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{{Short description|British Indian general (1913–2004)}}
{{Short description|British Indian army officer and Pakistani general (1913–2004)}}
{{For|the Pakistani general who was Governor of Punjab|Ghulam Jilani Khan}}
{{For|the Pakistani general who was [[Governor of Punjab, Pakistan]] and mentor of [[Nawaz Sharif]]|Ghulam Jilani Khan}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=December 2015}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=December 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                     = Mian Gulam Jilani
| honorific_prefix    = [[Major general|Major General]]
| image                     = MG Jilani.jpg
| name               = Mian Ghulam Jilani
| caption                   =  
| native_name        = میاں غلام جیلانی
| birth_date               = {{Birth date|1913|03|01}}
| image               = MG Jilani.jpg
| death_date                = {{Death date and age|2004|03|01|1913|03|01}}
| caption             = Jilani in 1962
| placeofburial_label      =
| birth_date         = {{Birth year|1913}}
| placeofburial            = [[Fairfax, Virginia]], United States
| birth_place         = [[Sibi]], [[Baluchistan (Chief Commissioner's Province)|Baluchistan]], British India
| birth_place               = [[Sibi]], [[Baluchistan (Chief Commissioner's Province)|British Balochistan]]
| death_date          = {{Death date and age|2004|03|01|1913|df=y}}
| death_place              = [[Fairfax, Virginia]], United States
| death_cause        = [[Pneumonia]]
| placeofburial_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} -->
| death_place        = [[Fairfax, Virginia]], [[United States of America|USA]]
| nickname                  =  
| office             = [[Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa|Member of Provincial Assembly of North West Frontier]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.electionpakistani.com/ge1970/pf/PF-21.htm | title=PF-21 Mardan Election 1970 Full Result Votes NWFP KPK Assembly }}</ref>
| spouse                    = Nancy Habiba Jilani
| constituency        = PF-21 [[Mardan]]
| allegiance                = {{ubl|[[British India]]|Pakistan}}
| term_start          = 7 December 1970
| branch                    = {{ubl|[[British Indian Army]]|[[Pakistan Army]]}}
| term_end            = 1977
| serviceyears             = 1936–1962
| office1            = [[General officer commanding|GOC]]<br>15th Infantry Division ([[Sialkot]])
| rank                      = [[Major General]]
| term_start1        = ?
| servicenumber            = PA-42
| term_end1          = 1962
| unit                      = [[19th Hyderabad Regiment|4th Battalion 19th Hyderabad Regiment]]
| office2            = Force Commander [[Bajaur Campaign]]
| commands                  = {{ubl|[[Frontier Force Regiment]]|14th Infantry Division|[[Commandant]] [[Pakistan Command and Staff College|Quetta Command & Staff College]]|[[General officer commanding|GOC]] [[Structure of the Pakistan Army|15th Infantry Division]]|[[7th Infantry Division (Pakistan)]]}}
| term_start2        = October 1960
| battles                  = [[World War II]]
| term_end2          = September 1961
*[[Battle of Singapore]]
{{collapsed infobox section begin
[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947]]
| cont            = yes
*[[Military operations in Poonch (1948)|Poonch Military operations]]
| Previous Commands
*[[Military operations in Ladakh (1948)|Ladakh Military operations]]
| titlestyle      = border:1px dashed lightgrey;
| battles_label            =  
| awards                    = {{ubl|[[Civil decorations of Pakistan|Sitara-i-Quaid-i-Azam]]|[[Imtiazi Sanad]]| [[Legion of Merit]]}}
| relations                =
| laterwork                =  
}}
}}
[[Major General]] '''Mian Gulam Jilani''' (SQA, [[Imtiazi Sanad]]) (1 March 1913<ref>Indian Army List October 1936</ref> – 1 March 2004) was a [[two-star rank|two-star]] general officer in the [[Pakistan Army]] who, as an [[British Indian Army|Indian Army]] officer during the [[World War II|Second World War]] had survived a Japanese PoW camp at [[Singapore]]. He subsequently rose to help negotiate Pakistan's membership in the [[Baghdad Pact]] and the [[Southeast Asia Treaty Organization]]. An ethnic [[Pashtun people|Pashtun]], he retired from the Pakistan Army in 1962 and was jailed 1973 for his political beliefs. [[Amnesty International]] declared him a prisoner of conscience in 1974. He escaped from custody and took political asylum in the United States in 1975.
{{Infobox officeholder
| embed = yes
| office3                  = [[Master General of Ordnance (Pakistan)]]
| term_start3              = December 1958
| term_end3                = October 1960
| office4                  = [[Commandant]]<br>[[Pakistan Command and Staff College|Command and Staff College]]
| term_start4              = July 1957
| term_end4                = December 1958
| office5                  = [[Military attache|Military attaché]] of [[Pakistan]] to [[Embassy of Pakistan, Washington, D.C.|Washington]]
| term_start5              = October 1952
| term_end5                = June 1955<ref>{{cite web | url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/400728 | title=Mian Jilani - Recipient - }}</ref>
| office6                  = [[Commanding Officer]] Gilgit
| term_start6              = April 1948
| term_end6                = January 1949
| office7                  = [[Commanding Officer]] [[Frontier Force Regiment|4 Frontier Force Regiment]]
| term_start7              = 1947
| term_end7                = April 1948
}}
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
| nickname            = ''Kaka''<br>''Speen Dada''<br>''Jilly''
| spouse              = {{marriage|Nancy Habiba Jilani|1949}}
| allegiance          = {{flagicon|British India}} [[British India]] {{small|(1936–1947)}}<br/>{{flagicon|PAK}} [[Pakistan]] {{small|(1947–1962)}}
| branch              = {{flagicon|British India|army}} [[British Indian Army]]<br>{{army|PAK}}
| serviceyears        = 1936–1962
| rank                = [[File:OF-7_Pakistan_Army.svg|20px]] [[File:US-O8 insignia.svg|15px]] [[Major General]]
| unit                = [[19th Hyderabad Regiment|4th Battalion 19th Hyderabad Regiment]]
| commands            = {{ubl|[[Frontier Force Regiment]]|14th Infantry Division|[[Pakistan Command and Staff College|Command & Staff College]]|[[Structure of the Pakistan Army|15th Infantry Division]]|[[7th Infantry Division (Pakistan)]]}}
| battles            = {{Tree list}}
*[[World War II]]
**[[Battle of Singapore]]
{{Tree list/end}}
{{Tree list}}
*[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947]]
**[[Military operations in Poonch (1948)|Poonch Military operations]]
***[[Military operations in Ladakh (1948)|Ladakh Military operations]]
*[[Bajaur Campaign]]
{{Tree list/end}}
| mawards            = {{ubl|[[File:Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam (1957-76).png|50px]] [[Civil decorations of Pakistan|Sitara-i-Quaid-i-Azam]]| [[File:Imtiazi Sanad.png|50px]] [[Imtiazi Sanad]]| [[File:Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|50px]] [[Legion of Merit]]}}
| party              = [[National Awami Party (Wali)]]
| relations          = [[Mian Hayaud Din]] (cousin)
| children            = 4
| laterwork          =
| education          = *[[Forman Christian College]]
*[[Aligarh Muslim University]] {{small|[[Master of Arts|(MA)]]}}
*[[Rashtriya Indian Military College]]
| honorific_suffix    = [[Civil decorations of Pakistan|SQA]] [[Imtiazi Sanad|IS]] [[Legion of Merit|LoM]]
}}
 
'''Mian Ghulam Jilani''' {{post-nominals|country=PAK|list=[[Civil decorations of Pakistan|SQA]], [[Imtiazi Sanad|IS]], [[Legion of Merit|LoM]]}} ([[Pashto]], {{Langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|میاں غلام جیلانی}}}}; 1913 – March 1 2004) also known as ''Kaka'', ''Speen Dada'', and ''Jilly'', was a politician, businessman, and former [[two-star rank|two-star]] general in the [[Pakistan Army]]. As a [[British Indian Army]] officer during [[World War II]], he survived a Japanese [[Prisoner-of-war camp|POW camp]] in [[Singapore]].<ref>Indian Army List October 1936</ref> He played a key role in establishing the [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 47#Commission|ceasefire]] during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-1948|First Kashmir War]]. During his stint as the [[Military attache|Military attaché]] of [[Pakistan]] to [[Embassy of Pakistan, Washington, D.C.|Washington]] {{small|(1952-1955)}}, he helped negotiate Pakistan's membership in the [[Baghdad Pact]] and the [[Southeast Asia Treaty Organization]].  
 
An ethnic [[Pashtun people|Pashtun]], he retired from the [[Pakistan Army]] in 1962 due to the autocratic rule of [[Ayub Khan (general)|Ayub Khan]]. Afterwards, he was involved in business and joined politics.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pakistani Gen. Mian G. Jilani|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2004/03/13/pakistani-gen-mian-g-jilani/ce48c3e5-47ff-4999-8b82-7c90c706c4b9/|work=washingtonpost.com|date=13 March 2004|language=en|quote=Gen. Jilani was military attache at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington from 1952 to 1955 and helped to negotiate Pakistan's membership in the Baghdad Pact, a Western-sponsored military pact later called the Central Treaty Organization. He also helped to negotiate Pakistan's membership in the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, a defense alliance. He retired from the Army in 1962, citing the autocratic rule of Pakistani President Mohammad Ayub Khan. He later was involved in business ventures and ran successfully for membership in the provincial legislature of the Northwest Frontier Province of Pakistan}}</ref>
 
He was repeatedly arrested by [[Zulfikar Ali Bhutto]] in the 1970s for his political beliefs and was in jail for more than three years with [[Amnesty International]] declaring him a prisoner of conscience in 1974. During a medical checkup, he escaped from custody and took political asylum in the United States in 1975 becoming a citizen in 1981.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pakistani Gen. Mian G. Jilani|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2004/03/13/pakistani-gen-mian-g-jilani/ce48c3e5-47ff-4999-8b82-7c90c706c4b9/|work=washingtonpost.com|date=13 March 2004|language=en|quote=Gen. Jilani spoke against then-President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's repressive regime and was repeatedly arrested and jailed for more than three years.}}</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life==
Jilani was born in [[Sibi]], in the [[Baluchistan (Chief Commissioner's Province)|Chief Commissioner's Province of Balochistan]], when the British ruled much of the [[Indian subcontinent]]. He was educated at Forman Christian College in [[Lahore]] and later in Law at the [[Aligarh Muslim University]], then in India. He completed his officer's training at the [[Indian Military Academy]] at [[Dehra Dun]] in India and was commissioned as second lieutenant on to the Special List, Indian Land Forces on 1 February 1936 and attached to the 2nd battalion the [[Royal Scots|Royal Scots Regiment]] on 24 February 1936 for a years experience before joining his Indian Army regiment.<ref>Indian Army List October 1936</ref> He was accepted for the Indian Army on 24 February 1937 and posted to the 4th battalion [[19th Hyderabad Regiment]]. His seniority as a second lieutenant was antedated to 3 February 1935 and he was promoted Lieutenant 3 May 1937.<ref>Indian Army List October 1937</ref> He was later appointed acting Captain and then appointed Adjutant of the 4/19th 1 October 1940.<ref>Indian Army List October 1942 most secret edition, p590</ref>
Jilani was born in 1913 in [[Sibi]] in the [[Baluchistan (Chief Commissioner's Province)|Chief Commissioner's Province of Balochistan]].


==Captured at Singapore==
===Education===
During the Second World War the fourth battalion [[19th Hyderabad Regiment]] was sent to [[Singapore]] with the British Indian Army and he was captured and taken prisoner by the Japanese in 1942. He was a prisoner of war for nearly forty months. He was tortured and kept in solitary confinement for seven months during this period. Whilst a prisoner of war he was promoted Captain.<ref>Indian Army List April 1944</ref> He was mentioned in despatches in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Malaya in 1942.<ref>London Gazette 19 December 1946, p6165</ref>
He was educated at Forman Christian College in [[Lahore]] and later in Law at the [[Aligarh Muslim University]], in India.  


Shortly after World War II, the movement for independence from the British resulted in the creation of Pakistan in 1947. Jilani threw his energy and enthusiasm behind it.
==Personal life==
He married Nancy Habiba Jilani in 1949 and they had 4 children. Their son Mian Arshad Jilani and three daughters Hadia Jilani Roberts, Halima Jilani Raza, and Habiba Jilani Freeman. At the time of his death, Mian Ghulam Jilani had 9 grandchildren.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pakistani Gen. Mian G. Jilani|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2004/03/13/pakistani-gen-mian-g-jilani/ce48c3e5-47ff-4999-8b82-7c90c706c4b9/|work=washingtonpost.com|date=13 March 2004|language=en|quote=Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Nancy Habiba Jilani of Fairfax; a son, Mian Arshad Jilani of Solon, Ohio; three daughters, Hadia Jilani Roberts of Fairfax, Halima Jilani Raza of Alexandria and Habiba Jilani Freeman of Nashua, N.H.; and nine grandchildren.}}</ref>


==Pakistan and the Kashmir Operations==
==British Indian Army career==
He joined the newly formed Pakistan Army and was the 42nd senior most officer (PA – 42), commanding a unit of the [[Frontier Force Regiment]]. A few weeks later he took a leave of absence from the army to volunteer as a fighter in [[Kashmir]], allegedly fighting for its "independence" and "right to join Pakistan".  In April 1948, he was appointed Commanding Officer at [[Gilgit]] where he remained until the ceasefire.
He completed his officer's training at the [[Rashtriya Indian Military College]] at [[Dehra Dun]] in [[British India]] and was commissioned as second lieutenant on to the Special List, Indian Land Forces on 1 February 1936 and attached to the 2nd battalion the [[Royal Scots|Royal Scots Regiment]] on 24 February 1936 for a years experience before joining his [[British Indian Army]] regiment.<ref>Indian Army List October 1936</ref> He was accepted for the Indian Army on 24 February 1937 and posted to the 4th battalion [[19th Hyderabad Regiment]]. His seniority as a second lieutenant was antedated to 3 February 1935 and he was promoted Lieutenant 3 May 1937.<ref>Indian Army List October 1937</ref> He was later appointed acting Captain and then appointed Adjutant of the 4/19th 1 October 1940.<ref>Indian Army List October 1942 most secret edition, p590</ref>


His troops played a major role in establishing what became the line of control between India and Pakistan, which has become the ''de facto'' international border and is likely to be formalized as the permanent border in the times ahead.  He fought a guerrilla war in northern [[Kashmir]], engaged two divisions of the Indian Army and "conquered" the whole of [[Baltistan]], when the government of Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire at the behest of the [[United Nations]].
===Captured at Singapore===
During the [[World War II|Second World War]], the fourth battalion [[19th Hyderabad Regiment]] was sent to [[Singapore]] with the [[British Indian Army]]. Jilani was captured and taken prisoner by the Japanese in 1942. He was a prisoner of war for nearly forty months. During this period, he was tortured and kept in solitary confinement for seven months. Whilst a prisoner of war he was promoted Captain.<ref>Indian Army List April 1944</ref> He was mentioned in despatches in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Malaya in 1942.<ref>London Gazette 19 December 1946, p6165</ref>


==Relations with the United States==
Shortly after [[World War II]], the movement for independence from the British resulted in [[Partition of India|Partition of British India]] in 1947. Jilani threw his energy and enthusiasm behind it.


In 1952, as a Brigadier, he went to Washington as Pakistan's first Military Attaché to the US in Washington. He was also Military Attache for Canada and Mexico. He brought about the military aid treaty between the United States and Pakistan, for which in 1955 he was awarded the [[Legion of Merit]] by President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]. Pakistan awarded him the Sitara-i-Quaid-i-Azam, or Star of the Quaid, named after the founder of Pakistan.
==Pakistan Army career==
===Kashmir Operations===
He joined the newly formed [[Pakistan Army]] and was the 42nd senior most officer (PA–42), commanding [[Frontier Force Regiment|4 Frontier Regiment]]. A few weeks later he took a leave of absence from the army to volunteer as a fighter in [[Kashmir]], fighting for its independence and right to join Pakistan. In April 1948, he was appointed Commanding Officer at [[Gilgit]] where he remained until the ceasefire.


==Senior Commander==
His troops played a major role in establishing what would later become the [[Line of Control]] between [[India and Pakistan]]. He fought a guerrilla war in northern [[Kashmir]] engaging two divisions of the [[Indian Army]] subsequently taking over [[Baltistan]].
On promotion to [[Major General]], he served as GOC [[East Pakistan]] commanding 14th Infantry Division ([[Dhaka]]), Commandant of the [[Pakistan Command and Staff College|Command and Staff College]] ([[Quetta]]) (July 1957 – December 1958), [[Master General of Ordnance (Pakistan)|Master General of Ordnance]] (GHQ) and GOC 15th Infantry Division ([[Sialkot]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://armystaffcollege.gov.pk/Hist_comdts.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005165247/http://armystaffcollege.gov.pk/Hist_comdts.php |archive-date=5 October 2015 |title=Commandants of Command and Staff College Quetta}}</ref>


As GOC 15th Div he along with (then) Brig Rakhman Gul MC Inspector General Frontier Corps served under (then) Maj Gen [[Attiqur Rahman]] [[Military Cross|MC]] [[General Officer Commanding|GOC]] 7th Infantry Division who was the Force Commander for the [[Bajaur Campaign]] of October 1960. After the Nawab of [[Dir (princely state)|Dir]] Sir Shah Jehan Khan and his son Khan Shahabud Din Khan]] of [[Jandol State|Jandol]] were captured on 28 October, Maj Gen Attiqur Rahman MC moved back to [[Peshawar]] and Maj Gen Mian Gulam Jilani took over as Force Commander.
He played a key role in the ceasefire of the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947]].


==Political struggle==
===Relations with the United States===
After retiring from the army, he entered politics and became a member of the provincial assembly in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (then NWFP). He was an outspoken critic of the government of [[Zulfikar Ali Bhutto]].
As a Brigadier, he was posted as the first [[Military attache|Military attaché]] of [[Pakistan]] to [[Embassy of Pakistan, Washington, D.C.|Washington]] in October 1952. He was accredited Military Attache to [[Canada]] and [[Mexico]].  


On retirement from the army, he was hired by [[Fakhrudin Valika]] as a General Manager with the [[Valika Group]] in Karachi, until his entry into politics. He joined the [[National Awami Party]], and was elected to the [[Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa|Provincial Assembly of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa]] from his home constituency in [[Swabi]] (now [[Mardan]]) in the General Elections of 1970. During his National Awami Party years, he was the head of the Zalmay Pakhtun, and was arrested by the [[Pakistan Peoples Party]] government on 15 February 1973.
===Awarded by Eisenhower===
He brought about the military aid treaty, known as the [[Baghdad Pact]] between the United States and Pakistan in May 1954 for which in 1955 he was awarded the [[Legion of Merit]] by President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]. The [[Government of Pakistan]] awarded him the [[Civil decorations of Pakistan|Sitara-i-Quaid-i-Azam]] (Star of the [[Quaid-e-Azam|Quaid]]), named after the Founder of Pakistan, [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]].


His wife Mrs. Nancy Habiba Jilani filed a writ petition against his detention, and the judgment of the Lahore High Court was authored by [[Nasim Hasan Shah]], J. and is reported as: ''Mrs. Habiba Jilani V Federation of Pakistan (PLD 1974 Lahore 153)''
===Senior Commander===
On promotion to [[Major General]], he served as GOC [[East Pakistan]] commanding 14th Infantry Division ([[Dhaka]]), Commandant of the [[Pakistan Command and Staff College|Command and Staff College]] (July 1957 – December 1958), [[Master General of Ordnance (Pakistan)|Master General of Ordnance]] (GHQ) and GOC 15th Infantry Division ([[Sialkot]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://armystaffcollege.gov.pk/Hist_comdts.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005165247/http://armystaffcollege.gov.pk/Hist_comdts.php |archive-date=5 October 2015 |title=Commandants of Command and Staff College Quetta}}</ref>


A smear campaign was launched against him. In a crackdown on his party, Jilani was arrested in 1973. Bhutto then attempted to bribe Jilani with offers of high positions—all to no avail. He was frequently arrested, but all charges against him were repeatedly dismissed by the courts. [[Amnesty International]] adopted him as a "prisoner of conscience" in 1974.
As GOC 15th Div he along with (then) Brig Rakhman Gul {{small|[[Military Cross|MC]]}} Inspector General Frontier Corps served under (then) Maj Gen [[Attiqur Rahman]] {{small|[[Military Cross|MC]]}} [[General Officer Commanding|GOC]] 7th Infantry Division who was the Force Commander for the [[Bajaur Campaign]] of October 1960. After the Nawab of [[Dir (princely state)|Dir]] Sir Shah Jehan Khan and his son Khan Shahabud Din Khan of [[Jandol State|Jandol]] were captured on 28 October 1948, Maj Gen Attiqur Rahman MC moved back to [[Peshawar]] and Jilani took over as Force Commander.


In jail, Jilani managed to escape from his guards during a hospital visit in 1975 and got political asylum in the United States. He became a US citizen in 1981, and died at his daughter's home in Fairfax, Virginia on 1 March 2004.
===Retirement===
After retiring from the army, he was hired by Fakhrudin Valika as a General Manager with the Valika Group in [[Karachi]].


Member Provincial Assembly (NWFP) 1970–77
==Political career==
He joined the [[National Awami Party (Wali)]] and became a member of the provincial assembly of [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa|North West Frontier Province]] from his home constituency in [[Mardan]] in the [[1970 Pakistani general election]] after receiving 16,346 votes. He was the head of the [[National Awami Party (Wali)|NAP-W]]s youth wing, Zalmay Pakhtun.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.electionpakistani.com/ge1970/pf/PF-21.htm | title=PF-21 Mardan Election 1970 Full Result Votes NWFP KPK Assembly }}</ref>
 
===Arrest===
He was an outspoken critic of the government of [[Zulfikar Ali Bhutto]] and was arrested by the [[Pakistan Peoples Party]] government on 15 February 1973.
 
His wife Mrs. Nancy Habiba Jilani filed a writ petition against his detention, and the judgment of the Lahore High Court was authored by [[Nasim Hasan Shah]], J. and is reported as: ''Mrs. Habiba Jilani V Federation of Pakistan (PLD 1974 Lahore 153)''. The [[Lahore High Court]] declared the detention valid.
 
In a crackdown on his party, a smear campaign was launched against him and Jilani was frequently arrested. [[Zulfikar Ali Bhutto]] then attempted to bribe Jilani with offers of high positions—all to no avail. Nonetheless, all charges against Jilani were repeatedly dismissed by the courts. [[Amnesty International]] adopted him as a "prisoner of conscience" in 1974.
 
===Escape from Jail===
Jilani managed to escape from guards during a hospital visit in 1975 and was granted political asylum in the United States. He became a US citizen in 1981.
 
==US Residency==
After becoming a citizen of the United States, he gave speeches at colleges, government organizations, and veterans organizations. He shared his experiences in Pakistan and discussed global military affairs.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pakistani Gen. Mian G. Jilani|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2004/03/13/pakistani-gen-mian-g-jilani/ce48c3e5-47ff-4999-8b82-7c90c706c4b9/|work=washingtonpost.com|date=13 March 2004|language=en|quote=He spoke at colleges and government agencies and to veterans organizations about his experiences in Pakistan and about world military affairs.}}</ref>
 
===Death===
He died of [[Pneumonia]] at his daughter's home in [[Fairfax, Virginia]] on 1 March 2004.


==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==
*''Judgments on the Constitution, Rule of Law, and Martial Law in Pakistan'' by Chief Justice Dr Nasim Hassan Shah, edited by Prof Dr M A Mannan (OUP 1993)
*''Judgments on the Constitution, Rule of Law, and Martial Law in Pakistan'' by Chief Justice Dr Nasim Hassan Shah, edited by Prof Dr M A Mannan (OUP 1993)
*''Pakistan. Problems of Governance'' by Mushahid Hussain & Akmal Hussain (Vanguard Books 1993) (p.&nbsp;30, 87 & 90)
*''Pakistan. Problems of Governance'' by Mushahid Hussain & Akmal Hussain (Vanguard Books 1993) (p.&nbsp;30, 87 & 90)
=== Foreign decorations ===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="3" style="background:#006400; color:#FFFFFF; text-align:center" |'''Foreign Awards'''
|-
! rowspan="2" |'''{{flag|UK}}'''
|'''[[War Medal 1939–1945|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}}
|-
| rowspan="3" |'''{{flag|USA}}'''
|'''[[Legion of Merit]] by [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]'''
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=130}}
|}


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Indian Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Indian Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Indian prisoners of war]]
[[Category:Indian prisoners of war]]
[[Category:People with acquired American citizenship]]
[[Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States]]
[[Category:Pakistani emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Pakistani emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Pakistani generals]]
[[Category:Pakistan Army major generals]]
[[Category:20th-century Pakistani military personnel]]
[[Category:People from Sibi District]]
[[Category:People from Sibi District]]
[[Category:Rashtriya Indian Military_College alumni]]
[[Category:World War II prisoners of war held by Japan]]
[[Category:World War II prisoners of war held by Japan]]
[[Category:Pakistani escapees]]
[[Category:Pakistani escapees]]
[[Category:Escapees from Pakistani detention]]
[[Category:Escapees from Pakistani detention]]
[[Category:Pakistani torture victims]]
[[Category:Pakistani torture victims]]
[[Category:Indian Military Academy alumni]]
[[Category:Pashtun politicians]]
[[Category:Pashtun people]]
[[Category:Pashtun military personnel]]
[[Category:Pashtun businesspeople]]

Latest revision as of 19:33, 3 July 2025


For the Pakistani general who was Governor of Punjab, Pakistan and mentor of Nawaz Sharif, see Ghulam Jilani Khan.

Major General
Mian Ghulam Jilani
SQA IS LoM
میاں غلام جیلانی
Jilani in 1962
Member of Provincial Assembly of North West Frontier[1]
In office
7 December 1970 – 1977
ConstituencyPF-21 Mardan
GOC
15th Infantry Division (Sialkot)
In office
? – 1962
Force Commander Bajaur Campaign
In office
October 1960 – September 1961
Previous Commands
Master General of Ordnance (Pakistan)
In office
December 1958 – October 1960
Commandant
Command and Staff College
In office
July 1957 – December 1958
Military attaché of Pakistan to Washington
In office
October 1952 – June 1955[2]
Commanding Officer Gilgit
In office
April 1948 – January 1949
Commanding Officer 4 Frontier Force Regiment
In office
1947 – April 1948
Personal details
Born1913 (1913)
Sibi, Baluchistan, British India
Died1 March 2004(2004-03-01) (aged 90–91)
Fairfax, Virginia, USA
Cause of deathPneumonia
Political partyNational Awami Party (Wali)
Spouse(s)
Nancy Habiba Jilani
(
m. 1949)
RelationsMian Hayaud Din (cousin)
Children4
Education
Nickname(s)Kaka
Speen Dada
Jilly
Military service
AllegianceBritish Raj British India (1936–1947)
Pakistan Pakistan (1947–1962)
Branch/serviceBritish Raj British Indian Army
 Pakistan Army
Years of service1936–1962
Rank Major General
Unit4th Battalion 19th Hyderabad Regiment
Commands
Battles/wars
Awards

Mian Ghulam Jilani SQA, IS, LoM (Pashto, Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.; 1913 – March 1 2004) also known as Kaka, Speen Dada, and Jilly, was a politician, businessman, and former two-star general in the Pakistan Army. As a British Indian Army officer during World War II, he survived a Japanese POW camp in Singapore.[3] He played a key role in establishing the ceasefire during the First Kashmir War. During his stint as the Military attaché of Pakistan to Washington (1952-1955), he helped negotiate Pakistan's membership in the Baghdad Pact and the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization.

An ethnic Pashtun, he retired from the Pakistan Army in 1962 due to the autocratic rule of Ayub Khan. Afterwards, he was involved in business and joined politics.[4]

He was repeatedly arrested by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in the 1970s for his political beliefs and was in jail for more than three years with Amnesty International declaring him a prisoner of conscience in 1974. During a medical checkup, he escaped from custody and took political asylum in the United States in 1975 becoming a citizen in 1981.[5]

Early life[edit | edit source]

Jilani was born in 1913 in Sibi in the Chief Commissioner's Province of Balochistan.

Education[edit | edit source]

He was educated at Forman Christian College in Lahore and later in Law at the Aligarh Muslim University, in India.

Personal life[edit | edit source]

He married Nancy Habiba Jilani in 1949 and they had 4 children. Their son Mian Arshad Jilani and three daughters Hadia Jilani Roberts, Halima Jilani Raza, and Habiba Jilani Freeman. At the time of his death, Mian Ghulam Jilani had 9 grandchildren.[6]

British Indian Army career[edit | edit source]

He completed his officer's training at the Rashtriya Indian Military College at Dehra Dun in British India and was commissioned as second lieutenant on to the Special List, Indian Land Forces on 1 February 1936 and attached to the 2nd battalion the Royal Scots Regiment on 24 February 1936 for a years experience before joining his British Indian Army regiment.[7] He was accepted for the Indian Army on 24 February 1937 and posted to the 4th battalion 19th Hyderabad Regiment. His seniority as a second lieutenant was antedated to 3 February 1935 and he was promoted Lieutenant 3 May 1937.[8] He was later appointed acting Captain and then appointed Adjutant of the 4/19th 1 October 1940.[9]

Captured at Singapore[edit | edit source]

During the Second World War, the fourth battalion 19th Hyderabad Regiment was sent to Singapore with the British Indian Army. Jilani was captured and taken prisoner by the Japanese in 1942. He was a prisoner of war for nearly forty months. During this period, he was tortured and kept in solitary confinement for seven months. Whilst a prisoner of war he was promoted Captain.[10] He was mentioned in despatches in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Malaya in 1942.[11]

Shortly after World War II, the movement for independence from the British resulted in Partition of British India in 1947. Jilani threw his energy and enthusiasm behind it.

Pakistan Army career[edit | edit source]

Kashmir Operations[edit | edit source]

He joined the newly formed Pakistan Army and was the 42nd senior most officer (PA–42), commanding 4 Frontier Regiment. A few weeks later he took a leave of absence from the army to volunteer as a fighter in Kashmir, fighting for its independence and right to join Pakistan. In April 1948, he was appointed Commanding Officer at Gilgit where he remained until the ceasefire.

His troops played a major role in establishing what would later become the Line of Control between India and Pakistan. He fought a guerrilla war in northern Kashmir engaging two divisions of the Indian Army subsequently taking over Baltistan.

He played a key role in the ceasefire of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947.

Relations with the United States[edit | edit source]

As a Brigadier, he was posted as the first Military attaché of Pakistan to Washington in October 1952. He was accredited Military Attache to Canada and Mexico.

Awarded by Eisenhower[edit | edit source]

He brought about the military aid treaty, known as the Baghdad Pact between the United States and Pakistan in May 1954 for which in 1955 he was awarded the Legion of Merit by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The Government of Pakistan awarded him the Sitara-i-Quaid-i-Azam (Star of the Quaid), named after the Founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Senior Commander[edit | edit source]

On promotion to Major General, he served as GOC East Pakistan commanding 14th Infantry Division (Dhaka), Commandant of the Command and Staff College (July 1957 – December 1958), Master General of Ordnance (GHQ) and GOC 15th Infantry Division (Sialkot).[12]

As GOC 15th Div he along with (then) Brig Rakhman Gul MC Inspector General Frontier Corps served under (then) Maj Gen Attiqur Rahman MC GOC 7th Infantry Division who was the Force Commander for the Bajaur Campaign of October 1960. After the Nawab of Dir Sir Shah Jehan Khan and his son Khan Shahabud Din Khan of Jandol were captured on 28 October 1948, Maj Gen Attiqur Rahman MC moved back to Peshawar and Jilani took over as Force Commander.

Retirement[edit | edit source]

After retiring from the army, he was hired by Fakhrudin Valika as a General Manager with the Valika Group in Karachi.

Political career[edit | edit source]

He joined the National Awami Party (Wali) and became a member of the provincial assembly of North West Frontier Province from his home constituency in Mardan in the 1970 Pakistani general election after receiving 16,346 votes. He was the head of the NAP-Ws youth wing, Zalmay Pakhtun.[13]

Arrest[edit | edit source]

He was an outspoken critic of the government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and was arrested by the Pakistan Peoples Party government on 15 February 1973.

His wife Mrs. Nancy Habiba Jilani filed a writ petition against his detention, and the judgment of the Lahore High Court was authored by Nasim Hasan Shah, J. and is reported as: Mrs. Habiba Jilani V Federation of Pakistan (PLD 1974 Lahore 153). The Lahore High Court declared the detention valid.

In a crackdown on his party, a smear campaign was launched against him and Jilani was frequently arrested. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto then attempted to bribe Jilani with offers of high positions—all to no avail. Nonetheless, all charges against Jilani were repeatedly dismissed by the courts. Amnesty International adopted him as a "prisoner of conscience" in 1974.

Escape from Jail[edit | edit source]

Jilani managed to escape from guards during a hospital visit in 1975 and was granted political asylum in the United States. He became a US citizen in 1981.

US Residency[edit | edit source]

After becoming a citizen of the United States, he gave speeches at colleges, government organizations, and veterans organizations. He shared his experiences in Pakistan and discussed global military affairs.[14]

Death[edit | edit source]

He died of Pneumonia at his daughter's home in Fairfax, Virginia on 1 March 2004.

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

  • Judgments on the Constitution, Rule of Law, and Martial Law in Pakistan by Chief Justice Dr Nasim Hassan Shah, edited by Prof Dr M A Mannan (OUP 1993)
  • Pakistan. Problems of Governance by Mushahid Hussain & Akmal Hussain (Vanguard Books 1993) (p. 30, 87 & 90)

Foreign decorations[edit | edit source]

Foreign Awards
 UK War Medal 1939-1945 Template:Ribbon devices/alt
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal Template:Ribbon devices/alt
 USA Legion of Merit by Dwight D. Eisenhower Template:Ribbon devices/alt


References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "PF-21 Mardan Election 1970 Full Result Votes NWFP KPK Assembly".
  2. ↑ "Mian Jilani - Recipient -".
  3. ↑ Indian Army List October 1936
  4. ↑ "Pakistani Gen. Mian G. Jilani". washingtonpost.com. 13 March 2004. Gen. Jilani was military attache at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington from 1952 to 1955 and helped to negotiate Pakistan's membership in the Baghdad Pact, a Western-sponsored military pact later called the Central Treaty Organization. He also helped to negotiate Pakistan's membership in the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, a defense alliance. He retired from the Army in 1962, citing the autocratic rule of Pakistani President Mohammad Ayub Khan. He later was involved in business ventures and ran successfully for membership in the provincial legislature of the Northwest Frontier Province of Pakistan
  5. ↑ "Pakistani Gen. Mian G. Jilani". washingtonpost.com. 13 March 2004. Gen. Jilani spoke against then-President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's repressive regime and was repeatedly arrested and jailed for more than three years.
  6. ↑ "Pakistani Gen. Mian G. Jilani". washingtonpost.com. 13 March 2004. Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Nancy Habiba Jilani of Fairfax; a son, Mian Arshad Jilani of Solon, Ohio; three daughters, Hadia Jilani Roberts of Fairfax, Halima Jilani Raza of Alexandria and Habiba Jilani Freeman of Nashua, N.H.; and nine grandchildren.
  7. ↑ Indian Army List October 1936
  8. ↑ Indian Army List October 1937
  9. ↑ Indian Army List October 1942 most secret edition, p590
  10. ↑ Indian Army List April 1944
  11. ↑ London Gazette 19 December 1946, p6165
  12. ↑ "Commandants of Command and Staff College Quetta". Archived from the original on 5 October 2015.
  13. ↑ "PF-21 Mardan Election 1970 Full Result Votes NWFP KPK Assembly".
  14. ↑ "Pakistani Gen. Mian G. Jilani". washingtonpost.com. 13 March 2004. He spoke at colleges and government agencies and to veterans organizations about his experiences in Pakistan and about world military affairs.

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