Created by Luminous Moth
Last edited November 12, 2021
>Luminous Moth
m Reverted vandalism
 
->BattyBot
top: General fixes, replaced: |nationality =Pakistan | → |nationality =Pakistani |
 
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|term_end          =9 March 1982  
|term_end          =9 March 1982  
|president          =General [[Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq|Zia-ul-Haq]]  
|president          =General [[Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq|Zia-ul-Haq]]  
|predecessor        =[[Aziz Ahmed]]  
|predecessor        =[[Aziz Ahmed (civil servant)|Aziz Ahmed]]  
|successor          =[[Lieutenant-General|Lt Gen]] [[Sahabzada Yaqub Khan|Yaqob Ali Khan]]  
|successor          =[[Lieutenant-General|Lt Gen]] [[Sahabzada Yaqub Khan|Yaqob Ali Khan]]  
|order2            =[[Foreign Secretary (Pakistan)#List of Foreign Secretaries|13th]] [[Foreign Secretary (Pakistan)|Secretary of Foreign Affairs]]
|order2            =[[Foreign Secretary (Pakistan)#List of Foreign Secretaries|13th]] [[Foreign Secretary (Pakistan)|Secretary of Foreign Affairs]]
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|term_start2        =6 July 1973
|term_start2        =6 July 1973
|term_end2          =6 July 1977
|term_end2          =6 July 1977
|president2        =[[Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry|Fzal Illahie Chaudhrie]]
|president2        =[[Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry]]
|primeminister2    =[[Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto]]
|primeminister2    =[[Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto]]
|predecessor2      = Mumtaz Ali Alvie
|predecessor2      = Mumtaz Ali Alvie
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|successor3        =Iqbal Akhuond
|successor3        =Iqbal Akhuond
|birth_date        =25 August 1920  
|birth_date        =25 August 1920  
|birth_place        =[[Bangalore]], [[Princely State of Mysore|Mysore]]
|birth_place        =[[Bangalore]], [[Princely State of Mysore]], [[British India]]
|death_date        ={{death date and age|df=yes|2006|09|06|1920|8|25}}
|death_date        ={{death date and age|df=yes|2006|09|06|1920|8|25}}
|death_place        =[[Islamabad]], Pakistan   
|death_place        =[[Islamabad]], Pakistan   
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|birthname          =Agha Shahi  
|birthname          =Agha Shahi  
|citizenship        =[[British India]]n (1920–1947)<br>Pakistan (1947–2006)  
|citizenship        =[[British India]]n (1920–1947)<br>Pakistan (1947–2006)  
|nationality        =Pakistan
|nationality        =Pakistani
|party              =  
|party              =  
|otherparty        =  <!--For additional political affiliations-->
|otherparty        =  <!--For additional political affiliations-->
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|relations          =  
|relations          =  
|children          =  
|children          =  
| relatives        = [[Agha Hilaly]] (brother)<br/>[[Zafar Hilaly]] (nephew)
|residence          =  
|residence          =  
|alma_mater        =[[Indian Institute of Science]]  
|alma_mater        =[[Indian Institute of Science]]  
Line 94: Line 95:
==See also==
==See also==
*[[Agha Hilaly]]
*[[Agha Hilaly]]
== Further reading ==
*{{cite news|title=Agha Shahid's India visit|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/agha-shahi-india-visit-pakistan-foreign-minister-indira-gandhi-6505965/|date=15 July 1980|newspaper=[[Indian Express]]}}
*{{cite magazine|title=Pakistan has no security treaty with any major power: Agha Shahi|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/neighbours/story/19810228-pakistan-has-no-security-treaty-with-any-major-power-agha-shahi-772683-2013-11-26 |date=1981-02-28 |author= Bhabani Sen Gupta|magazine=[[India Today]]}}
*{{cite magazine|title=Pakistan: Agha Shahi's last stand|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/neighbours/story/19820715-pakistan-agha-shahis-last-stand-771984-2013-10-09 |author=Qutubuddin|magazine=[[India Today]]|date=1982-07-15}}


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928041612/http://www.pakistantimes.net/2006/09/06/top16.htm Pakistan's ex-Foreign Minister Agha Shahi passes away] from the Pakistan Times (newspaper) (archived)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928041612/http://www.pakistantimes.net/2006/09/06/top16.htm Pakistan's ex-Foreign Minister Agha Shahi passes away] from the Pakistan Times (newspaper) (archived)
*{{cite web|title=Former Pakistan foreign minister passes away|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/former-pakistan-foreign-minister-passes-away/story-qwj0Lv6aR8MhZD9mRWGheJ.html |via=[[Press Trust of India|PTI]]|date=6 September 2006|website=[[Hindustan Times]]}}


{{s-start}}
{{s-start}}
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{{s-aft | after=Iqbal Akhund}}
{{s-aft | after=Iqbal Akhund}}


{{s-bef | before=[[Aziz Ahmed]]}}
{{s-bef | before=[[Aziz Ahmed (civil servant)|Aziz Ahmed]]}}
{{s-ttl | title=[[Foreign Secretary of Pakistan]] | years=1973–1977}}
{{s-ttl | title=[[Foreign Secretary of Pakistan]] | years=1973–1977}}
{{s-aft | after=Sardar Shah Nawaz}}
{{s-aft | after=Sardar Shah Nawaz}}
|-
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef | before=[[Aziz Ahmed]]}}
{{s-bef | before=[[Aziz Ahmed (civil servant)|Aziz Ahmed]]}}
{{s-ttl | title=[[Foreign Minister of Pakistan]] | years=1978–1982}}
{{s-ttl | title=[[Foreign Minister of Pakistan]] | years=1978–1982}}
{{s-aft | after=[[Sahabzada Yaqub Khan]]}}
{{s-aft | after=[[Sahabzada Yaqub Khan]]}}

Latest revision as of 18:24, 12 November 2021

Agha Shahi
آغا شا ﮨی
13th Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
14 January 1978 – 9 March 1982
PresidentGeneral Zia-ul-Haq
Preceded byAziz Ahmed
Succeeded byLt Gen Yaqob Ali Khan
13th Secretary of Foreign Affairs
In office
6 July 1973 – 6 July 1977
PresidentFazal Ilahi Chaudhry
Prime MinisterZulfiqar Ali Bhutto
Preceded byMumtaz Ali Alvie
Succeeded bySardar Shah Nawaz
Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations
In office
25 March 1967 – 20 January 1972
PresidentField Marshal Ayub Khan General Yahya Khan
Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto
Vice PresidentNurul Amin
Vice PMNurul Amin
Preceded bySyed Amjad Ali
Succeeded byIqbal Akhuond
Personal details
Born
Agha Shahi

25 August 1920
Bangalore, Princely State of Mysore, British India
Died6 September 2006(2006-09-06) (aged 86)
Islamabad, Pakistan
CitizenshipBritish Indian (1920–1947)
Pakistan (1947–2006)
NationalityPakistani
RelativesAgha Hilaly (brother)
Zafar Hilaly (nephew)
Alma materIndian Institute of Science
OccupationStatesman
ProfessionPhysicist, mathematician, teacher
CabinetZia military government
Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Government
National AwardsNishan-e-Imtiaz, 2nd Class
(Order of Excellence)

Agha Shahi (Urdu: آغا شا ﮨی; 25 August 1920 – 6 September 2006), NI, was a Pakistani career Foreign service officer who was the leading civilian figure in the military government of former President General Zia-ul-Haq from 1977 to 1982. A diplomat and technocrat by profession, he joined Foreign Services in 1951 and held important diplomatic assignments in the United States, China, and the United Nations. He served as the Foreign secretary— the leading bureaucratic position in Pakistan Government— in 1973 until 1977, after Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's government was dismissed (see Codename Fair Play).[1]

However, he immediately served as the foreign policy adviser to upcoming Chief Martial Law Administrator General Zia-ul-Haq who appointed him as the Foreign Minister shortly after assuming the control of the country. In 1982, after losing General Zia's favour when he made an attempt to keep country on Non-Aligned Movement membership, he lost the foreign affairs ministry to senior military officer Lieutenant-General Yakob Ali Khan. His relationship with General Zia-ul-Haq and his military government further deteriorated, with General Zia complaining about Shahi's speech on improving Pakistan's relations with Soviet Union and the Non-Aligned Movement. He departed from country in 1982 to join the United Nations General Assembly and served as the Chairman of UN Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination until 1990, and served as the Chairman of the Pakistan delegation at World Conference on Human Rights. During his last years, he associated with the Institute of Strategic Studies (ISS), Islamabad where he served as its President until his death.[1]

Diplomatic career[edit | edit source]

Agha Shahi was born in Bangalore, former Mysore state and present-day Karnataka, India to the Urdu-speaking community, the son of educator who was the local principal of British government-sanctioned school. He was educated in Bangalore, excelling the science courses he took in school. In 1939, Shahi enrolled in Indian Institute of Science where he joined the Department of Physics, and receiving his BSc in Physics, followed by MSc in applied physics and MA in Mathematics in 1944. Following his master's degree, he joined the faculty of Mathematics teaching undergraduate calculus courses but his parents were unsatisfied of their son being a scientist; therefore, encouraged by his parents, Shahi soon left his position after applying at the Indian Civil Service in 1944. He took the advanced exam, "All India Competitive Examinations", where he excelled and was commissioned in the Indian civil service soon after. His first assignment was Sindh Province as a Commission of Education Department, and the family moved to Karachi, Sindh. In 1947, he opted for Pakistan citizenship, and served as the constitutional adviser to Chief Ministers of Sindh Province Ghulam Hussain Hidayat Ullah from 1947 till 1948, and to Ayub Khuhro from 1948 until 1949. In 1949, the Governor George Baxandall Constantine appointed him as the Commissioner of District Thatta. In 1967, Shahi gained a Master of Science in Strategic studies from Defence & Strategic Studies (DSS) Department. Shahi had a long career as a Pakistani diplomat, beginning in 1951. He served as Pakistan's ambassador to the United Nations, and China and also served in many other positions.

Early career as an ambassador[edit | edit source]

He opted for the Foreign Service of Pakistan in 1951 and played a prominent role in formulation of foreign policy right from the early years of Pakistan's creation. He was part of various delegations to the United Nations during the 1950s and 1960s and served with A.S. Bokhari (known as Patras Bokhari), Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan and Prince Aly Khan (father of Prince Karim Aga Khan and Pakistan's permanent representative to UN).

Shahi served as Counselor in the Pakistan Embassy in Washington from 1955–58. He was Pakistan's Deputy Permanent Representative to UN from 1958–61 and later served as Permanent Representative to United Nations from 1967–72. During his term as permanent representative to United Nations, he played an important role in enabling China to become a member of the United Nations. He became Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1964 and served in that position till 1967.

Foreign Minister of Pakistan[edit | edit source]

In 1972, he was appointed Pakistan's Ambassador to China. In 1973, Shahi became Foreign Secretary and served in that position till the fall of Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1977. Shahi was appointed Advisor on foreign affairs/foreign minister in 1977 by General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq and resigned from the position of foreign minister in 1982, after developing serious differences with General Zia.[1]

Post-resignation activities[edit | edit source]

Shahi led various delegations of Pakistan to UN General Assembly, conferences of Non-Aligned Movement and Organization of Islamic Conference.[1] He was a member of various UN commissions and was also elected Chairman of the UN Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) of which he had been a member since 1982. In 1993, Shahi was Co-Chairman of the Pakistan delegation to the World Conference on Human Rights held in Vienna. Shahi also served as Chairman of Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad and headed Islamabad Council of World Affairs – a private think tank.

He was the younger brother of Agha Hilaly who also joined ICS and later opted for Pakistan's foreign service, serving as Pakistan's Ambassador in important capitals such as London, Moscow and Washington (at a time when his younger brother Shahi was Pakistan's permanent representative to UN in New York). Agha Hilaly's son, Zafar Hilaly (who is also a former diplomat), is Agha Shahi's nephew.[2]

Death and legacy[edit | edit source]

On 6 September 2006, he died after suffering a heart attack, at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad, aged 86.[1]

Pakistan's foreign minister in 2006, Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri, reportedly commented on Agha Shahi's death, "Agha Shahi served in various key positions in the Foreign Ministry with great distinction rising to the position of foreign secretary and foreign minister. A generation of Pakistani diplomats had the fortune to learn from him."[3]

See also[edit | edit source]

Further reading[edit | edit source]

  • "Agha Shahid's India visit". Indian Express. 15 July 1980.
  • Bhabani Sen Gupta (28 February 1981). "Pakistan has no security treaty with any major power: Agha Shahi". India Today.
  • Qutubuddin (15 July 1982). "Pakistan: Agha Shahi's last stand". India Today.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Agha Shahi passes away (obituary and profile) Dawn (newspaper), Published 7 September 2006, Retrieved 24 November 2018
  2. Hall of fame: The ICS (Indian Civil Service) served Pakistan well Dawn (newspaper), Published 4 September 2011, Retrieved 24 November 2018
  3. Ex-foreign minister Agha Shahi passes away The News International (newspaper), Published 7 September 2006, Retrieved 24 November 2018

External links[edit | edit source]

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Syed Amjad Ali
Pakistan Ambassador to the United Nations
1967–1972
Succeeded by
Iqbal Akhund
Preceded by
Aziz Ahmed
Foreign Secretary of Pakistan
1973–1977
Succeeded by
Sardar Shah Nawaz
Political offices
Preceded by
Aziz Ahmed
Foreign Minister of Pakistan
1978–1982
Succeeded by
Sahabzada Yaqub Khan

Template:Foreign Minister of Pakistan Template:Zia-ul-Haq's Government