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{{redirect|General Abdul Hamid Khan|other people named Abdul Hamid Khan|Abdul Hamid Khan (disambiguation)}}
{{short description|Pakistani general}}
{{no footnotes|article|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox Military Person
| honorific_prefix = [[General (Pakistan)|General]]
| name = Abdul Hamid Khan
| honorific_suffix = [[Civil decorations of Pakistan|HQA]]&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;[[Sitara-e-Pakistan|SPk]]&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;[[Sitara-i-Quaid-i-Azam|SQA]]
| birth_date = 29 April 1917<ref name="ReferenceA">The Half Yearly Indian Army List April 1946</ref>
| death_date = {{death year and age|1984|1917|}}
| native_name = {{nq|عبد الحمید خان}}
| image = File:Abdul Hamid Khan (general).jpg
| caption =
| nickname =
| allegiance = {{flag|British India}} {{PAK}}
| branch = {{army|British India}} {{Army|Pakistan}}
| serviceyears = 1939 – 1971
| rank = [[File:OF-9 Pakistan Army.svg|20px]] General
| servicenumber = PA-95
| current position =
| commands = 6th bn [[Baloch Regiment|Baluch Regiment]] 3rd bn [[Baloch Regiment|Baluch Regiment]] [[11th Infantry Division (Pakistan)|11th Infantry Division]], [[Lahore]] [[I Corps (Pakistan)|I Corps]], [[Kharian]] [[Chief of Army Staff (Pakistan)|Chief of Staff of the Army]]
| unit = [[10th Baluch Regiment]]
| battles = [[World War II]] [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]] [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
| awards = [[File:Hilal-e-Quaid-e-Azam (1957-76).png|50px]]&ensp;[[Civil decorations of Pakistan|Hilal-e-Quaid-e-Azam]] [[File:Sitara-e-Pakistan (SPk) (1957-86).png|50px]]&ensp;[[Civil decorations of Pakistan|Sitara-e-Pakistan]] [[File:Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam (1957-76).png|50px]]&ensp;[[Civil decorations of Pakistan|Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam]] [[File:Order of Crown (Imperial Iran).png|50px]]&ensp;[[Order of the Crown (Iran)|Order of the Crown]]
| laterwork =
}}

[[General (Pakistan)|General]] '''Abdul Hamid Khan''' {{small|[[Civil decorations of Pakistan|HQA]] [[Sitara-e-Pakistan|SPk]] [[Sitara-i-Quaid-i-Azam|SQA]]}} ({{Lang-ur|{{nq|عبد الحمید خان}}}}) was a senior officer in the [[Pakistan Army]]. He served as the [[Army Chief of Staff (Pakistan)|Chief of Staff]] of the Pakistan Army under [[President of Pakistan|president]] [[Yahya Khan]] and led the army during the events in the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|Indo-Pakistani War]] in [[1971 in Pakistan|1971]]. He is accused of inflicting genocide during the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]].<ref>Riza, Maj Gen Shaukat. (1990). ''The Pakistan Army 1966-71''. Rawalpindi: Services Book Club 1990.</ref>

== Early career ==
Abdul Hamid Khan was born 29 April 1917.<ref name="ReferenceA">The Half Yearly Indian Army List April 1946</ref> He attended the [[Indian Military Academy]], [[Dehra Dun]]. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant on the Special List 15 July 1939 and was initially attached to the [[Somerset Light Infantry]] for experience from 11 August 1939.<ref>July 1940 Indian Army List</ref> His date of commission was later antedated to 28 August 1938 and he was promoted Lieutenant 28 November 1940. He was admitted to the Indian Army 27 August 1940. He was appointed acting Captain then temporary Captain on 23 December 1940.<ref name="ReferenceA">The Half Yearly Indian Army List April 1946</ref> He had been posted to 3rd battalion [[10th Baluch Regiment]] by October 1942.<ref>October 1942 Indian Army List Most Secret edition</ref>

He was promoted war substantive Captain and temporary Major 3 February 1944. He was briefly an acting Lieut-Col 15 August to 18 October 1945. He had attended a war time staff course.<ref name="ReferenceA">The Half Yearly Indian Army List April 1946</ref>

During the [[Partition of India]], he opted for Pakistan and joined the newly created [[Pakistan Army]]; in 1947 he was promoted to Lt-Col and became commanding officer of 6th battalion, [[Baloch Regiment|Baluch Regiment]], he commanded from April 1948 - November 1948. Later he was appointed commanding officer of 3rd battalion, Baluch Regiment, he served in this post from November 1948 to December 1949.<ref>Riza, Maj Gen Shaukat. ''The Pakistan Army 1947-49'' Rawalpindi: Services Book Club 1989</ref>

==1965 War with India==
During the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965|1965 Indo-Pakistani War]], then Major General Abdul Hamid Khan served as the [[General Officer Commanding]] (GOC) of [[11th Infantry Division (Pakistan)|11th Infantry Division]] at [[Kasur District|Kasur]]. This division in addition to 10th Infantry Division under Major General Sarfaraz Khan repelled the [[Battle of Lahore|Indian thrust at Lahore]] on 6 September 1965. His division captured the district of [[Khemkaran]] in [[Punjab, India|Indian Punjab]], though further advances were checked. He then was able to withstand multiple counter-attacks by the [[Indian Army]] in an effort to retake [[Khemkaran]].<ref>Riza, Maj Gen Shaukat. (1984). ''The Pakistan Army: War 1965''. Rawalpindi: Services Book Club 1990.</ref><ref>Ravi Rikhye. [http://orbat.com/site/cimh/india/assaluttar.html "The Battle of Assal Uttar: Pakistan and India 1965"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304113405/http://orbat.com/site/cimh/india/assaluttar.html |date=2016-03-04 }} ''Pakistan Orbat'', February 24, 2002</ref>

==Career in the Yahya Government==
After the [[Indo-Pak war of 1965]], Abdul Hamid Khan was promoted to Lieutenant General and served as the commander of [[I Corps (Pakistan)|I Corps]], then based in [[Kharian]] (it is currently based in [[Mangla]]).<ref>[http://www.profile-bengal.com/0505_66_army_high_command.htm "Changes in the Army High Command"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081122045608/http://www.profile-bengal.com/0505_66_army_high_command.htm |date=2008-11-22 }} ''British High Commission", 5 May 1966</ref> After martial law was imposed by General [[Yahya Khan]] on 25 March 1969, Lt Gen Hamid Khan was made the Chief of Staff of the Pakistan Army and Deputy Martial Law Administrator of the country.<ref>[http://www.profile-bengal.com/0326_69_intelligence_note.htm Pakistan : Martial Law "Who's Who"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080923072142/http://www.profile-bengal.com/0326_69_intelligence_note.htm |date=2008-09-23 }} ''The American Papers - Secret and Confidential India.Pakistan.Bangladesh Documents 1965-1973,'' March 26, 1969</ref> During that time he briefly held the cabinet portfolio of [[Interior Minister of Pakistan|Home Affairs]] for four months. He was promoted to full general in August 1969 and was appointed as the [[Chief of Army Staff (Pakistan)|Chief of Staff of the Army]] or in other sense the [[de facto]] [[Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army|commander-in-chief of the army]] in place of Yahya as he was the President. He is accused of war crimes during the 1971 [[Bangladesh liberation war]].

== Awards and Decorations ==
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
| colspan="4" |{{ribbon devices|ribbon=Hilal-e-Quaid-e-Azam (1957-76).png|width=130}} {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Sitara-e-Pakistan (SPk) (1957-86).png|width=130}} {{ribbon devices|ribbon=Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam (1957-76).png|width=130}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Sitara-e-Harb 1965 War Ribbon.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Jang 1965 War.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award‐star|ribbon=Pakistan Independence Medal 1947.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Republic Medal 1956 (Pakistan).png|width=130}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Order of Crown (Imperial Iran).png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=India General Service Medal (1936).png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=1939–1945 Star.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Africa Star 1945 with Rosette.png|width=130}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Italy Star 1945.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Defence Medal 1945.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ribbon - War Medal.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=QE II Coronation Medal 1953.png|width=130}}
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces#Commemorative medals|Hilal-e-]][[Civil decorations of Pakistan|Quaid-e-Azam]]'''
''(Crescent of the Great Leader)''

''(SQA)''
| colspan="2" |'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces#Commemorative medals|Sitara-e-Pakistan]]'''
''(Star of Pakistan)''

''(SPk)''
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces#Commemorative medals|Sitara-e-]][[Civil decorations of Pakistan|Quaid-e-Azam]]'''
''(Star of the Great Leader)''

''(SQA)''
|-
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces#Campaign / war medals|Sitara-e-Harb 1965 War]]'''
''(War Star 1965)''
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces#Campaign / war medals|Tamgha-e-Jang 1965 War]]'''
''(War Medal 1965)''
|'''[[Pakistan Medal|Pakistan Tamgha]]'''
''([[Pakistan Medal]])''

'''1947'''
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces#Commemorative medals|Tamgha-e-Jamhuria]]'''
''(Republic Commemoration Medal)''

'''1956'''
|-
|[[Order of the Crown (Iran)|'''Order of the Crown''']]
''([[Pahlavi Iran]])''
|'''[[India General Service Medal (1936)|India General Service Medal]]'''
'''[[India General Service Medal (1936)|(1936)]]'''

'''[[Waziristan campaign (1936–1939)|North West Frontier 1937–39]] Clasp'''
|'''[[1939-1945 Star]]'''
|'''[[Africa Star]]'''
''(with [[Africa Star#Clasps|'''Rosette''']])''
|-
|'''[[Italy Star]]'''
|'''[[Defence Medal (United Kingdom)|Defence Medal]]'''
|'''[[War Medal 1939–1945|War Medal]]'''
'''[[War Medal 1939–1945|1939-1945]]'''
|'''[[Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal|Queen Elizabeth II]]'''
'''[[Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal|Coronation Medal]]'''

'''(1953)'''
|}

=== Foreign Decorations ===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="3" style="background:#006400; color:#FFFFFF; text-align:center" |'''Foreign Awards'''
|-
! rowspan="6" |'''{{flag|UK}}'''
|'''[[1939-1945 Star]]'''
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=1939–1945 Star.png|width=130}}
|-
|'''[[Africa Star]]'''
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Africa Star 1945.png|width=130}}
|-
|'''[[Italy Star]]'''
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Italy Star 1945.png|width=130}}
|-
|'''[[Defence Medal (United Kingdom)|Defence Medal]]'''
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Defence Medal 1945.png|width=130}}
|-
|'''[[War Medal 1939-1945]]'''
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ribbon - War Medal.png|width=130}}
|-
|'''[[Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal]]'''
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=QE II Coronation Medal 1953.png|width=130}}
|-
!'''{{flag|Imperial Iran}}'''
|'''[[Order of the Crown (Iran)|Order of the Crown]]'''
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Order of Crown (Imperial Iran).png|width=130}}
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160816211333/http://www.bangla2000.com/bangladesh/Independence-War/Report-Hamoodur-Rahman/default.shtm Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report]

{{start box}}
{{s-off}}
{{succession box |title=[[Interior Minister of Pakistan]]
|years=1969
|before=[[Afzal Rahman Khan]]|
after=[[Sardar Abdur Rashid Khan]]}}
{{end}}

{{Pakistan Army Staff Chief}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Khan, Abdul Hamid}}
[[Category:Pakistani generals]]
[[Category:Generals of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
[[Category:Baloch Regiment officers]]
[[Category:Indian Military Academy alumni]]
[[Category:British Indian Army officers]]
[[Category:1917 births]]
[[Category:1984 deaths]]

Abdul Hamid Khan (general) - Revision history

GeorgiannaStrand at 17:40, 29 March 2026

Bot: robot: Create/upgrade articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.