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Agha Ibrahim Akram

Agha Ali Ibrahim Akram (Urdu: آغا علی ابراہیم اکرم; 22 September 1923 — 4 March 1989), better known as A. I. Akram, was a Pakistani three-star general, military strategist, historian, diplomat, and one of Pakistan's most influential military historians. In the 1980s, Akram was a well-known defence expert and defence analyst. His most popular work was his biography of Khalid ibn al-Walid, The Sword of Allah, which he published while serving in the Pakistan Army. For several years, it was compulsory reading in the Pakistan Army for admission into the Command and Staff College Quetta and has been on the leadership syllabus in the Malaysian Army.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Akram was once seen as a close confidant and conceptual adviser of President Zia-ul-Haq.[12][13][14]

Lieutenant General
A. I. Akram
HI(M) SI(M) SK
اے آئی اکرم
Founding President
Institute of Regional Studies
In office
November 1981 – 4 March 1989
Ambassador of Pakistan to Madrid
In office
14 May 1978 – 30 September 1980
Deputy Martial Law Administrator
Zone F (NWFP)
In office
6 July 1971 – 6 July 1972
PresidentYahya Khan
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Chief Instructor
Staff College, Quetta
In office
17 September 1960 – 11 September 1965
Succeeded byAmjad Ali Chaudhri
Personal details
Born
Agha Ali Ibrahim Akram

22 September 1923
Ludhiana, Punjab Province (British India)
Died4 March 1989(1989-03-04) (aged 65)
Islamabad, Pakistan
Children3
EducationGovernment College, Lahore
Staff College, Quetta
Military service
Branch/service British Indian Army (1942-47)
 Pakistan Army (1947-78)
Years of service1942–1978
Rank Lieutenant General
Unit13th Frontier Force Rifles
Tochi Scouts
Piffers
CommandsFrontier Force Regiment[2]
7th Infantry Division
Military Secretary GHQ (Pakistan)
Battles/wars
Service numberPA-911[1]
Writing career
GenreMilitary history
Islamic history
Notable worksThe Sword of Allah, Khalid Bin Al-Waleed, His Life and Campaign. (1970)
The Muslim Conquest of Persia. (1975)
The Muslim Conquest of Egypt and North Africa. (1977)
The Muslim Conquest of Spain. (1980)
The Falcon of The Quraish Abdur Rahman The Immigrant of Spain. (1991)
The Rise of Cordoba. (1992)

He served in several key positions including as Pakistan's Permanent Military Representative to CENTO in Ankara, Colonel Commandant of the Frontier Force Regiment, Deputy Martial Law Administrator of Zone F (NWFP) under President Yahya Khan and President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, G.O.C of 7th Inf Division, Military Secretary GHQ, and Colonel Staff HQ 15th Division.[15][16][17][18]

Akram dedicated his books, The Muslim Conquest of Egypt and North Africa to his son Hassan, The Muslim Conquest of Spain to his son Masood, The Falcon of The Quraish: Abdur Rahman The Immigrant of Spain to his brother Mahmud, and The Rise of Cordoba to his late wife Loge. He was fluent in Urdu, English, Farsi, Arabic, and Spanish, learning the latter two for research.[19][20][21][22]

Throughout the 1980s, Akram was vocal about his opposition to nuclear weapons, suggesting that Pakistan and other developing countries should use their resources towards generating nuclear energy. He expected that by the end of the 20th century, only about 10 countries would have nuclear weapons.[23][24]

Early life

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Agha Ali Ibrahim Akram was born in Ludhiana on 22 September 1923, his father was an Indian Police Officer. Akram graduated from Government College, Lahore in 1942 and joined the British Indian Army.[25]

Personal life

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He was married to Loge, who died a few years before him. They have three children, daughter Yasmin, and sons Hassan and Masood.[26]

In his memoirs, Inamul Haque Khan recalled that Akram was a well-read person who used to discuss philosophy and Allama Iqbal's poetry.[27]

British Indian Army career

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Akram was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 13th Frontier Force Rifles of the British Indian Army on 26 November 1942, receiving a promotion on 26 August 1943 as a War substantive Lieutenant.[25]

During World War II, Akram saw action in Burma and was promoted to Acting Captain on 31 December 1944. Later, he received a promotion on 1 January 1945 as Temporary Captain and was appointed as the Quartermaster of the 14th Battalion of the 55th Coke's Rifles (Frontier Force).[25][28][29]

Pakistan army career

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Chief Instructor Colonel Akram's portrait at the Staff College, Quetta (1960)

After the Partition of British India in 1947, Akram opted to join the Pakistan Army and commanded a company of the Tochi Scouts of the Frontier Corps during the First Kashmir War. He was later transferred to the Piffers.[28][19][30][31]

In September 1949, Pakistan among several countries received an invitation to attend the Harbnen Medal presentation by the Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene of the United Kingdom. The Government of Pakistan accepted the invitation and sent Major A. I. Akram as a representative.[32]

Akram was the Assistant Army Liaison officer of Pakistan at the High Commission of Pakistan, London in 1951.[33]

Colonel Akram taught military history as Chief Instructor at Staff College, Quetta from 17 September 1960 to 11 September 1965, during which he felt that there was a lack of detailed, clear and objective literature on Muslim military history. It was at this time when he decided to fill the void himself and began working on the biography of Khalid bin Walid, The Sword of Allah.[34][35][36][37][38]

Colonel Akram was appointed as Colonel Staff HQ 15 Division on 20 September during the 1965 war.[39][40]

Brigadier Akram was the Parade commander of the Pakistan Day Parade of 1967 and held the position of Administrator for Sub-Sector No. 1, overseeing the civil districts of Bannu and D.I. Khan, as well as the tribal territories governed by these districts in 1969.[41]

His first book, The Sword of Allah is about the life and campaigns of Khalid ibn al-Walid which was published during his army service in 1970 after a five year effort, including visiting battle-fields in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia for research. It has two English editions and has been translated into Urdu, Arabic, German, French and Bahasa.[42]

On 6 July 1971, President Yahya Khan appointed Akram as the Deputy Administrator of Martial Law - Zone F and kept in the role until 6 July 1972 during President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's government.[43][44]

During a parade in Multan, on 2 May 1974, both the 7 FF and 10 FF received their regimental colors together. Major General A.I. Akram, the Colonel Commandant of the FF Regiment, made the presentation.[45]

While Akram was Pakistan's Permanent Military Deputy to CENTO, he published his second book The Muslim Conquest of Persia in 1975 after a four year research effort including visiting battlefields in Iran and discussing with Iranian scholars.[46]

The Muslim Conquest of Egypt and North Africa was his third book, published in 1977, which also took four years of preparations and visits to Egypt and Tunisia.[42]

Hamoodur Rehman Commission report

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Main article: Hamoodur Rahman Commission

Major General Akram was not involved in the Bangladesh genocide as he was posted at the Western Front to defend Pakistan's borders against the Indian Army. However, he later appeared as Witness Number 139 in the Hamoodur Rahman Commission report.[47]

Consideration for the role of Chief of Army Staff

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In March 1976, several generals were in consideration for the role of Chief of Army Staff to succeed Tikka Khan.

In order of seniority, these officers were Muhammad Shariff, Muhammed Akbar Khan, Aftab Ahmad Khan, Azmat Baksh Awan, Agha Ibrahim Akram, Majeed Malik, and Ghulam Jilani Khan. Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had a personal rapport with all these generals but superseded them for the most junior Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, who would later be responsible for hanging Bhutto.[48][49][50]

Akram retired from the Pakistan Army on 8 April 1978.[51][52]

Military research papers

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Akram, A. I. (1958). "On Relative Strengths". Pakistan Army Journal.

Diplomatic career

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On 9 April 1978, Akram assumed charge as Officer on Special Duty Grade 20 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[53]He was appointed as the Ambassador of Pakistan to Madrid on 12 May 1978 by President Zia-ul-Haq.[54][55]

Here, Akram learned Spanish and wrote his book The Muslim Conquest of Spain, his final book published during his lifetime, in 1980.[56] To research for writing all these books he learned Arabic, Persian and Spanish and collected an impressive library of historical works.[28] His tenure ended on 30 September 1980.[57][58]

Later life

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On 24 March 1981, Akram was elected as Chairman Rawalpindi Club.[59] He founded the Institute of Regional Studies in November 1981 or March 1982 and remained its president till his death.[60]

On 27 February 1984, Akram disclosed that President Zia-ul-Haq had offered India to send its military team to Pakistan to evaluate the latter's defence requirements and suggest how much of armed strength Pakistan should possess.[61]

Death

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He died on 4 March 1989 in Islamabad, Pakistan at the age of 65.[62]

Posthumous book releases

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His final books, The Falcon of The Quraish: Abdur Rahman The Immigrant of Spain and The Rise of Cordoba, were published after his death.[63][20]

Books

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Awards and decorations

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Hilal-e-Imtiaz

(Military)

(Crescent of Excellence)

Sitara-e-Imtiaz

(Military)

(Star of Excellence)

Sitara-e-Khidmat

(Star of Service)

(SK)

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-Diffa

(Defence Medal)

1. 1965 War Clasp

2. 1971 War Clasp

Tamgha-e-Jang 1971 War

(War Medal 1971)

Pakistan Tamgha

(Pakistan Medal)

1947

Tamgha-e-Qayam-e-Jamhuria

(Republic Commemoration Medal)

1956

1939-1945 Star
Burma Star War Medal 1939-1945 India Service Medal

1939–1945

Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal

(1953)

Foreign Decorations

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Foreign Awards
  UK 1939-1945 Star  
Burma Star  
War Medal 1939-1945  
India Service Medal 1939–1945  
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal  

References

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  1. ^ Pakistan (1978). The Gazette of Pakistan. p. 681.
  2. ^ Rahman, Mohammed Attiqur (1980). The Wardens of the Marches A History of the Piffers, 1947-1971. p. 190.
  3. ^ Sûrya India. Vol. 8. 1984. p. 71.
  4. ^ Andrew, Christopher (2018). The Secret World A History of Intelligence. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-24052-8.
  5. ^ Air University Library Index to Military Periodicals. Vol. 26. 1975.
  6. ^ Afghanistan Today. 1987.
  7. ^ Near East/South Asia Report. 1984.
  8. ^ Azam, Ikram (1992). Geopolitics, Political Geography, and Pakistan. p. 107.
  9. ^ Indo-Pak Conflicts Over Kashmir. pp. 186, 218.
  10. ^ The Pakistan Army: With a New Foreword and Epilogue. 1998. p. 166.
  11. ^ UFO's in the Quran. 2008. p. 102.
  12. ^ Journal of Peace Studies. Vol. 5. 1998.
  13. ^ Times of India Illustrated Weekly. Vol. 108. October 1987. pp. 20–21, 45.
  14. ^ India Today. Vol. 13. 1988.
  15. ^ Said, Hakim Mohammad (1973). Main Currents of Contemporary Thought in Pakistan: 1970-1972.
  16. ^ Pakistan, Hamdard Foundation (1990). Dialogue with a Galaxy of Scientists, Culturists, Historians, Educationists...
  17. ^ Defence Journal. Vol. 6. 2002. p. 139.
  18. ^ Pakistan (1978). The Gazette of Pakistan. p. 586.
  19. ^ a b Defence Journal. 1990. p. 12.
  20. ^ a b The Rise of Cordoba. 1992.
  21. ^ Akram, A. I. (1980). The Muslim Conquest of Spain. p. 5.
  22. ^ Akram, A. I. (1977). The Muslim Conquest of Egypt and North Africa. Ferozsons. p. 3. ISBN 978-969-0-00224-2.
  23. ^ "War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; Carter's New World; Interview with A. I. Akram". 2 September 1987.
  24. ^ ACDIS Bulletin. Vol. 4–6. 1982.
  25. ^ a b c "Indian Army List For October I Part 1". 1945.
  26. ^ Akram, A. I. (2006). The Sword of Allah Khalid Bin Al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns (Second ed.).
  27. ^ Haq, Inamul (1999). Memoirs of Insignificance. p. 74.
  28. ^ a b c Akram, A. I. (2006). The Sword of Allah Khalid Bin Al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns (Second ed.).
  29. ^ The Frontier Force Rifles. 1953. p. 176.
  30. ^ Defence Journal. 1990. p. 13.
  31. ^ The Asiatic Review. 1949.
  32. ^ The Journal of the Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene. Vol. 12. 1949.
  33. ^ The Commonwealth Relations Office List. 1951. p. 20.
  34. ^ Mahdī, Sayyid G̲h̲Affār (1987). Mehdi Papers. Vol. 3. pp. 15, 27.
  35. ^ "Gallery Chief Instructors". Archived from the original on 26 March 2017.
  36. ^ South Asia A Strategic Survey · Volume 550, Issue 3. 1966.
  37. ^ "Chief Instructors Staff College Quetta". Archived from the original on 13 May 2017.
  38. ^ Qayyum, Abdul (June 2000). The Army's Mosaic of Ideas-III. Archived from the original on 26 October 2017.
  39. ^ ""A Matter of Honour"". 2002. Archived from the original on 16 November 2017.
  40. ^ Christine Fair, C. (2014). Fighting to the End The Pakistan Army's Way of War. Oxford University Press. p. 232. ISBN 978-0-19-989271-6.
  41. ^ Ikram, Muhammad (1969). The Martial Law Regulations and Orders, 1969 and 1958. p. 36.
  42. ^ a b Agha, Ibrahim Akram (2006) [First published 1970]. The Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns (3rd ed.). Islamabad: Mr. Books. p. back cover. OCLC 191257949.
  43. ^ Pakistan News Digest. Vol. 19–20. 1971. p. 3.
  44. ^ The All Pakistan Legal Decisions. Vol. 24. 1972. p. 92.
  45. ^ Rahman, Mohammed Attiqur (1980). The Wardens of the Marches: History of the Piffers, 1947-1971. p. 190.
  46. ^ Akram, A. I. (1975). The Muslim Conquest of Persia.
  47. ^ The Report of the Hamoodur Rehman Commission of Inquiry Into the 1971 War, as Declassified by the Government of Pakistan. Vanguard. 2000. p. 314. ISBN 978-969-402-351-9.
  48. ^ Arif, Khalid Mahmud (1995). Working with Zia: Pakistan's Power Politics, 1977-1988. Oxford University Press. p. 43. ISBN 978-0-19-577570-9.
  49. ^ Ayub, Muhammad (2002). An Army Its Role & Rule. p. 300.
  50. ^ Arif, Khalid Mahmud (2001). Khaki Shadows: Pakistan 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 152. ISBN 978-0-19-579396-3.
  51. ^ Pakistan (1978). The Gazette of Pakistan. p. 681.
  52. ^ Arif, Khalid Mahmud (1995). Working with Zia: Pakistan Power Politics, 1977–1988. USA: Oxford University Press. p. 43. ISBN 978-0-19-577570-9.
  53. ^ Pakistan (1978). The Gazette of Pakistan. p. 322.
  54. ^ Akram, A. I. (1980). The Muslim Conquest of Spain. Army Education Press GHQ, Rawalpindi. p. XII.
  55. ^ The Gazette of Pakistan. 1978. p. 371.
  56. ^ Al-Mashriqi, the Disowned Genius: The Story of a World Revolutionary who was Bogged Down in His Own Country, at Once Inspiring and Painful. 1991. p. 288.
  57. ^ Pakistan (1980). The Gazette of Pakistan. p. 726.
  58. ^ Pakistan (1980). The Gazette of Pakistan. p. 479.
  59. ^ Senate, Pakistan. Parliament (1986). The Senate of Pakistan Debates: official report. p. 264.
  60. ^ Tikekar, Maneesha (2004). Across the Wagah: An Indian's Sojourn in Pakistan. Bibliophile South Asia. ISBN 978-81-85002-34-7.
  61. ^ Pakistan Year Book. 1985. p. 238.
  62. ^ OBITUARY. Vol. 40–45. Pakistan Affairs. 1989.
  63. ^ The Falcon of The Quraish: Abdur Rahman The Immigrant of Spain. 1991.
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