General Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan: The Rise and Fall of a Soldier

by A.R. Siddiqi

Although this book is about General Yahya Khan’s personal trajectory in the Pakistan Army, yet it most importantly offers a historical insight into key political events from 1947 to 1971. The author, popularly regarded as Yahya Khan’s important PR-man, throws new light on the 1965 war and the still mysterious change in command in mid-offensive during that war; Yahya Khan’s take-over of power from Field Marshal Mohammad Ayub Khan; army action and surrender in East Pakistan, and other issues considered contentious to-date. Moreover, this book offers an analysis on the Pakistan Army’s ideological positioning—in its Introduction, ‘The Pakistan Army and an Anatomy of Jihad’—throughout these years which help us understand the nature of armed conflicts within and without, the infiltration of the jihadi ethos against conventional professionalism of the army, as protectors of the homeland.

While most of the failings in the higher military and political command and that of the civil servants and politicians, of that time are well-known, and covered in a number of retrospective books, memoirs, and the Hamoodur Rehman Commission Report, this book holistically questions and analyses those alleged failings since the author presents his first-hand, objective account as a witness to essential developments in 1965 and 1971 wars and the events leading to both periods. Therefore, as an former Army PRO, Brigadier Siddiqi’s is an inside account and he does not hesitate to speak his mind.

Genres: Pakistan

167 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Saad Din · Rating 3 out of 5]

its the most recent book with the 71' tragedy as its back ground, published in 20' and written by Brig (r) A R Siddique is an insight into the personality of Gen Yahya and his team members it gives an inside account of what is happening behind the close doors of GHQ during those turbulent days of Pakistan, style of writing is of very high standard along with superior quality of English diction its a very interesting read. How ever there is a missing part which I could imagine be that due to non access of the writer to those details and that is the events that took place right after the 16th December 's tragedy to the swearing in of Z A Bhutto as a President, the chain of events includes humiliation of Gen Hamid at GHQ auditorium, threat by the Corps Commander Gujranwala response Gen Mitha etc I was hoping to have a detailed account of these but sadly these were not there ,any how this book needs a reading by every Pakistani

[Moeen Shah · Rating 4 out of 5]

It gives some insight wrt top mil heirarchy and their conduct.
The author knows a lot about Gen Yahya since he started interacting once Yahya was a lieutenant Colenel.
1971 remains a dark part of our history.
A pol defeat blamed entirely onto the military (primarily because the president was a uniformed person). This conflict never had any military solution and was supposed to be resolved on the table. However, neither Sh Mujib nor Bhutto budged. India played excellent exterior and diplomatic maneuver along with training guerilla fighters.
Forces remained in a state of active insurgency since Mar 1971 and were transfered into a full fledge war on 22nd Nov only to be defeated (East Pak) by 16 Dec.

[Faisal]

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[Mhd Xia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A poorly organised biography which could have been much better if the events were properly organised in chronological order. There is repetition and one loses the focus due to abrupt events.