Sahabzada Yaqub Khan

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Vice Admiral S.M. Ahsan
Personal details
Born
Mohammad Yaqub Ali Khan

(1920-12-23)23 December 1920
War Medal 1939-45
  • Star of Jordan
    • S/No.PA – 136

    diplomat, military figure, linguist, and a retired general in the Pakistani Army.[2]

    After the

    foreign minister, serving under President Zia-ul-Haq
    in 1982.

    His stint as foreign minister played a major role in the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan (1979–89) and he took part in negotiations to end the Contras in Nicaragua (1981–87) on the behalf of the United Nations. In the 1990s, he served as an official of the United Nations for Western Sahara until he was reappointed as foreign minister under Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. After retiring from diplomatic services in 1997, he spent his remaining years in Islamabad and died in Islamabad in 2016.

    Biography

    Youth and World war II

    Early days

    Mohammad Yaqub Ali Khan was born into

    British India's representative to the League of Nations
    .

    He was educated at the

    18th King Edward's Own Cavalry.[5]

    Participation in WWII and POW

    In his military career he saw action during World War II and served in the North African campaign where he was attached to 18th King Edward's Own Cavalry from April 1942. He was taken prisoner of war in North Africa in May 1942. In September 1943 he escaped from the Italian prisoner of war camp P. G. 91 in Avezzano (with two other Indian officers) and was out for four to five months attempting to move south to Allied lines, but they were subsequently re-captured by German forces who put him in a prisoner of war camp in Germany until April 1945 when he was released by the U.S. Army soldiers. During his time in German custody, he learnt languages by interacting with fellow prisoners and reading literature in those languages.

    Return to India and Partition

    Upon returning to India in 1945, he was selected as an

    staff officer's degree.[6]

    In 1951, he served in the

    ISI for the whereabouts of the Indian Army but he reportedly struggled with providing factual intelligence that was provided to ISI.[7]

    He commanded the

    11th Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (Frontier Force), Armoured Corps from December 1952 to October 1953.[8]

    He was promoted to colonel in 1953 and went to Paris in France to attend the famed École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr where he graduated in 1954.

    Upon returning to Pakistan, he was promoted to brigadier in 1955 where he served as a chief instructor at the Command and Staff College.[9]

    Staff and war appointments:1960–69

    In 1958, he was appointed as the vice

    panzer doctrine to educate the armoured division on the tank battles and strategies.[10]

    He participated in the

    Musa Khan and directed all formats of ground operations during the 1965 war against India.[1]

    After the war, he was appointed as chief of general staff at the army GHQ under army chief General Yahya Khan in 1966 and remained until 1969.[13]

    East Pakistan: military advisor and governorship (1969–71)

    Main articles: Cable 1971 and Admiral Ahsan Mission

    In 1969, Lieutenant-General Yaqub Khan was posted to

    Bengali culture.[15][16] He was highly respected by the East Pakistani military officers due to his stance and professionalism and was said to be very well liked and respected in the East.[17]

    He was known to be an unusual military officer who knew very well about "limits of force",[18] and did not believe in the use of brute force to settle political disputes.[13] In 1969–71, he worked together with Admiral Ahsan in advising the Yahya administration in an effort to resolve the situation and restricted strictly the proposal of usage of military force in the province.[19]

    At the cabinet meeting, he was often fierce and strictly resisted the usage of military option but was respected in the military due to his understanding of Bengali issues and whose colleagues often labeled him as "Bingos."[20] In 1970, he notably coordinated the relief operations when the disastrous cyclone had hit the state and gained prestige for his efforts in the country.{[21]

    In 1971, he participated in the

    Ahsan–Yaqub Mission, to resolve the political deadlock between East Pakistan and Pakistan as both men argued that "military measures would not change the political situations".[22]

    In March 1971, he became aware of the rumors of a military action against East Pakistanis and delivered desperate

    military signals to President Yahya Khan in Islamabad to not use military solution as he feared Indian intervention.[23] After the resignation of Admiral Ahsan, he was ordered to use military force against the civil agitation led by the Awami League but refused to take this order and tendered his resignation to be posted back to Pakistan.[20][22]: 71  His resignation came in the light of resisting the military orders and fiercely maintained to President Yahya that "military solution was not acceptable".[23]

    Commenting on the situation, Yaqub maintained that: "[President] Yahya was also keen to impose the "open sword" martial law to roll back the situation as it was in 1969."[19] He lodged a strong protest against the military solution and maintained that the "central government had failed to listen to the voices of their co-citizens in the East."[23] To many authors, Yaqub Khan had become a "conscientious objector" in the military.[23]

    He was posted back to Pakistan, joined the Army GHQ staff and participated in

    winter war against India in 1971 without commanding an assignment and retired from the military after the war, also in 1971.[24]

    Foreign service

    Ambassadorship to France, United States, and Soviet Union

    After seeking the

    American Muslims in 1977.[26]

    In 1979, he was sent to Moscow and was appointed as Pakistan Ambassador to the Soviet Union where he worked towards building foreign relations with the Soviet Union by signing an educational accord.[27] In 1980, he was reassigned in France again where he remained until 1982.[25]

    Foreign minister and United Nations

    Yaqub Ali Khan was brought in to the

    foreign minister in 1982 when Agha Shahi departed President Zia-ul-Haq's cabinet.[28] He was appointed foreign minister in the conservative-aligned government but Yaqub maintained his composure and his wit in the Zia administration.[28]

    As foreign minister, he directed a proactive and keen pro-Islamic policy and supported the U.S. sponsored

    Mohammad Junejo.[26]

    At foreign fronts, he played a crucial role in providing the support for his country's cover and

    clandestine nuclear development whilst maintaining a strong policy of deliberate ambiguity.[31] In 1984, he reportedly issued a statement in Washington, D.C., on Pakistan's massive retaliation when observing India's pre-emptive strikes on Pakistan's facilities, and made unsuccessful proposal to United States to put Pakistan under its nuclear umbrella.[32]

    In the 1980s, he provided his diplomatic expertise in resolving the

    Edward Shevardnadze that Pakistan's support for the Afghan mujahideen "would not go unpunished."[35]

    In the 1980s, he also

    first Benazir ministry by Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in order to engage in negotiation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).[36]

    In 1988–90, he aided Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to reach agreement to sign an

    I. K. Gujral to deter an active conflict between two countries.[37]

    After the 1990 Pakistani general election, Prime Minister

    U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in the Gulf War.[15]: 77  After the Gulf War, Yaqub resigned his post as foreign minister on 26 February 1991.[39]

    After his resignation, he went on to join the United Nations when he was named the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara in 1992 which he remained until 1995.[40] In 1996, he was again re-appointed as foreign minister by Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto but it was short-lived when his tenure was cut-short after President Farooq Leghari dismissed Benazir Bhutto's government.[5]

    Although he retired from politics in 1997, Yaqub Ali Khan did provide his support to President Pervez Musharraf to stabilise his writ against the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 1999 when he visited United States to provide legitimacy of military martial law.[41]

    Post-retirement and death

    In 1981, he was appointed as the founding chairman of the

    board of trustees of the Aga Khan University which he chaired for almost two decades until his retirement in 2001.[42] He was also a commissioner in the now retired Carnegie Commission on Preventing Deadly Conflict in New York City, United States.[43]

    Yaqub Ali Khan was married to Begum Tuba Khaleeli of the Iranian Khaleeli family of

    Naval Chief Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah and other high-ranking civil and military officials and people from all walks of life.[45]

    Awards and decorations

    Sitara-e-Pakistan

    (SPk)

    		Tamgha-e-Diffa

    (General Service Medal)

    Sitara-e-Harb 1965 War

    (War Star 1965)

    Tamgha-e-Jang 1965 War

    (War Medal 1965)

    		Pakistan Tamgha

    (Pakistan Medal)

    1947

    		Tamgha-e-Jamhuria

    (Republic Commemoration Medal)

    1956

    1939-1945 Star
    Africa Star Italy Star War Medal

    1939-1945

    		Queen Elizabeth II

    Coronation Medal

    (1953)

    Foreign decorations

    Foreign Awards
     UK
    1939-1945 Star
    Africa Star
    Italy Star
    War Medal 1939-1945
    Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
     Jordan Order of the Star of Jordan

    Autobiography

    See also

    References

    1. ^
      ISBN 978-1-63144-039-7
      . Retrieved 6 September 2016.
    2. ^ a b Roberts, Sam (28 January 2016). "Sahabzada Yaqub Khan, Pakistani Diplomat, Dies at 95". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
    3. ISBN 978-1-138-79573-0
      . Retrieved 6 September 2016.
    4. ^ "Fauzia Kasuri disclosure". Twitter.
    5. ^ a b c d Bangash, Yaqood Khan (27 January 2016). "Pakistan's prince soldier, diplomat, statesman". Express Tribune. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
    6. ^ Jafri, Iqbal (27 July 2010). "Civil-military relations". Dawn. Islamabad. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
    7. ISBN 978-1-317-19609-9
      . Retrieved 9 December 2016.
    8. ISBN 978-0-19-547203-5
      .
    9. ^ Staff college, Army. "Gallery Chief Instructors". armystaffcollege.gov.pk. Army ISPR. Archived from the original on 26 March 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
    10. ^ a b Zafar, M. (October 2000). "Prince, Soldier, Statesman: Sahabzada Yaqub Khan". Defence Journal. Archived from the original on 30 April 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
    11. ^ "Sahibzada Yaqub Ali Khan passes away". Business Recorder. Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
    12. ISBN 9789698125196
      . Retrieved 13 December 2016.
    13. ^ a b "Pakistan Period (1947-1971)". Office of the President of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 8 March 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
    14. ISBN 978-0-9815378-9-4
      . Retrieved 13 December 2016.
    15. ^
      ISBN 978-0-9755860-1-3
      . Retrieved 13 December 2016.
    16. ISBN 978-0-674-72893-6
      . Retrieved 13 December 2016.
    17. ISBN 978-1-317-46327-6
      . Retrieved 13 December 2016.
    18. ISBN 978-0-8028-6673-8
      . Retrieved 13 December 2016.
    19. ^
      ISBN 978-0-674-73127-1
      . Retrieved 13 December 2016.
    20. ^
      ISBN 978-1-317-19608-2
      .
    21. ISBN 978-1-4094-3706-2
      . Retrieved 13 December 2016.
    22. ^
      ISBN 978-0-87003-285-1
      . Retrieved 13 December 2016.
    23. ^
      ISBN 978-0-8223-5038-5
      .
    24. ^ "A Soldier's View on Pakistan's Partition". www.saglobalaffairs.com. Archived from the original on 27 March 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
    25. ^
      ISBN 978-0-7881-7090-4
      . Retrieved 15 December 2016.
    26. ^ a b "Sahibzada Yaqub Khan, 1920–2016: The end of an era". Brookings Institution. 15 December 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
    27. ^ Pakistan Affairs. Information Division, Embassy of Pakistan. 1977. pp. 11–12. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
    28. ^ a b "Sahibzada Yaqub Khan". Dawn (Editorial). 27 January 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
    29. ISBN 8170501008
      .
    30. ^
      ISBN 978-1-84277-117-4
      .
    31. ISBN 978-0-8027-1860-0
      .
    32. ISBN 978-1-349-08553-8
      . Retrieved 21 December 2016.
    33. ISBN 978-0-300-09519-7
      .
    34. ISBN 978-0-7881-1111-2
      .
    35. ISBN 978-0-14-306826-6
      . Retrieved 21 December 2016.
    36. ISBN 9788124100837
      . Retrieved 21 December 2016.
    37. ISBN 978-0-8047-8480-1
      . Retrieved 21 December 2016.
    38. ISBN 978-1-4422-4148-0
      . Retrieved 21 December 2016.
    39. ISBN 978-1-135-35680-4
      .
    40. ISBN 0-7923-2563-X
      . Retrieved 21 December 2016.
    41. ISBN 978-1-317-32475-1
      . Retrieved 21 December 2016.
    42. ^ "The Life and Work of Sahabzada Yaqub Khan" Archived 8 December 2006 at the Wayback Machine Aga Khan University News & Events
    43. ^ "Carnegie Commission on Preventing Deadly Conflict" Archived 13 April 2007 at the Wayback Machine
    44. ^ Reza, S. Mohammad (1990). Persons who Shape Our Destiny: A Compendium of Bio-datas of Those Persons who are Rendering Important Services in Various Fields of National Activity. Dar Publications. p. 260. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
    45. ^ "Former foreign minister Sahibzada Yaqub Khan dies at 95". www.pakistantoday.com.pk. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
    • Indian Army List (April 1942, April 1945)
    • Maj Gen Gurcharn Singh Sadu, I serve The Eighteenth Cavalry

    External links

    Wikisource has original works by or about:
    Sahabzada Yaqub Khan
    Military offices
    Preceded by
    Sher Bahadur
    Chief of General Staff

    1966–1969     		Succeeded by
    Preceded by
    None
    		 Commander of Eastern Command
    23 August 1969 – 7 March 1971     		Succeeded by
    Lt Gen
    Tikka Khan
    Political offices
    Preceded by Martial Law Administrator, Zone B (East Pakistan)
    1969–1971     		Succeeded by
    Preceded by Governor of East Pakistan
    1969     		Succeeded by
    Preceded by Governor of East Pakistan
    1971     		Succeeded by
    Preceded by
    Foreign Minister of Pakistan

    1982–1991     		Succeeded by
    Preceded by
    Aseff Ahmad Ali
    Foreign Minister of Pakistan
    (caretaker)
    1996–1997     		Succeeded by
    Diplomatic posts
    Preceded by
    Pakistan Ambassador to the United States

    1973–1979     		Succeeded by
    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sahabzada_Yaqub_Khan&oldid=1217894520"