Conversations with Major General Akbar Khan , DSO January 1989 DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.18810.00963 Project: Military History

1. Conversations with Maj
Gen Akbar Khan , DSO
between 1983 and 1991
Conversations with Major General Akbar Khan , DSO
• January 1989
• DOI:
• 10.13140/RG.2.2.18810.00963
• Project:
• Military History
• Agha H Amin

2. The great general lived close to my
aunts house in DHA Karachi and had
the honour to meet him on various
occasions.
Salient points of various
conversations with him :---
Sacking of Lt Gen Gul Hassan
I knew him from Burma and advised ZA
Bhutto that this man was not a field
soldier and his resignation or request
from retirement could be obtained if
pressure was applied. Mr Bhutto was
hesitant but I convinced him.
Appointment of Zia ul Haq as COAS
I strongly advised Mr Bhutto from
Czechoslovakia against his appointment
and also asked him to consult Maj Gen
NUK Babar (Retired) then GOC 14

3. Division as well as Brigadier Hissam
Effendi ,but in vain .
CAPTURE OF PANDU
The GHQ was much hesitant but I
convinced them . Failure of the main
attack by 4/10 Baluch was big shock for
me . I was deeply disappointed with the
failure of the column led by CO 4/10
Baluch . Note that I had opposed his
posting being a non Baluch officer as well
as not the field type officer.However he
was forced in 4/10 Baluch , I don’t know
how.
Later I was deeply disappointed that he
was very unfair with the real hero of
Pandu , Major Hafeez Afridi.

4. I was removed from service in 1951 and
the gallantry awards were created only in
1952-58.At that time Sher Bahadur was
in key position and snidely made sure
that Hafeez Afridi got nothing . Instead
he recommended other people who had
done nothing . He was also instrumental
in blocking promotion of Major Afridi.
OFFICIAL HISTORY OF KASHMIR
OPERATIONS
When Ayub was removed I spoke to
various officers including Yahya Khan that
Kashmir war should be documented.
Finally I requested Mr ZA Bhutto who also
spoke to General Yahya Khan.
Much of Kashmir Campaign was based on
my draft given to GHQ.
At that time I specially ensured that
Major Hafeez Afridi , Captain Said Ghaffar

5. and Lieut Khan Zaman from artillery’s
contribution is recognized in the
KASHMIR CAMPAIGN , and it was
done.
PEOPLES MILITIA AND CADRISATION
SCHEME
I had advised Mr Bhutto as National
Security Advisor to initiate CADRISATION
scheme and this was in final stage in
1976-77 when zia entered the scene.
The idea was to reduce size of standing
army and spend more money on better
equipment as pays and allowances of a
large army were taking 80 % of defence
budget.However the idea was sabotaged
by Zia.

8. INTERVIEW
MAN OF SUBSTANCE
AND REAL TALENT AND
MERIT – PA-25 SAND
HURST COMMISSIONED
MAJOR GENERAL AKBAR
KHAN DSO
PAKISTAN ARMY SKETCHES BY MAJOR AGHA H AMIN (RETIRED)
MAN OF SUBSTANCE AND REAL TALENT AND MERIT – PA-25 SAND HURST COMMISSIONED EX MAJOR
GENERAL AKBAR KHAN DSO – PAREECH KHEL WALKS WITH MR BHUTTO-
HE SAW ACTION IN BURMA WHERE HE WON A DSO.
HE WAS LEAD FIGURE IN PAKISTANS KASHMIR WAR OF 1947-48.

9. DISGUSTED WITH SHEEPISH AND MEEK DOCILE POLICIES OF PAKISTANS CIVILIAN LEADERS HE WAS
PLANNING A PUTSCH WHEN HE WAS ARRESTED AND TRIED AND SENTENCED TO JAIL.
HE WAS RELEASED AFTER THREE YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT AND BECAME A LAWYER.
APPOINTED NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR BY MR ZA BHUTTO IN 1972.
I MET HIM VARIOUS TIMES IN BETWEEN 1977 AND 1993 WHEN HE LIVED IN DHA PHASE TWO NEAR
HOUSES OF TWO LIEUTENANT GENERALS ONE PASHTUN AND ONE KASHMIRI BOTH OF WHOM HE
DESPISED THE MOST. HIS HOUSE WAS MUCH SMALLER THAN BOTH OF THE LTGS WHO HE DESPISED !
BUT HE WAS A GIANT IN STATURE COMPARED TO THESE TWO PIGMIES.
HIS FIRST WIFE WAS DAUGHTER OF SIR MOHAMAD SHAFI- TOO FIERY FOR HIM HE DIVORCED HER
ULTIMATELY AND MARRIED ANOTHER LADY PROBABLY PUNJABI. WHEN I LAST VISITED HIS HOUSE IN
1999-2000 HIS SECOND WIFE WAS GETTING IT DEMOLISHED.
HE DEFINED A GUERRILLA WARFARE MODEL IN HIS BOOK RAIDERS IN KASHMIR WHICH WAS COPY
CATTED BY PAKISTAN IN AFGHAN WAR AND IN VARIOUS OTHER WARS.
HE ADVISED MR BHUTTO HOW TO SACK LT GEN GUL HASSAN BASED ON HIS DEEP STUDY OF HIS
CHARACTER.UNFORTUNATELY FOR ZA BHUTTO HE BECAME TOO AFRAID OF THIS GREAT MAN AND
EXILED HIM AS AMBASSADOR TO CZECHOSLOVAKIA. WHEN ZA BHUTTO APPOINTED ZIA AS ARMY CHIEF
AKBAR KHAN STRONGLY ADVISED HIM NOT TO TAKE CHANCES WITH A DUBIOUS DARK HORSE BUT ZAB
IGNORED HIM .
MAJOR AGHA H AMIN (RETIRED)