Akhtar Abdur Rahman

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Akhtar Abdur Rahman
Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee
In office 29 March 1987 – 17 August 1988
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, Lahore
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.^[1] As DG ISI General Akhtar masterminded the Afghan Jihad against the Soviet Union by supporting the Afghan Mujahideen. A close aide of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, General Akhtar was considered to be the second most powerful man in the country during Zia's eleven-year dictatorial rule. He died in a plane crash that also killed President Zia and many other Pakistani generals, 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.

Military career

After earning his Masters Degree in Economics (1945) from Government College University, 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 eight 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 elevated to the 4 Star Rank and appointed Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. However, a year later he died in a plane crash along with General Zia.

Role in the Soviet–Afghan War

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 crucial role as Director General of the ISI during the war.

Death

On August 17, 1988 General Akhtar Abdur Rahman died in a mysterious plane crash which also killed President General Zia-ul-Haq. General Akhtar and General Zia along with a number of other top Pakistani military personnel 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. There are a number of conspiracy theories behind the crash due to the fact that there was never a thorough investigation despite the fact that some of Pakistan's most powerful military officials lost their lives.

Books mentioning General Akhtar

• Fateh by Haroon-ur-Rasheed
• Silent soldier by Mohammad Yousaf
• The Bear Trap by Mohammad Yousaf and Mark Adkin
• Charlie Wilson's War by George Crile
• Ghost Wars by Steve Coll
• A Case of Exploding Mangoes by Mohammed Hanif

See also

Biography portal

• History of the Soviet Union (1985–1991)
• Establishment (Pakistan)
• Crossed Swords,Pakistan, Its Army, and the Wars Within
• General Akhtar Abdul Rehman’s role in the destruction of the USSR

References

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