Khalid Mahmud Arif: Difference between revisions
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[[General]] '''Khalid Mahmud Arif''' (''usually shortened to'' '''General K.M. Arif'''), NI(M), SBt, (born 1930), is a former [[Chief of Army Staff (Pakistan)|Vice Chief of Army Staff]] of the [[Pakistan Army]] who worked under the [[Chief of Army Staff (Pakistan)|army chief]] and [[President of Pakistan|President]] [[Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq|General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq]]. A [[4 star rank]] general, he was a close [[General Zia]] associate and worked as his adviser in the capacity of Chief of Staff (COS) from 1977 to 1984. General Zia's next COS was [[lieutenant general]] [[Syed Refaqat]] who stayed till [[General Zia]]'s [[Death of Zia-ul-Haq|death in the 1988 plane crash]]. |
[[General]] '''Khalid Mahmud Arif''' (''usually shortened to'' '''General K.M. Arif'''), NI(M), SBt, (born 1930), [[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan military|SBt]], [[Nishan-e-Imtiaz|NI(M)]], is a former [[Chief of Army Staff (Pakistan)|Vice Chief of Army Staff]] of the [[Pakistan Army]] who worked under the [[Chief of Army Staff (Pakistan)|army chief]] and [[President of Pakistan|President]] [[Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq|General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq]]. A [[4 star rank]] general, he was a close [[General Zia]] associate and worked as his adviser in the capacity of Chief of Staff (COS) from 1977 to 1984. General Zia's next COS was [[lieutenant general]] [[Syed Refaqat]] who stayed till [[General Zia]]'s [[Death of Zia-ul-Haq|death in the 1988 plane crash]]. |
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In March 1984, Arif was promoted to [[4 star general]] and was made the [[Chief of Army Staff (Pakistan)|Vice Chief of Army Staff]] in place of General [[Sawar Khan]] who was due for retirement. He held on to this post for three years, after which he was himself replaced by General [[Mirza Aslam Beg]] in March 1987. |
In March 1984, Arif was promoted to [[4 star general]] and was made the [[Chief of Army Staff (Pakistan)|Vice Chief of Army Staff]] in place of General [[Sawar Khan]] who was due for retirement. He held on to this post for three years, after which he was himself replaced by General [[Mirza Aslam Beg]] in March 1987. |
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Revision as of 07:32, 13 September 2010
Khalid Mahmud Arif | |
|---|---|
| File:GEN.K M ARIF.jpg A historical photo of General K. M. Arif with other high military officials of Pakistan Army. | |
| Nickname(s) | General K.M. Arif |
| Allegiance |  Pakistan |
| Service/ |  Pakistan Army |
| Years of service | 1949 – 1987 |
| Rank |  General |
| Service number | PA–3107 |
| Unit | Armoured Corps |
| Commands | Chief of Staff (COS) Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) |
| Battles/wars | Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 |
| Awards | Sitara-e-Basalat Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) |
General Khalid Mahmud Arif (usually shortened to General K.M. Arif), NI(M), SBt, (born 1930), SBt, NI(M), is a former Vice Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army who worked under the army chief and President General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. A 4 star rank general, he was a close General Zia associate and worked as his adviser in the capacity of Chief of Staff (COS) from 1977 to 1984. General Zia's next COS was lieutenant general Syed Refaqat who stayed till General Zia's death in the 1988 plane crash.
In March 1984, Arif was promoted to 4 star general and was made the Vice Chief of Army Staff in place of General Sawar Khan who was due for retirement. He held on to this post for three years, after which he was himself replaced by General Mirza Aslam Beg in March 1987.
Prisoner of War
Arif was a refugee from eastern Punjab who immigrated to Pakistan after independence. He is the author of much famed book Khaki Shadows.[1]
Military Career
Arif was born in 1930 to a Urdu speaking family in easter Punjab. Arif joined the Pakistan Army in 1949 as a lieutenant, after passing the Army exam, and was inducted in the Army Armoured Corps in 1948. In 1950, Arif is trained and a graduate of United States Army Armor School, Fort Knox[2]. Arif actively participated in the 1965 September war and 1971 Winter war, earning a decoration in the East-Pakistan. For his honorary services, he was awarded the Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) and the Sitara-i-Basalat. In 1974, as Brigadier-General, Arif held a very powerful position in Army's GHQ (Generals Headquarter). As a four-star general and Vice Chief of Army Staff, Arif was the de facto Commander of the Pakistan Defense Forces until his retirement in 1987. According to the dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, General Arif was an uptight and strict army officer who was directly and indirectly involved in the nuclear weapon development. General K.M. Arif was also responsible for the security of the Pakistani nuclear scientists and the nuclear facilities. Arif oversaw the secret testing of nuclear weapons throughout his career, and developed cordial relationships with dr. A. Q. Khan. General Arif was one of the high-ranking officer who eye-witnessed the first cold test of a nuclear device in Kirana Hills in 1983.
Invovment in 1977 Coup d etate
According to Lt. General F.A. Chishti, the former Rawalpindi Corps commander who helped General Zia overthrow PM Bhutto in 1977 military coup; "Gen. Zia was lucky to have Maj. Gen. Arif as his life long confidante. He had experience as a Martial Law Officer during Yahya's regime and handled matters efficiently."[3]
Post Retirement
Currently, he is Chairman of the Pakistan Security and Development Association, a non-government and autonomous research body. He is also a prolific writer, contributing articles to national newspapers, and is well known for his first book Working with Zia, published by Oxford University Press, and for his anthologies of Urdu poetry.
References
- ^ Pakistan under Zia, 1977-1988 By Shahid Javed Burki Asian Survey, Vol. 28, No. 10 (Oct., 1988), pp. 1082-1100
- ^ Mian, Dr. Zia (2009). South Asian cultures of the bomb: atomic publics and the state in India and Pakistan. Bloomington, Indiana, United States: Indiana University Press. p. 27. ISBN 9780253220325.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Shahid Javed Burki. "Pakistan: Fifty Years of Nationhood (Westview Publishers, 1999)"
