Tikka Khan
Chief of Army Staff | |
|---|---|
| In office 3 March 1972 – 1 March 1976 | |
| President | Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry |
| Prime Minister | Zulfikar Ali Bhutto |
| Preceded by | Gul Hassan (as C-in-C of the Army) |
| Succeeded by | Zia-ul-Haq |
| National Security Advisor | |
| In office 1 March 1976 – 4 July 1977 | |
| President | Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry |
| Prime Minister | Zulfikar Ali Bhutto |
| Preceded by | Ghulam Omar |
| Succeeded by | Rao Farman Ali |
| Military Governor of East Pakistan | |
| In office 25 March 1971 – 31 August 1971 | |
| President | Yahya Khan |
| Preceded by | Lt-Gen. Yaqub Ali Khan |
| Succeeded by | Abdul Motaleb Malik |
| 23rd Governor of Punjab | |
| In office 9 December 1988 – 6 August 1990 | |
| President | Ghulam Ishaq Khan |
| Prime Minister | Benazir Bhutto |
| Preceded by | S.J. Qureshi |
| Succeeded by | Muhammad Azhar |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Tikka Khan 10 February 1915 Regiment Artillery |
| Commands | Eastern Command IV Corps II Corps 8th Infantry Division, Rann of Kutch 15th Infantry Division, Sialkot |
| Battles/wars |
|
| Military awards | War Medal 1939-1945 |
| Service number | PA – 124 |
Tikka Khan
Gaining a
Eastern Command in East Pakistan and appointed as Governor of East Pakistan where he oversaw the planning and the military deployments to execute the military operations to quell the liberation war efforts by the Awami League.[8] His tough rhetoric to deal with political enemies earned him notoriety and a nickname of Touka (meaning Cleaver)[9]
and he was soon relieved of his command by President Yahya Khan.
After commanding the
general elections held in 1988. His tenure ended when President Ghulam Ishaq Khan dismissed Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's government in 1990 and he was succeeded by Mian Muhammad Azhar. He retired from politics in 1990. He died on 28 March 2002 and was buried with full military honours in Westridge cemetery in Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan.[11]
Early life and education
Tikka Khan was born on 10 February 1915British India (now Punjab, Pakistan).[13]
After his education in Rawalpindi, he joined the Army Cadet College in Nowgong, Madhya Pradesh in 1933 and joined the British Indian Army as a sepoy in 1935; he gained his commission in the army from the Indian Military Academy on 22 December 1940.[14]
During these early years he was known to be a particularly good boxer.[15]
Military career
World War II
He participated in
Japan in 1945 where he was wounded and hospitalised for some time.[14] In 1946, he was posted in different parts of India such as Deolali, Mathura, and Kalyan.[14]
During the same time, he served as an instructor at the Indian Military Academy at Dehradun.[14]
New beginnings in Pakistan
After the
GHQ.[14]
In 1955, he was promoted to
major general and posted at the GHQ in Rawalpindi.[14]
Between the wars: 1965–1971
In 1965, Major-General Tikka Khan was the
Pakistani press for the victories he gained over the Indian Army.[14] He made a bold stand against the Indian Army's encirclement in the Sialkot sector in 1965.[14] He later led the 15th Infantry Division in the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965.[14]
After President
Dacca and left the post to Lieutenant General Bahadur Sher in March 1971.[14]
Bangladesh Liberation and 1971 war
The situation was very complex in both
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) won 81 seats out of 138 in West Pakistan.[20] By constitutional law, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of the Awami League was supposed to be the candidate for the post of Prime Minister of Pakistan but Zulfikar Ali Bhutto of the Pakistan Peoples Party was not ready to accept his role as Leader of the Opposition and refused to sit in the National Assembly in this role.[20]
Under pressure by Bhutto and the Pakistan Peoples Party, President Yahya Khan postponed the National Assembly session despite meeting with and inviting the Awami League to form the government on 7 March.
-
Hilal-e-Jurat
Acting on the instructions of President Yahya Khan's administration, Lieutenant General Tikka Khan began preparations of "direct-wise military operation" against the Awami League on the evening of 25 March 1971.Razakars.[citation needed] He ordered the arrest of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, outlawed the Awami League, and ordered a midnight attack on the University of Dhaka.[25] Tikka Khan was the architect and top planner of Operation Searchlight.[8] Thousands were killed in this operation, including academics and other members of civil society, and the country was plunged into a bloody civil war.[25] Fatima Bhutto called him "a soldier known for his eager use of force."[25] He became notorious as the "Butcher of Bengal."[26][27]
In West Pakistan, domestic criticism and disapproval of Lieutenant General Tikka Khan grew to the point that President Yahya Khan replaced him with a civilian
Battle of Chhamb in December, citing high II Corps casualties incurred during Pakistani frontal attacks.[30]
Chief of Army staff
In 1972, President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto removed Lieutenant General
atomic bomb programme.[34] He was implicated in the Hamoodur Rahman Commission's[citation needed] report on the 1971 war with India over East Pakistan, but much of the report remains classified
.
In 1974, Tikka Khan led the
counterinsurgency military operation in Balochistan and successfully crushed Baloch independence movement.[35] In 1976, he provided his support to Ghulam Ishaq Khan and Bhutto to expand the clandestine nuclear weapons programme.[10] The same year, Tikka Khan was preparing to retire from the military, and evaluated the eight serving lieutenant generals who were his potential successors as chief of army staff. When asked by Bhutto for his opinion on Lieutenant General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, Tikka Khan did not recommend him. Tikka Khan later remarked, "I thought he was dull. In any case, he was the most junior of all the eight lieutenant generals."[36] However Bhutto by-passed his recommendations, approved Lieutenant General Zia-ul-Haq to four-star rank, and appointed him as army chief.[36]
Upon retirement from the army, Khan joined the Pakistan Peoples Party.
Political career
National Security Advisor
Tikka Khan was appointed
secretary general.[39]
Jail under Zia-ul-Haq
In 1980–88, Tikka Khan faced imprisonment numerous times for his political activities until President Zia-ul-Haq
Rawalpindi.[39]
Governor of Punjab
He was appointed as the Governor of Punjab by Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in December 1988.[39] His governorship ended when President Ghulam Ishaq Khan dismissed the government of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in August 1990, after which Tikka Khan retired from active politics.[39]
Later life and death
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In retirement, Tikka Khan lived a quiet life in
controversial events of 1971 and died on 28 March 2002.[40] He was survived by three sons and two daughters.[41]
He was laid to rest with
Chief of Naval Staff and other senior military and civil officials.[41] Former prime minister and PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto paid Tikka Khan tribute in a message to his son Colonel Khalid Masud; she described the Colonel's father as one who "rose to the highest offices of this country due to his hard work and respect for the rule of law."[41]
Awards and decorations
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Hilal-e-Jurat
(Crescent of Courage)
|
Hilal-e-Quaid-e-Azam
(HQA) | ||
| Sitara-e-Pakistan
(Star of Pakistan) (SPk) |
Tamgha-e-Diffa
(General Service Medal) 1. |
Sitara-e-Harb 1965 War
(War Star 1965) |
Sitara-e-Harb 1971 War
(War Star 1971) |
| Tamgha-e-Jang 1965 War
(War Medal 1965) |
Tamgha-e-Jang 1971 War
(War Medal 1971) |
Pakistan Tamgha
1947 |
Tamgha-e-Jamhuria
(Republic Commemoration Medal) 1956 |
| Order of the Crown | 1939-1945 Star
|
Africa Star | Burma Star |
| Italy Star | War Medal
|
India Service Medal | Queen Elizabeth II
(1953) |
Foreign decorations
| Foreign Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
 Imperial Iran
|
Order of the Crown |
|
 UK
|
1939-1945 Star
|
|
| UK
|
Africa Star |
|
| UK
|
Burma Star |
|
| UK
|
Italy Star 1945 |
|
| UK
|
War Medal 1939-1945
|
|
| UK
|
India Service Medal 1939–1945 |
|
| UK
|
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal |
|
See also
- The Blood telegram
References
- ^ a b General Tikka Khan's Headstone (Headstone in graveyard). Army Graveyard, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. 2011.
- ^ "Gen. Tikka Khan, 87; 'Butcher of Bengal' led Pakistani Army". Los Angeles Times. 30 March 2002. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
- ^ "Chiefs of Army Staff (Pakistan)". 24 October 2017.
- ^ "General Tikka Khan". pakistanarmy.gov.pk. Pakistan Army. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ISBN 978-0-415-94430-4.
The Pakistani government (the Yahya regime) was primarily responsible for the genocide. Not only did it prevent the Awami League and Rahman from forming the federal government, but it opted for a military solution to a constitutional crisis. In doing so, it decided to unleash a brutal military operation in order to terrorize the Bengalis. Yahya's decision to put General Tikka Khan (who had earned the name of "Butcher of Baluchistan" for his earlier brutal suppression of Baluchi nationals in the 1960s) in charge of the military operation in Bangladesh was an overt signal of the regime's intention to launch a genocide.
- ^ Dummett, Mark (16 December 2011). "Bangladesh war: The article that changed history". BBC News. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ISBN 9780025952409.
- ^ a b Hamid Mir (26 March 2010). "Apology Day for Pakistanis". The Daily Star. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
- ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
- ^ a b "RANDOM THOUGHTS : Unsung Heroes (Part XXII)- By: Dr. A.Q. Khan – South Asian Pulse". sapulse.com. A.Q. Khan memoirs. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ^ "Former administrator of East Pakistan Lt-General Tikka Khan dies". India Today. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
- ^ Nawaz, Shuja (2008). Crossed Swords: Pakistan, its Army, and the Wars Within. Oxford University Press. p. 266.
Word spread within the army that Yaqub had lost his nerve. This was further strengthened by the choice of Lt. Gen. Tikka Khan as Yaqub's replacement. Tikka, a Janjua Rajput from a village near Kahuta in Rawalpindi district, was seen as a commander who followed orders to the letter.
- ISBN 978-0-300-22102-2.
- ^ ISBN 978-81-7211-082-6. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ISBN 978-984-713-044-6.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-63144-039-7. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ISBN 978-93-82652-93-9.
- ISBN 978-1-84904-230-7. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ISBN 978-0-7603-4963-2. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ^ a b c d e "Fall of Dhaka 1971". Story of Pakistan. 4 June 2002. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ^ "Unfinished agenda of 1971". The Statesman (Opinion). Retrieved 27 March 2016.
- ^ Chowdhury, Prabir Barua (26 March 2016). "A friend in need". The Daily Star. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
- ISBN 978-1-134-40758-3. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ^ "How Genocide Triggered Bangladesh Bid for Independence". The Citizen India. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-56858-632-8. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ISBN 978-81-7648-469-5. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ^ "Muktijuddho (Bangladesh Liberation War 1971) - Butcher of Bengal General Tikka Khan takes charge in East Pakistan - History of Bangladesh". Londoni. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ISBN 978-0-231-51255-8. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ^ Kathpalia, Pran Nath. Mission with a Difference: The Exploits of 71 Mountain Brigade. Lancer Publishers. p. 53. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-897829-37-0. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-19023-518-5.
- ISBN 978-0-415-67040-1. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
- ISBN 978-1-317-46327-6. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
- ISBN 978-1-4128-6190-8.
- ^ "Killings of Zehris and history of Balochistan's plight". The News International. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-670-08204-9. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
- ^ a b "Tikka Khan dead". The Hindu. 29 March 2002. Retrieved 20 August 2016.[dead link]
- ^ "An unwell commando". The Nation. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4422-4148-0. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
- ^ Singh, Khushwant (13 April 2002). "This Above All". The Tribune. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Tikka Khan passes away". Dawn. 29 March 2002. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
Further reading
- Zaheer, Hasan: The separation of East Pakistan : The rise and realisation of Bengali Muslim nationalism, Oxford University Press, 1994.
- Sisson, Richard & Rose, Leo: War and secession : Pakistan, India, and the creation of Bangladesh, University of California Press (Berkeley), 1990.
- Matinuddin, General Kamal: Tragedy of Errors : East Pakistan Crisis, 1968–1971, Wajidalis, Lahore, Pakistan, 1994.
- Salik, Siddiq: Witness to surrender, Oxford University Press, Karachi, Pakistan, 1977.
External links
- Official profile at Pakistan Army website
- Tikka Khan Passes Away—DAWN
- Article rebutting General A.A.K. Niazi's accusations against General Tikka Khan, by Nasir M. Khan, Pakistan Link, 30 March 2001
- Article mentioning General Tikka Khan's tenure as Chief of Army Staff (1972–1976), A.R. Siddiqui, Dawn, 14 September 2003.
- Hamood-ur-Rehman Commission Report, The Report of the Commission of Inquiry – 1971 War as Declassified by The Government of Pakistan, Volume-I: Supplementary Report – Top secret, PART III – MILITARY ASPECT, CHAPTER VI.
- Hamood-ur-Rehman Commission Report, The Report of the Commission of Inquiry – 1971 War as Declassified by The Government of Pakistan, Volume-I: Supplementary Report – Top secret, PART IV – SURRENDER IN EAST PAKISTAN, CHAPTER II – Alleged atrocities by the Pakistan Army.
- Hamood-ur-Rehman Commission Report, The Report of the Commission of Inquiry – 1971 War as Declassified by The Government of Pakistan, PART IV – MILITARY ASPECT, Chapter III, The formulation of defence plans.
- Hamood-ur-Rehman Commission Report, The Report of the Commission of Inquiry – 1971 War as Declassified by The Government of Pakistan, Volume-I: Supplementary Report – Top secret, PART IV – SURRENDER IN EAST PAKISTAN, CHAPTER I – The moral aspect.
- Hamood-ur-Rehman Commission Report, The Report of the Commission of Inquiry – 1971 War as Declassified by The Government of Pakistan, PART V: MISCELLANEOUS, CHAPTER VI: Summary and recommendations.
- Amin Fahim pays rich tributes to General Tikka Khan, Dawn, 5 April 2002.
- General Yahya Khan agreed to withdraw forces, India did not, by Khalid Hasan, Daily Times, 3 July 2005.
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