance
The Afghan Northern Alliance is a military-political umbrella organization created by the Islamic State of Afghanistan in 1996.Northern Alliance may also refer to:*Northern Alliance , a Canadian white supremacist group...
. His role in the Pakistan war in Afghanistan was vital as he served as the commander of entire Pakistan Army's combatant elements in the Afghanistan. In 2005, Dr. Ayesha Siddiqa, one of Pakistan's top military scientist, wrote and published a book, titled "The Military Economy" providing the accounts of his military involvements in Afghanistan. Dr. Ayesha Siddiqa rendered him as Georgy Zhukov
Georgy Zhukov
Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov , was a Russian career officer in the Red Army who, in the course of World War II, played a pivotal role in leading the Red Army through much of Eastern Europe to liberate the Soviet Union and other nations from the Axis Powers' occupation...
of Pakistan, due to his resemblance to Georgy Zhukov. She also noted in her book over his operational leadership that was highly compared to Georgy Zhukov by dr. Siddiqa.
