View source for Ehsan ul Haq

{{Short description|Pakistani general (born 1949)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix    =
| name                = Ehsan ul Haq
| native_name         = {{Nobold|{{lang|ur|{{nq|احسان الحق}}}}}}<!--The person's name in their own language, if different.-->
| native_name_lang    = ur<!--ISO 639-1 code, e.g., "fr" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} in |native_name= instead.-->
| honorific_suffix    = [[Nishan-e-Imtiaz|NI(M)]], [[Hilal-e-Imtiaz|HI(M)]]
| image               = Ehsan ul haq.jpg
| image_size          = 260px
| image_upright       =
| smallimage          = <!--If this is specified, "image" should not be.-->
| alt                 =
| caption             = Ehsan ul Haq, {{circa|2022}}
| order               =
| office              = 12th [[Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee]]
| term_start          = 6 October 2004
| term_end            = 7 October 2007
| alongside           = <!--For two or more people serving in the same position from the same district.  (e.g. United States Senators.)-->
| monarch             =
| president           =
| governor_general    =
| primeminister       =
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| succeeding          = <!--For President-elect or equivalent-->
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| majority            =
| predecessor         = Gen. [[Aziz Khan (general)|Aziz Khan]]
| successor           = Gen. [[Tariq Majid]]
| prior_term          = <!----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->
| order2              = [[Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence|Director General of the ISI]]
| office2             = <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| term_start2         = 20 October 2001
| term_end2           = 5 October 2004
| alongside2          = <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
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| lieutenant2         = <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| succeeding2         = <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| predecessor2        = Lt-Gen. [[Mahmud Ahmed]]
| successor2          = Lt-Gen. [[Ashfaq Pervez Kayani]]
| parliamentarygroup2 = <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| constituency2       = <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| majority2           = <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
| prior_term2         = <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number-->
<!----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->
| birth_name          = <!-- only if different than name -->
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1949|09|22}}
| birth_place         = [[Mardan]], [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa|Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa]], Pakistan
| death_date          = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| death_place         =
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| resting_place       =
| party               =
| alma_mater          = [[Pakistan Military Academy]]
| otherparty          = <!--For additional political affiliations-->
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| signature           =
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| website             = <!--Military service-->
| nickname            =
| allegiance          =
| branch              = [[Pakistan Army]]
| serviceyears        = 1967–2007
| military_blank1     = Service number
| military_data1      = PA-5146
| rank                = [[Four star General|General]]
| unit                = [[Army Air Defence Command (Pakistan)|Air Defence Command]]
| commands            = {{ubl
  | [[XI Corps (Pakistan)|XI Corps]], [[Peshawar]]
  | |[[Director-General|DG]] [[Military Intelligence (Pakistan)|Military Intelligence]]
  | [[Structure of the Pakistan Army|16th Infantry Division]] in [[Pano Aqil]]
  | [[Pakistani military deployments|Pakistan Armed Forces–Middle East Command]]
  }}
| battles             = {{ubl
  | [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
  | [[2001–2002 India–Pakistan standoff|India–Pakistan standoff 2001–2002]]
  | [[War on Terror]]
  | [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|War in Afghanistan]]
  | [[Fall of Kabul (2001)|Fall of Kabul]]
  | [[Battle of Tora Bora]]
  | [[War in North-West Pakistan]]
  | [[Battle of Wanna]]
  | [[Waziristan Accord|Tribal war in Waziristan]]
  }}
| mawards             = {{ubl
  | [[Nishan-i-Imtiaz|Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military)]]
  | [[Hilal-i-Imtiaz|Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military)]]
  | [[Order of Abdulaziz al Saud|Order of King AbdulAziz]]
  | [[Legion of Honour|Légion d'honneur]]
  }}
}}
[[General officer|General]] '''Ehsan ul Haq''' [[Nishan-e-Imtiaz|NI(M)]], [[Hilal-e-Imtiaz|HI(M)]] ({{lang-ur|{{nq|احسان الحق}}}}; b. 22 September 1949), is a retired [[four-star general|four-star]] rank [[Pak Fauj|army general]] in the [[Pakistan Army]] and a [[Public Official|public official]], served as the 12th [[Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (Pakistan)|Chairman]] of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee]], appointed in October 2005 until his retirement in 2007.<ref name="Centre for Pakistan and Gulf Studies, 2018">{{cite web |last1=CPAK Gulf |first1=staff writers |title=Profile: Gen.Ehsan ul Haq |url=http://cpakgulf.org/team/gen-r-ehsan-ul-haq-ni-m/ |website=cpakgulf.org|access-date=5 March 2018 |location=Islamabad |language=en-pak}}</ref>

After retiring from his 40 years of [[military service]], Ehsan ul Haq engaged in the [[Corporate sector of Pakistan|corporate sector]] where he [[Business Management|managed]] the businesses in the [[Healthcare in Pakistan|healthcare industry]], and often offers his [[public speaking]] skills on the issues of [[Foreign policy of Pakistan|foreign policy]] of Pakistan concerning the [[Arab League]].<ref name="Centre for Pakistan and Gulf Studies, 2018"/>

==Biography==

Ehsan ul Haq was born in [[Mardan]], [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa|Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa]] in Pakistan, into a [[Pashto language|Pashto-speaking]] family on 22 September 1949.<ref name="Pride of Pakistan press">{{cite web |title=Gen. (retd) Ehsan ul Haq {{!}} PrideOfPakistan.com|url=https://www.prideofpakistan.com/who-is-who-detail/839|website=/www.prideofpakistan.com/|publisher=Pride of Pakistan press|access-date=14 March 2022}}</ref> He was educated at the [[PAF Public School Sargodha|PAF Public School]] in [[Sargodha]], a school under the administration of the [[PAF Schools and Colleges|Air Force Education Command]], and [[Matriculation in Pakistan|matriculated]] in 1967.<ref>[http://www.ppss.edu.pk/achievements.htm 'PAF College Sargodha Alumni'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070306201557/http://www.ppss.edu.pk/achievements.htm |date=2007-03-06 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mr Hugh Catchpole |url=http://pafcollegesargodha.com/pages/display/56/1 |website=pafcollegesargodha.com|access-date=14 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Centenary celebrations of Catchpole open |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/251359 |work=DAWN.COM |date=12 June 2022}}</ref> He joined the [[Pakistan Army]] in 1967, and was directed to attend the [[Pakistan Military Academy]] (PMA) in [[Kakul]] where he [[Passing out (military)|passed out]] in the class of 41st PMA Long Course from the academy in 1969.<ref name="Speaker's Academy">{{cite web |title=General Ehsan ul Haq (retd.) - Speakers Academy vindt de beste spreker en dagvoorzitter voor uw bijeenkomst. |url=https://www.speakersacademy.com/en/speaker/general-ehsan-ul-haq-retd/ |website=www.speakersacademy.com |publisher=Speaker's Academy|access-date=14 March 2022}}</ref> [[Second lieutenant (United Kingdom)|2nd-Lt.]] Ehsan was [[Commissioned officer|commissioned]] in the [[Army Air Defence Command (Pakistan)|Army Air Defence Command]], and serving in the [[Indo-Pakistani war of 1971|Western front of the third war]] with India in 1971.<ref name="Brookings">{{cite web |title=A Conversation with Gen. Ehsan ul-Haq |url=https://www.brookings.edu/events/a-conversation-with-gen-ehsan-ul-haq/ |website=Brookings |date=30 November 2001 |publisher=Brookings|access-date=14 March 2022}}</ref>

After the [[Indo-Pakistani war of 1971|war]] with India in 1971, he went to attend the [[National Defence University, Islamabad|National Defence University]] in [[Islamabad]] where he attained [[Master of Science|MSc]] in [[War Studies]] in 1977.<ref name="Centre for Pakistan and Gulf Studies   » Gen (R) Ehsan ul Haq, NI (M)"/> In addition, Ehsan also went to attend the [[Pakistan Command and Staff College|Command and Staff College]] in [[Quetta]] in 1977 where he was qualified as [[Psc (military)|psc]] in 1980.{{rp|208}}<ref name="The Gazette of Pakistan">{{cite book |title=The Gazette of Pakistan |date=1980 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ydJPAQAAMAAJ&q=Ihsan-ul-Haq|access-date=14 March 2018 |language=en |author1=Pakistan}}</ref><ref name="Centre for Pakistan and Gulf Studies   » Gen (R) Ehsan ul Haq, NI (M)">{{cite web |title=Gen (R) Ehsan ul Haq, NI (M) |url=http://cpakgulf.org/team/gen-r-ehsan-ul-haq-ni-m/ |website=cpakgulf.org|access-date=14 March 2022}}</ref>

Ehsan was noted as a specialist in [[anti-aircraft warfare]], having educated and graduated master's degree from the [[PLA Air Force Aviation University]] in [[Zhengzhou]] in China.<ref name="Centre for Pakistan and Gulf Studies   » Gen (R) Ehsan ul Haq, NI (M)"/>

===War and command appointments in the military===
In 1977, [[Major (United Kingdom)|Major]] Ehsan was posted with the [[Pakistan military presence in other countries|Pakistan Armed Forces-Middle East Command]] where he first served as an instructor to the [[Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force|Iranian Air Force]] as an [[exchange officer]] until 1980.<ref name="Centre for Pakistan and Gulf Studies » Gen (R) Ehsan ul Haq, NI (M)" /> However, [[Major (United Kingdom)|Maj.]] Ehsan left his instructing assignment [[Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force|Iranian IAF]] before the start of the [[Iran–Iraq War]], and was posted with a command deputation to the [[Royal Saudi Air Defense]] which he served until 1983–84.<ref name="Centre for Pakistan and Gulf Studies » Gen (R) Ehsan ul Haq, NI (M)" /> In 1986, Ehsan went to the United States where he attended the [[United States Army]]'s [[United States Army Logistics Management College|Logistics Management College]] in [[Fort Lee (Virginia)|Fort Lee]] in [[Virginia]] and graduated from there in 1989.<ref name="Pride of Pakistan press" />

In 1990, [[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|Brig.]] Ehsan commanded the 117th Infantry Brigade, later 46 AD Brigade and Deputy Military Secretary in GHQ until 1994 when he was promoted to [[Two-star rank|two-star]] rank and commanded the [[Army Air Defence Command (Pakistan)|3rd Air Defence Division]] until 1996.<ref name="Defence Intelligence Agency, 2002" /> [[Major-General]] Ehsan later took over the command of the [[Structure of the Pakistan Army|16th Infantry Division]] stationed in [[Pano Aqil]] in [[Sindh]] as its [[General officer commanding|GOC]] which he commanded until 1996–97.<ref>"Missile Firing Competition" ''Dawn'', December 31, 1997</ref>

After the [[1999 Pakistani coup d'état|military takeover]] of the [[Government of Pakistan|civilian government]] in 1999, [[Major-General|Maj-Gen]] Ehsan was appointed as the [[Director-General]] of the [[Military Intelligence (Pakistan)|Military Intelligence]] (DGMI) and took the command of the MI from then [[Major-General|Maj-Gen]] [[Jamshed Gulzar Kiani]], remaining in this position until April 2001.{{rp|contents}}<ref name="Oxford University Press, Kiessling">{{cite book |last1=Kiessling |first1=Hein |title=Faith, Unity, Discipline: The Inter-Service-Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan |date=2016 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-1-84904-863-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y_cgDgAAQBAJ&q=ehsan+ul+haq+DG+MI&pg=PT173|access-date=14 March 2018 |language=en}}</ref>

In April 2001, [[Lieutenant-General]] Ehsan was posted as the field commander of the [[XI Corps (Pakistan)|XI Corps]] stationed in [[Peshawar]] but remained in this command capacity until October 2001.<ref name="Rediff.com, B. Raman, 2004">{{cite news |last1=Raman |first1=B. |title=Why Musharraf shuffled his generals |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/oct/05raman.htm|access-date=14 March 2018 |work=www.rediff.com |agency=Rediff.com |publisher=Rediff.com, B. Raman |date=5 October 2022}}</ref>

==Director ISI (2001–04)==
===Political engineering and controlled democracy===
{{Main|Guided democracy|Political engineering|Pakistani general election, 2002|Pakistan Muslim League (Q)|Democracy in Pakistan|Military interventionism}}
On 7 October 2001, [[Lieutenant-General|Lt-Gen.]] Ehsan was surprisingly appointed as the [[Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence|Director-General]] of the [[Inter-Services Intelligence]] (DG ISI) as part of a major reshuffle that took place when [[President of Pakistan|President]] [[Pervez Musharraf]] went to [[Termination of employment|dismissed]] his key [[Pak Fauj|army generals]] involved in the [[1999 Pakistani coup d'état|military takeover]] in [[1999 in Pakistan|1999]].<ref name="Rediff.com, B. Raman, 2004" /> His appointment was in response of removal of the [[ISI (Pakistan)|ISI]] director, [[Mahmud Ahmed]], after the [[September 11 attacks|terrorist attacks]] took place in the United States in September 2001 which was followed by the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|American]] [[U.S. military response during the September 11 attacks|invasion]] of [[Taliban-administered Afghanistan|Afghanistan]] in October 2001.<ref name="Rediff.com, B. Raman, 2004" />

About his reception and image, the [[United States|American]] [[Defense Intelligence Agency]] (DIA) ran his profile in June 2002 that described him as holding "moderate Islamic views" and calls him a [[Mentorship|"''protege''"]] of President [[President Musharraf]], saying the two men had a "strong relationship".<ref name="Defence Intelligence Agency, 2002">{{cite web |title=Military Leadership Profile: Lieutenant-General Ehsan ul Haq |url=http://www.dia.mil/FOIA/FOIA-Electronic-Reading-Room/FOIA-Reading-Room-Pakistan/FileId/3998/ |website=www.dia.mil |publisher=Defence Intelligence Agency|access-date=15 March 2022}}</ref>

Furthermore, he was described as "keenly aware of big picture issues with viewing of strong support for the democracy, advocating that Pakistan needs a legitimate civilian democratic government" and "open with American officials".<ref name="Defence Intelligence Agency, 2002"/> According to the DIA, Ehsan believes that Pakistan's policy of engagement with the [[Taliban]] was to eventually moderate the Taliban's behavior.<ref name="DIA Report 2002">{{Cite web |url=http://www.dia.mil/FOIA/FOIA-Electronic-Reading-Room/FOIA-Reading-Room-Pakistan/FileId/39986/ |title=Defense Intelligence Agency > FOIA > FOIA Electronic Reading Room > FOIA Reading Room: Pakistan}}</ref> He played a crucial role in apprehending of the [[Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh|Omar Sheikh]], a [[British people|British]] terrorist and former [[Secret Intelligence Service|MI-6 agent]], from Karachi in 2002, and knew well aware of his status as the [[Secret Intelligence Service|MI-6]] agent as early as 1999.{{rp|183}}<ref name="Oxford University Press, Kiessling 2016"/>

In 2002, Ehsan [[Political engineering|politically engineered]] a [[Pakistan Muslim League (Q)|centrist party]] under [[Chaudhry Shujaat|Shuja'at Hussain]] that opposing both the conservative [[Pakistan Muslim League (N)|PML(N)]] and the leftist [[Pakistan Peoples Party|PPP]], and provided his agency's support to promote the Musharraf's mainstream agenda through the new [[Pakistan Muslim League (Q)|political party]] in the political platform of the country.{{rp|185}}<ref name="Oxford University Press, Kiessling 2016">{{cite book |last1=Kiessling |first1=Hein |title=Faith, Unity, Discipline: The Inter-Service-Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan |date=2016 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=London, UK |isbn=9781849048620 |pages=310 |edition=1st |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DWojDgAAQBAJ&q=ehsan+ul+haq+general+elections&pg=PA185|access-date=17 March 2018 |language=en |format=google books |chapter={{small|(§The ISI under Musharraf)}}}}</ref>{{rp|335}}<ref name="PublicAffairs, Hiro 2015">{{cite book |last1=Hiro |first1=Dilip |title=The Longest August: The Unflinching Rivalry Between India and Pakistan |date=2015 |publisher=PublicAffairs |location=U.S. |isbn=9781568587349 |pages=473 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xHfNDQAAQBAJ&q=ehsan+ul+haq+general+elections&pg=PA335|access-date=17 March 2018 |language=en |format=google books |chapter={{small|§Politicized Musharraf Turns Pragmatic}}}}</ref>

He played a crucial role in dividing the two mainstream parties, the [[Pakistan Muslim League (N)|PML(N)]] being split towards the [[Pakistan Muslim League (Q)|PML(Q)]] while the [[Pakistan Peoples Party|PPP]] forming the [[Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians|parliamentarians]] under [[Amin Fahim]] to fight off the pressure exerted by Lt-Gen. Ehsan.{{rp|186}}<ref name="Oxford University Press, Kiessling 2016"/> After the [[2002 Pakistani general election|general elections]] held in 2002, the ISI under Ehsan remained politically active to [[Legal Framework Order, 2002|provide political support]] to legitimize [[2004 Pakistani presidential election|presidential elections]] in 2004.{{rp|187}}<ref name="Oxford University Press, Kiessling 2016"/>

In 2018, it was revealed by Urdu columnist, Mahmood Shaam, that Lt-Gen. Ehsan fiercely opposed the candidacy of [[Fazal-ur-Rehman (politician)|Fazal-ur-Rehman]] and notably pressured the [[Alliance for Restoration of Democracy|ARD]] alliance led by [[Benazir Bhutto]] and ultraconservative [[Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal|MMA]] to withdrew the latter's name in favor of [[Zafarullah Khan Jamali]].<ref name="Daily Jang, 2018">{{cite web |last1=Shaam |first1=Mahmood |title=Jab Molana Fazal Ur Rehman Ko Wazir Azam Na Banne Dya Gaya |url=https://dailyurducolumns.com/datColumn.aspx?ColumnID=68850|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406230112/https://dailyurducolumns.com/datColumn.aspx?ColumnID=68850|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 April 2018 |website=Daily Urdu Columns |publisher=Daily Jang|access-date=6 April 2018 |language=ur |date=5 April 2022}}</ref>

==Chairman joint chiefs (2004–07)==
===Appointment controversy and violence North-West Pakistan===
{{Main|Violence in Pakistan 2006–09|War in North-West Pakistan|Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent|Allegations of support system in Pakistan for Osama bin Laden}}
[[File:Insurgência taliban.jpg|thumb|left|290px|[[Taliban insurgency in Pakistan|Taliban insurgency]] in 2009. Gen. Ehsan testified of his [[Waziristan Accord|strategic failure]] to contain the Taliban to end the violence when the [[al-Qaeda]] eventually regroup itself and retreated from Pakistan.<ref name="Dawn Newspaper, et.al, 2007"/>]]
In 2004, the [[Government of Pakistan]] confirmed the timely retirement of Gen. [[Aziz Khan (general)|Aziz Khan]] as the [[Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee|Chairman joint chiefs]], and eventually the race was thought be between Adm. [[Shahid Karimullah|Shahid Karim]] and the senior army generals in the Pakistan Army. In the army department alone, there were eight army generals who were in the race for the promotion of four-star rank appointment along with [[Shahid Karimullah|Adm. Shahid Karim]], including with seniority:<ref name="Dawn, 03 October 2004"/>
{{div col|colwidth=40em}}
# [[Admiral|Adm.]] [[Shahid Karimullah|Shahid Karim]],<ref name="Dawn, 03 October 2004"/> [[Chief of Naval Staff (Pakistan)|Chief of Naval Staff]] headquartered in [[Islamabad]].<ref name="Dawn, 03 October 2004"/>
# [[Lieutenant-General|Lt-Gen.]] [[Hamid Javaid]],<ref name="Dawn, 03 October 2004"/> [[Principal Staff Officer (Bangladesh)|Principal Staff Officer]] to the [[Aiwan-e-Sadr|Presidency]] in [[Islamabad]].
# Lt-Gen. Javed Hassan,<ref name="Dawn, 03 October 2004"/> Field commander of the [[XXX Corps (Pakistan)|XXX Corps]] based in [[Gujranwala]], [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]].
# Lt-Gen. [[Munir Hafiez]],<ref name="Dawn, 03 October 2004"/> Chairman of the [[National Accountability Bureau]] (NAB) in [[Islamabad]].
# Lt-Gen.l [[Ahsan Saleem Hyat]],<ref name="Dawn, 03 October 2004"/> Field commander of the [[V Corps (Pakistan)|V Corps]] based in [[Karachi]], [[Sindh]].
# Lt-Gen. Tariq Waseem Ghazi,<ref name="Dawn, 03 October 2004"/> President of [[National Defence University, Pakistan|National Defence University]] in Islamabad.
# Lt-Gen. Muhammad Akram,<ref name="Dawn, 03 October 2004"/> Field Commander of the [[II Corps (Pakistan)|II Corps]]  based in [[Multan]], [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]].
# Lt-Gen. Syed Parwez Shahid,<ref name="Dawn, 03 October 2004"/> Field Commander of the [[XXXI Corps (Pakistan)|XXXI Corps]] based in [[Bahawalpur]], [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]].
# Lt-Gen. Ehsan ul Haq,<ref name="Dawn, 03 October 2004"/> Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (DG ISI).
{{Div col end}}

Despite his short-coming of his seniority and qualifications, President Musharraf announced to promote Lt-Gen. Ehsan to the four-star appointment and subsequently superseding the senior most Adm. [[Shahid Karimullah|Shahid Karim]] and eight senior army generals in the Pakistan Army on 7 October 2004.<ref name="Dawn, 03 October 2004"/> In the public circles and media, the appointment was commented as "backdrop of a controversy over President Musharraf's uniform and his continuing as army chief after 31 December 2004."<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/2004/10/03/top1.htm 'Appointment of new CJCSC and VCOAS' ]</ref><ref name="Dawn, 03 October 2004">{{cite web |last=By Arshad Sharif |title=New JCSC chief, VCOAS appointed |url=http://archives.dawn.com/2004/10/03/top1.htm |work=03 October 2004 |date=3 October 2004 |publisher=Dawn, 03 October 2004|access-date=7 June 2022}}</ref> Regardless, the appointment to four-star appointment was deemed as controversial by the political circles of the country.<ref name="Dawn, 03 October 2004"/>

On 18 December 2004, Gen. Ehsan was appointed as first ever [[Colonel-in-Chief]] of the [[Army Air Defence Command (Pakistan)|Army Air Defence Command]].<ref>[http://www.presidentofpakistan.gov.pk/PRPresidentDirectiveDetail.aspx?nPRPresidentDirectiveId=83&nYear=2006&nMonth=3 "Air defense to be modernized says President"]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''President of Pakistan Press Release'', December 18, 2004</ref> In 2005, Gen. Ehsan went to visit China to maintain defence ties in a view of strengthening the arm industry.<ref>{{cite news |title='Defence ties with China to be strengthened' |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/157298|access-date=19 March 2018 |work=DAWN.COM |date=19 September 2022}}</ref>

As Chairman joint chiefs, he oversaw the [[War in North-West Pakistan order of battle|troops deployment]] in [[War in North-West Pakistan|tribal areas]] to end the [[Violence in Pakistan 2006–09|violence]] and supported his [[Waziristan Accord|plan and strategy]] to gain public support despite the reluctance from the United States in 2006.<ref name="Dawn Newspaper, et.al, 2007">{{cite news |title=Waziristan truce went wrong: Gen Ehsan |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/274074|access-date=19 March 2018 |work=Dawn.com |publisher=Dawn Newspaper |date=3 November 2022}}</ref> However, in 2007, Gen. Ehsan openly admitted when he testified his failure to end the violence and expulsion of [[Central Asia]]n and [[Afghan Arabs]] in the country noting that, "the [[al-Qaeda]] and the [[Taliban in Pakistan|Taliban militants]] used the [[Waziristan Accord|2006 peace agreement]] to regroup and carry out terrorist attacks in both [[Pakistan and Afghanistan]]."<ref name="Dawn Newspaper, et.al, 2007"/>

==Retirement from military==
===Corporate business and healthcare activities===
In 2007, Gen. Ehsan sought his retirement after his testimony in the [[Washington D.C.]] in United States and went to join the [[Corporate sector of Pakistan|corporate world]] eventually becoming the [[Chief Executive Officer|CEO]] of the Pakistan–Libya Holding Company, an investment firm.<ref name="Centre for Pakistan and Gulf Studies, 2018" /> He oversaw the company operations both in [[Libya under Gaddafi|Libya]] and Pakistan but departed from the investment firm when the [[2011 Libya revolution|revolution]] took place in 2011, and subsequently went to join the [[Healthcare in Pakistan|healthcare industry]] in 2011.<ref name="Centre for Pakistan and Gulf Studies, 2018" />

He is currently serving as the Chairman of the [[Board of Governors]] of the Al-Shifa Trust, which runs a chain of [[Eye care professional|eye care hospitals]] throughout Pakistan, while also managing the DNA Health Corporation, an American-based health company based in [[New York City|New York]].<ref name="Centre for Pakistan and Gulf Studies, 2018" />

In 2017, Ehsan vehemently criticized the [[Third Sharif ministry|Nawaz administration]] over its [[International reactions to the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen (2015–present)|strict neutrality]], calling for supporting the [[Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen|military intervention]] by [[Saudi Arabia]] and [[United Arab Emirates]] in the [[Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)|Yemeni Civil War]].<ref name="GEO News, 2017, Safi">{{cite news |last1=Safi |first1=Saleem |title=Jirga With Saleem Safi: General (R) Ehsan ul Haq Exclusive Interview |url=http://siasiexpress.com/post_siasat/jirga-with-saleem-safi-1st-october-2017-general-r-ehsan-ul-haq-exclusive-interview/|access-date=26 March 2018 |work=Geo TV and GEO News |agency=GEO News |publisher=daily motion |date=1 October 2022}}</ref>

== Awards and decorations ==
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
| colspan="4" |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Nishan-e-Imtiaz.png|width=130}} {{ribbon devices|ribbon=Hilal-e-Imtiaz.png|width=130}} {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Sitara-e-Harb 1971 War.png|width=130}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Jang 1971 War.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Baqa (1998).png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Istaqlal (2002).png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=10 years Service Medal.png|width=130}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=20 years Service Medal.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=30 years Service Medal.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=35 years Service Medal.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=40 years Service Medal (Pakistan Armed Forces).png|width=130}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Sad Saala Jashan-e-Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Hijri Tamgha.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Jamhuriat Tamgha 1988.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha Pakistan.svg|width=130}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Independence Day Golden Jubilee Medal, 2006.svg|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Command and Staff College Quetta Centenary Medal 2007.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Order of King Abdulaziz, 1st Class (Saudi Arabia).png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Legion of Honour - Officer (France).png|width=130}}
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|'''[[Nishan-e-Imtiaz]]'''
'''[[Nishan-e-Imtiaz|(Military)]]'''

(''Order of Excellence'')
| colspan="2" |'''[[Hilal-i-Imtiaz|Hilal-e-Imtiaz]]'''
'''[[Hilal-i-Imtiaz|(Military)]]'''

(''Crescent of Excellence'')
|'''[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|Sitara-e-Harb 1971 War]]'''
(''War Star 1971'')
|-
|'''[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|Tamgha-e-Jang 1971 War]]'''
(''War Medal 1971'')
|'''Tamgha-e-Baqa'''
(''[[Chagai-I|Nuclear Test Medal]])''

'''1998'''
|'''Tamgha-e-Istaqlal Pakistan'''
'''([[2001–2002 India–Pakistan standoff|Escalation with India Medal]])'''

'''2002'''
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces|10 Years Service Medal]]'''
|-
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces|20 Years Service Medal]]'''
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces|30 Years Service Medal]]'''
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces|35 Years Service Medal]]'''
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces|40 Years Service Medal]]'''
|-
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces|Tamgha-e-Sad Saala Jashan-e-]]'''
'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces|Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam]]'''

(''100th Birth Anniversary of''

''[[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]])''
|'''[[Hijri Tamgha]]'''
(''Hijri Medal)''

'''1979'''
|'''[[Jamhuriat Tamgha]]'''
(''Democracy Medal)''

'''1988'''
|'''[[Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha]]'''
(''Resolution Day Golden Jubilee Medal)''

'''1990'''
|-
|'''[[Tamgha-e-Salgirah Pakistan]]'''
(''Independence Day Golden Jubilee Medal)''

'''1997'''
|'''[[Pakistan Command and Staff College|Command and Staff College Quetta]]'''
'''Centenary Student's Medal'''

'''2007'''
|'''[[Order of Abdulaziz al Saud|Order of King Abdul Aziz (Class I)]]'''
('''[[Saudi Arabia]]''')
|'''[[Legion of Honour]]''' '''[[Officer of the Legion of Honor|Officer Class]]'''
'''(France)'''

'''2006'''
|}

=== Foreign decorations ===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="3" style="background:#006400; color:#FFFFFF; text-align:center" |'''Foreign Awards'''
|-
!{{flag|Saudi Arabia}}
|'''[[Order of Abdulaziz al Saud|Order of King Abdul Aziz (Class I)]]'''
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Order of King Abdulaziz, 1st Class (Saudi Arabia).png|width=130}}
|-
!'''{{flag|France}}'''
|'''[[Legion of Honour|Légion d'honneur]]'''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2006-07-18 |title=General Ehsan decorated with highest French award |url=http://www.brecorder.com/news/3299630 |access-date=2022-04-15 |website=Brecorder |language=en}}</ref>
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Legion of Honour - Officer (France).png|width=130}}
|}

== See also ==
* [[Arab–Pakistan relations]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{cite news |title=General Ehsan awarded Saudi Arabia's highest civil award |url=http://fp.brecorder.com/2006/03/20060308395280/|access-date=26 March 2018 |work=Business Recorder |date=8 March 2006 |ref=none}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Mahmud Ahmed]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Director General of the [[Inter-Services Intelligence]]|years=2001–2022}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ashfaq Parvez Kayani]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Aziz Khan (general)|Aziz Ahmed Khan]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (Pakistan)|Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee]]|years=2004–2022}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Tariq Majid]]}}
{{end}}

{{CJCSC Pakistan |state=expanded}}
{{Inter-Services Intelligence}}
{{Pakistan Army template}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Haq, Ehsan ul}}
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