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{{short description|Pakistani general}}
{{Cleanup bare URLs|date=September 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Bakhtiar Rana
| honorific_suffix = {{ubl|'''[[Hilal-e-Jurat]]'''|[[Hilal-i-Jurat|HJ]]&ensp;&ensp;[[Civil decorations of Pakistan|SPk]]&ensp;&ensp;[[Civil decorations of Pakistan|HQA]]&ensp;&ensp;[[Military Cross|MC]]}}
| image = File:Lieutenant General Bakhtiar Rana.jpg
| image_upright =
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| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| birth_name =
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| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1910|11|03}}
| birth_place = [[Hoshiarpur]], [[Punjab, British India|Punjab]], [[British Indian Empire|British India]] (Present day - India)
| death_date = {{Death year and age|1999|1910}}
| death_place = [[Lahore, Punjab]], Pakistan
| placeofburial_label =
| placeofburial =
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| allegiance = Pakistan
| branch = [[Pakistan Army]]
| serviceyears = 1931–66
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| rank = Lt. Gen.
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| unit = [[59th Scinde Rifles (Frontier Force)|1st Piffers]], [[Frontier Force Regiment]]
| commands = {{ubl|[[I Corps (Pakistan)|I Corps]] in [[Mangla]]|[[Inspector-General|Ins-Gen.]] [[Frontier Force Regiment]]|[[Inspector-General|Ins-Gen.]] [[Frontier Corps|FC]] [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa|KPK]]}}
| battles_label =
| battles = [[Second World War|World War II]]
*[[Waziristan campaign (1936–1939)|Second Waziristan war]]
*[[Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II|Mediterranean and Arab Front]]
[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965|Indo-Pakistani War 1965]]
| awards = {{ubl|[[Hilal-i-Jurat|Hilal-e-Jurat]]| [[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces|Sitara-e-Pakistan]]| [[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces|Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam]]| [[Military Cross]]|}}
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}}
[[Lieutenant-General]] '''Bakhtiar Rana''' {{post-nominals|country=GB, PK|list=[[Hilal-e-Jurat|HJ]] [[Civil decorations of Pakistan|SPk HQA]] [[Military Cross|MC]]}} ({{lang-ur|{{nq|بختيار رانا}}}} ; b. 3 November 1910{{rp|786}}<ref>{{cite book |title=Biographical Encyclopedia of Pakistan |date=1970 |publisher=Biographical Research Institute, Pakistan, for International Publishers (Pakistan) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zWxmAAAAMAAJ&q=3rd+November |access-date=18 June 2018 |language=en}}</ref>–1999) was a senior officer of the [[Pakistan Army]] who was notable for commanding the [[I Corps (Pakistan)|1 Corps]], during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]].{{rp|152}}<ref name="Lancer Publishers, Rao, 1991">{{cite book |last1=Rao |first1=K. V. Krishna |title=Prepare Or Perish: A Study of National Security |date=1991 |publisher=Lancer Publishers |isbn=9788172120016 |pages=445 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G7xPaJomYsEC&q=bakhtiar+rana+1965+war&pg=PA152 |access-date=18 June 2018 |language=en |format=google books |chapter={{small|Leadership}}}}</ref>

== Biography ==
Rana was born in [[Hoshiarpur]], [[Punjab, British India|Punjab]] in [[British Indian Empire|British India]] on 3 November 1910 into a [[Islam in India|Muslim]] [[Rajput]] family that belonged to the Naroo tribe of the Rajput clan.{{rp|786}}<ref name="Excerpts I">{{cite web |title=Excerpts I |year = 1970|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zWxmAAAAMAAJ&q=bakhtiar+rana+born&pg=PA786 |access-date=18 June 2018}}</ref> His father, [[Rana Talia Muhammad Khan|Rana Talia]], was an [[British Army ranks|officer]] in the [[British Indian Army]] who was later appointed as the first Muslim [[Inspector-General of Police|Inspector-General]] of the [[Punjab Police (India)|Punjab Police]] based in [[Patiala State]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=36866|supp=y|page=12|date=29 December 1944}}</ref><ref>''Studies in History'' (Volume 1, Issue 2), Jawaharlal Nehru University, Centre for Historical Studies, New Delhi: Vikas Pub. House (1979), p. 231</ref> [[Rana Talia Muhammad Khan|Rana Talia]] was later appointed to the [[North-West Frontier Province (1901–55)|North-West Frontier Province]] and briefly served in the [[Frontier Constabulary]] where he was deployed in [[Kohat]], [[Hangu, Pakistan|Hangu]], and [[Federally Administered Tribal Areas|areas adjacent]] to [[Afghanistan]].<ref>J. A. Robinson, ''Notes on Nomad Tribes of Eastern Afghanistan'', Gosha-e-Adam, 1978, p. 187</ref>

After his [[Matriculation in India|matriculation]], Bakhtiar went to attend the famed [[Aligarh Muslim University]] (AMU) and later made a [[College transfer|transfer]] to attend the [[Forman Christian College University]] in [[Lahore]].{{rp|786}}<ref name="Excerpts I"/> In 1931, Bakthiar left his university studies when he was accepted to join the [[Indian Military Academy]] in [[Dehradun]], and [[Passing out (military)|passed out]] from the academy in 1936.{{rp|786}}<ref name="Excerpts II">{{cite book |title=Excerpts II |year = 1970|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zWxmAAAAMAAJ&q=got+colours+in+Football&pg=PA786}}</ref>

== Military career ==
In 1936, he was [[Commissioned officer|commissioned]] in the [[59th Scinde Rifles (Frontier Force)|1st Piffers]] in the [[Frontier Force Regiment]] as a [[Second Lieutenant|2nd-Lt.]]{{rp|786}}<ref name="Excerpts II"/> In 1939, [[Lieutenant (British Army and Royal Marines)|Lt.]] Bakhtiar participated in [[World War II]], first serving in [[British Indian Army during World War II|India's]] [[Waziristan campaign (1936–1939)|frontier operations]] before being dispatched to the [[Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II|Mediterranean and Middle East Front]], and later fighting in [[North African Campaign|North Africa]] and [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italy]].{{rp|contents}}<ref name="Routledge, Gates and Roy, 2017">{{cite book |last1=Gates |first1=Scott |last2=Roy |first2=Kaushik |title=Limited War in South Asia: From Decolonization to Recent Times |date=2017 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781317105008 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_2M-DwAAQBAJ&q=bakhtiar+rana+world+war+ii&pg=PT102 |access-date=18 June 2018 |language=en}}</ref> For the time being, [[Major (United Kingdom)|Maj.]] Bakhtiar served as an acting [[commanding officer]] of the [[13th Frontier Force Rifles|6/13th FF Rifles]].{{rp|Contents}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=Blackford |first1=Stan |title=One Hell Of a Life: An Anglo-Indian Wallah's Memoir from the Last Decades of the Raj |date=2014 |publisher=eBookIt.com |isbn=9781456621285 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HQhBBAAAQBAJ&q=bakhtiar+rana+major&pg=PT229 |access-date=19 June 2018 |language=en}}</ref> His valorous actions earned him the [[Military Cross]] from [[Great Britain]] in 1945–1946.{{rp|786}}<ref name="Excerpts II"/>{{rp|41}}<ref name="ABC Publishing House, Musa, 1985">{{cite book |last1=Khan, PA |first1=Gen. Musa |author-link1=Musa Khan (general) |title=Jawan to General: Recollections of a Pakistani Soldier |date=1985 |publisher=ABC Publishing House |pages=240 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PSosAAAAIAAJ&q=bakhtiar+rana+ |language=en}}</ref> In August 1947, Maj. Bakhtiar held the command of the [[The Garhwal Rifles|2nd Garhwal Rifles]] before being posted in western India.{{rp|55}}<ref>{{cite book |title=Selections from National Press |date=1995 |publisher=Centre for South Asian Studies, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, University of the Punjab. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KgFuAAAAMAAJ&q=bakhtiar+rana |language=en}}</ref>

After the [[Partition of India|partition]] of [[British Indian Empire|India]], [[Lieutenant-Colonel|Lt-Col.]] Bakhtiar decided to transfer to the [[Pakistan Army]], and his [[59th Scinde Rifles (Frontier Force)|1st Piffers Btn]] was known for having more locals than any other regiment in the country at that time.{{rp|81}}<ref name="Springer, Cheema and Riemer, 1990">{{cite book |last1=Cheema |first1=Pervaiz I. |last2=Riemer |first2=Manuel |title=Pakistan's Defence Policy 1947-58 |date=1990 |publisher=Springer |isbn=9781349209422 |pages=240 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CX6xCwAAQBAJ&q=bakhtiar+rana+world+war+ii&pg=PA81 |access-date=18 June 2018 |language=en}}</ref> In 1953, [[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|Brig.]] Bakhtiar Rana was appointed to command the [[Frontier Corps]] in [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa|Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa]] as its [[Inspector-General]] until 1955.<ref name="khyber.org">http://www.khyber.org/pashtohistory/frontiercorps/frontiercorps.shtml</ref>

He was [[Chief Martial Law Administrator]] ([[West Pakistan]]). As a Lieutenant General, he commanded one of Pakistan Army's strike corps, [[I Corps (Pakistan)|I Corps]], as its Corps Commander from 1958 to 1966. As a Brigadier, he commanded the [[Frontier Corps]] in [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]] as its Inspector-General from 1953 to 1955.<ref name="khyber.org"/> His younger son, [[Major-General]] Ghaziuddin Rana, also went on to command the Frontier Corps from 1988 to 1990. To this day, they are the only father and son duo to have commanded the Frontier Corps during their separate military careers.<ref name="khyber.org"/>

As a Lieutenant General, he commanded one of Pakistan Army's strike corps, [[I Corps (Pakistan)|I Corps]], as its Corps Commander from 1958 to 1966. During the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]], Lt. Gen. Bakhtiar Rana was the only lieutenant general commanding a corps, namely 1 Corps, and he was one of only two lieutenant generals in the Pakistan Army during the war, the other being Lt. Gen. Altaf Qadir, who was on deputation to the [[Central Treaty Organization]] (CENTO).<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://ia.rediff.com/news/2005/sep/09war1.htm|title=Why Pakistan lost Akhnur|newspaper=Rediff |last1=Qadir |first1=Brigadier Shaukat }}</ref>

== Family ==
Rana had two sons and one daughter. Both his sons, Ghaziuddin Rana and Salahuddin Rana, joined the Pakistan Army and rose to the ranks of Major General and Brigadier respectively. His younger son, Maj. Gen. Ghazi-ud-din Rana, also served as his [[Aide-de-camp]]. Lt. Gen. Bakhtiar Rana's sister, Begum Akhtar Sultan, was married to [[Amir Habibullah Khan Saadi]] and his daughter, Talat, was married to the grandson of [[Chaudhry Niaz Ali Khan]].

==Death==
Rana died in [[Lahore]], Pakistan, in 4:30 pm 10 February 1998.

== 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=Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam (1957-76).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=War Medal 1965(Tamgha-e-Jang, A.H.1385).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=Military Cross.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Indian Distinguished Service Medal.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=India General Service Medal (1936).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=Italy Star 1945.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Defence Medal 1945.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ribbon - War 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-Jurat|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)''
|'''[[Civil decorations of Pakistan|Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam]]'''
''(SQA)''
|'''[[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#Commemorative medals|Tamgha-e-Jamhuria]]'''
''(Republic Commemoration Medal)''

'''1956'''
|-
|[[Military Cross|'''Military Cross (MC)''']]'''<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7352402 |title=Recommendation for Award for Rana, Bakhtiar Rank: Captain Service No: IC... |date=1944–1945}}</ref>'''
(awarded for '''GALLANTRY'''

in [[Italian campaign (World War II)|'''Italy''']] '''1945''')
|'''[[Indian Distinguished Service Medal|Indian Distinguished]]'''
'''[[Indian Distinguished Service Medal|Service Medal]]'''
|'''[[India General Service Medal (1936)|India General Service Medal]]'''
'''[[India General Service Medal (1936)|(1936)]]'''

'''[[Waziristan campaign (1936–1939)|North West Frontier 1937–39]] Clasp'''
|'''[[1939-1945 Star]]'''
|-
|'''[[Italy Star]]'''
|'''[[Defence Medal (United Kingdom)|Defence Medal]]'''
|'''[[Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal|War Medal]]'''
'''[[Queen Elizabeth II Coronation 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="8" |'''{{flag|UK}}'''
|[[Military Cross|'''Military Cross (MC)''']]<ref name=":02"/>
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Military Cross.png|width=130}}
|-
|'''[[Indian Distinguished Service Medal]]'''
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Indian Distinguished Service Medal.png|width=130}}
|-
|'''[[India General Service Medal (1936)]]'''
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=India General Service Medal (1936).png|width=130}}
|-
|'''[[1939-1945 Star]]'''
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=1939–1945 Star.png|width=130}}
|-
|'''[[Italy Star]]'''
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Italy Star 1945.png|width=130}}
|-
|'''[[Defence Medal (United Kingdom)|Defence Medal]]'''
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Defence Medal 1945.png|width=130}}
|-
|'''[[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}}
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* http://www.khyber.org/pashtohistory/frontiercorps/frontiercorps.shtml
* http://afpakwar.com/blog/archives/4667
* http://www.understandingpakistan.com/index.php/pakistan-india-war-of-1965-the-ground-war-athar-osama

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rana, Bakhtiar}}
[[Category:1910 births]]
[[Category:1999 deaths]]
[[Category:Punjabi people]]
[[Category:People from Hoshiarpur]]
[[Category:Aligarh Muslim University alumni]]
[[Category:Forman Christian College alumni]]
[[Category:Indian Military Academy alumni]]
[[Category:British Indian Army soldiers]]
[[Category:British Indian Army officers]]
[[Category:Pakistani generals]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Lahore]]
[[Category:Generals of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]

Bakhtiar Rana - Revision history

Bot at 17:45, 28 October 2022