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{{Short description|Pakistani military officer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Oxford spelling|date=October 2020}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Akhtar Hussain Malik
| honorific_suffix = '''[[Hilal-e-Jurat]]'''<br />[[Hilal-i-Jurat|HJ]]&ensp;[[Civil decorations of Pakistan|SPk]]
| native_name = {{Nastaliq|اختر حسین ملک}}
| native_name_lang = ur
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{circa|1910s}}
| death_date = 22 August 1969
| birth_place = [[Pandori, Jalandhar|Pandori]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], [[Presidencies and provinces of British India|British India]]
| death_place = [[Ankara]], Turkey
| placeofburial =
| placeofburial_label =
| placeofburial_coordinates = 
| allegiance = {{unbulletedlist|[[British India]]|Pakistan}}
| branch = {{unbulletedlist|[[British Indian Army]]|[[Pakistan Army]]}}
| serviceyears = 1941–1969
| rank = [[Major general|Major Gen.]]
| servicenumber =
| unit = 7th Battalion, [[16th Punjab Regiment]]
| commands = [[12th Infantry Division (Pakistan)|12th Infantry Division]]
| battles = * [[World War II]]
* [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948|First Kashmir War]]
* [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965|Second Kashmir War]]
** [[Operation Gibraltar]]
** [[Operation Grand Slam]]
| battles_label =
| awards = {{plainlist}}
* [[Hilal-e-Jurat]]
* [[Sitara-e-Pakistan]]
{{endplainlist}}
| alma_mater = [[Indian Military Academy]]
| relations = Lt. Gen. [[Abdul Ali Malik]] (brother)
| laterwork =
| website = 
}}

[[Major General]] '''Akhtar Hussain Malik''' {{small|[[Hilal-i-Jur'at|HJ]]&ensp;[[Civil decorations of Pakistan|SPk]]}} (1910s – 22 August 1969) was a Pakistani senior army officer,<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Baig|first1=Ebad|title=Pakistan: Time for Change|last2=Anwar|first2=Muhammad|publisher=AuthorHouse UK|year=2012|isbn=978-1-4772-5031-0|pages=25}}</ref> and a widely decorated war hero of the [[Pakistan Army]] due to his leadership and command during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]].<ref>Also known as the '''Second Kashmir War'''.</ref>

== Early years ==
Akhtar Hussain Malik was born in the small village of [[Pandori, Jalandhar]], [[British Raj|British India]] (present-day [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], India). He was the son of Malik Ghulam Nabi, the [[Head teacher|headmaster]] at a local school. Due to the scarcity of good educational institutions in the vicinity of his village at the time, his father made an effort to send him to a school miles away, because of which he and his friends would have to walk for hours every day. By the time he graduated from college, [[World War II]] had already broken out and Malik [[Military service|enlisted]] as a [[sepoy]] in the [[British Indian Army]]. His personal discipline, educational level and intelligence were soon noticed by the higher command and he was sent to the [[Indian Military Academy]] in [[Dehradun]] for [[Officer (armed forces)|officer]] training and additional education. Malik graduated and was commissioned as a [[Second lieutenant|Second Lieutenant]] in the [[General Service Corps#Role|special list]] on 1 June 1941.<ref name="auto">October 1942 Secret Edition Indian Army List</ref>

He was admitted to the British Indian Army's newly raised 7th Battalion in the [[16th Punjab Regiment]].<ref name="auto"/> Shortly afterwards, Malik rose through the ranks and was promoted to the rank of [[First lieutenant|First Lieutenant]] during his time in 7/16th. He was later put to serve in an advisory capacity and appointed as the Brigade Intelligence Officer for the [[14th Indian Infantry Brigade#Formation|114th Indian Infantry Brigade]] on 1 January 1942, and was subsequently promoted to the rank of [[Captain]] on 1 April 1942.<ref name="auto"/>

He would later go on to serve with his battalion in [[Burma campaign|Burma]] and [[Malayan campaign|Malaya]] against the [[Armed Forces of the Empire of Japan|Imperial Japanese Armed Forces]] and supporting [[Axis powers]]; and by the end of the war in September 1945, was commanding "A" Company, 7/16th Punjab Regiment in Malaya as a temporary advisory [[Major]].<ref>Solah Punjab. The history of the 16th Punjab Regiment. page 275</ref>

Upon his return to India after the war, Malik continued his service in the British Indian Army as an officer. Over the next two years, the [[Indian independence movement]] against [[British Empire|British colonial rule]] swelled, and by August 1947 had ultimately led to the [[Partition of India|partitioning of India]] into two separate states: the [[Hindus|Hindu]]-majority [[Dominion of India]] and the [[Muslims|Muslim]]-majority [[Dominion of Pakistan]]. After partition, Malik's regiment was allocated to the newly created [[Pakistan Army]]. He opted for Pakistani citizenship, and relocated across the [[Radcliffe Line|new border]] shortly afterwards, transferring and continuing his military service with the Pakistan Army.

== Personality ==
Mailk was known amongst his peers for his towering presence, unsullied boldness in strategy, quick thinking, and patriotism.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thepersecution.org/50years/general.html|title=An Ahmadi General – who saved Pakistan|website=www.thepersecution.org|access-date=2019-06-28}}</ref> Although he was highly admired and respected by his subordinates, he would often be very outspoken towards them. As a [[Military tactics|tactician]], he planned [[Operation Gibraltar]] and [[Operation Grand Slam]] under the auspices of the [[President of Pakistan]]: [[Field marshal|Field Marshal]] [[Ayub Khan (general)|Ayub Khan]].<ref>Pakistan's Drift into Extremism: Allah, the Army, America's War on Terror By Hassan Abbas p. 44</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-34136689|title=The secret troops who tried to start a rebellion|last=Khan|first=M. Ilyas|date=2015-09-05|access-date=2019-10-10|language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 ==
As [[General officer commanding|GOC]] for the [[12th Infantry Division (Pakistan)|12th Infantry Division]], Malik was the overall commander for [[Operation Grand Slam]] in the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965|Second Kashmir War]]. For his successful handling of the initial phase of the operation, he was awarded the [[Hilal-i-Jur'at]], the second highest gallantry award of the [[Pakistan Army]].

Controversially, the command was unilaterally handed over to [[General officer|General]] [[Yahya Khan]] mid-operation, resulting in extensive delays, which were uncalled for, and eventual failure of the operation. The undisclosed reasons for this midway switch has made the operation an object of much speculation in Pakistan to this day.

It is alleged that the [[President of Pakistan|Pakistani President]] [[Ayub Khan (general)|Ayub Khan]] knew that if Malik managed to wrest [[Kashmir]] from Indian control, he would become an undoubted and admired hero in the eyes of the Pakistani Public. General [[Yahya Khan]], the alleged favorite of [[Ayub Khan (general)|Ayub Khan]], was thus introduced midway by Ayub to foil any chances of the operation's success at the hands of Malik, who Ayub Khan saw as a political and military rival.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Pakistan : time for change|author=Anwar, Muhammad|others=Baig, Ebad|date=December 2012|isbn=978-1-4772-5029-7|location=Bloomington, IN|oclc=868067421}}</ref> In a letter to his brother, [[Lieutenant general|Lieutenant Gen.]] [[Abdul Ali Malik]], Akhtar Malik bitterly highlighted the sudden change of command and inept leadership of General [[Yahya Khan]] as one of the main causes of failure.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brownpundits.com/2019/08/19/letter-of-general-akhtar-malik-re-grand-slam/|title=Letter of General Akhtar Malik (Re Grand Slam) – Brown Pundits|website=www.brownpundits.com|access-date=2019-10-10}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
[[Qudrat Ullah Shahab]], an eminent [[Urdu]] writer and civil servant had also commented on the matter, saying:

{{Quotation|"At a time when (Major) General Akhtar Hussain Malik was to take over Akhnoor to pave the way to take [[Srinagar]], the capital of Kashmir, he was wrongly removed from the command, and General [[Yahya Khan]] was put in his position. Perhaps the aim was to deprive Pakistan success in Akhnoor, Yahya Khan accomplished this task very well."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/12/27/426904/-A-Brief-Overview-of-Pakistan-s-Intelligence-Service|title = A Brief Overview of Pakistan's Intelligence Service}}</ref> |author=|title=|source=}}

[[Zulfikar Ali Bhutto]], the [[List of prime ministers of Pakistan|ninth]] [[Prime Minister of Pakistan|Prime Minister]] and [[List of presidents of Pakistan|fourth]] [[President of Pakistan|President]] had also commented on Ayub and Yahya's intervention in the war, saying:
{{Quotation|"Had General Akhtar Malik not been stopped in the Chamb-Jaurian Sector, the [[Indian Armed Forces|Indian forces]] in Kashmir would have suffered serious reverses, but [[Ayub Khan]] wanted to make his favorite, General [[Yahya Khan]], a hero."<ref>Pakistan's Drift into Extremism: Allah, the Army, and America's War on Terror By Hassan Abbas p. 51</ref>|author=|title=|source=}}

== Death ==

After the war, Malik was posted to an advisory commanding position for [[Baghdad Pact|CENTO]] in [[Ankara]], Turkey, where he succumbed to injuries sustained in a [[Traffic collision|road accident]] on 22 August 1969. His body was brought back to Pakistan and being an [[Ahmadiyya|Ahmadi Muslim]], he was buried in a dedicated cemetery in [[Rabwah]].

== Awards and decorations ==
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|{{ribbon devices|ribbon=Hilal-e-Jurat.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Sitara-e-Pakistan (SPk) (1957-86).png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Diffa.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=1939–1945 Star.png|width=130}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Burma Star BAR.svg|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ribbon - War Medal.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ribbon India Service 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;"
|'''[[Hilal-i-Jur'at|Hilal-e-Jurat]]'''
''(Crescent of Courage)''

'''[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965|1965 War]]'''
|'''[[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#Campaign / war medals|Tamgha-e-Diffa]]'''

''(General Service Medal'')

'''[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965|1965 War]] Clasp'''
|'''[[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|Tamgha-e-Jamhuria]]'''
''(Republic Commemoration Medal)''

'''1956'''
|'''[[1939-1945 Star]]'''
|-
|'''[[Burma Star]]'''
|'''[[War Medal 1939–1945|War Medal]]'''
'''[[War Medal 1939–1945|1939–1945]]'''
|'''[[India Service Medal]]'''
[[India Service Medal|'''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="5" |'''{{flag|UK}}'''
|'''[[1939-1945 Star]]'''
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=1939–1945 Star.png|width=130}}
|-
|'''[[Burma Star]]'''
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Burma Star BAR.svg|width=130}}
|-
|'''[[War Medal 1939–1945]]'''
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ribbon - War Medal.png|width=130}}
|-
|[[India Service Medal|'''India Service Medal 1939–1945''']]
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ribbon India Service 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}}
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
*General Akhtar Hussain Malik, Daily Imroze, Lahore, 22 August 1971
*[http://www.jammu-kashmir.com/archives/archives2004/kashmir20041031c.html From Plaebiscite to Partitions, Jammu-Kashmir.com, Oct 2004]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070706164411/http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/jun2005-daily/07-06-2005/oped/o4.htm Thanks, Indeed, Ghani Jafar, Daily Jang, 7 Jun, 2005]

== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061119061230/http://www.muslimedia.com/archives/special01/pak-archiv.htm Read the para on 1965 war]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110610161326/http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/spedition/defence_06sep_2006/index.html Interviews by various Pakistani Generals who fought the 1965 war] (in Urdu)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061107075941/http://bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/History/1965War/Surprise.html SURPRISE, SURPRISE]

{{Pakistan Army template}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Malik, Akhtar Hussain}}
[[Category:Year of birth missing]]
[[Category:Pakistani generals]]
[[Category:Recipients of Hilal-i-Jur'at]]
[[Category:Pakistani Ahmadis]]
[[Category:1969 deaths]]
[[Category:British Indian Army officers]]
[[Category:Indian Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Indian Military Academy alumni]]
[[Category:Generals of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]
[[Category:Road incident deaths in Turkey]]
[[Category:1910s births]]

Akhtar Hussain Malik - Revision history

Bot at 12:55, 10 November 2022