Excerpts of NJ Barrington letter (British High Commission Rawalpindi) addressed to MK Evans Esq, Commonwealth Relations office, SW1 dated 5 May 1966.
Ayub is going through a difficult time at the moment with opposition in both Wings and with critics inside the regime's "establishment". He still ultimately depends upon the Army to stay in power. The loyalty of Yahya is unquestioned but it might have been thought that Ayub would not at this juncture (despite the precedent of eight-year terms) dispensed with the services of Musa who is physically perfectly fit and has proved his loyalty so convincingly. The same applies to Riaz. The fact that the President has been prepared to make these changes is a sign of great confidence on his part in the general loyalty of the Army. It is still our view that although some colonels and below are discontented with the conduct of the recent war and subsequent policy the brigadiers and above are completely loyal to the President.
There remains the question of the attitude of the new appointees to India and Kashmir. As younger officers are promoted those reared in the artificially nationalistic atmosphere of post-Partition Pakistan are gradually reaching the higher posts. But they are not yet in sensitive posts, and despite reports in the Delhi press that Yahya "has long been known to be an advocate of a tough line towards India" the new team at G.H.Q., being more westernised and more intelligent than their predecessors, seem on the face of it much less likely to be led by the nose, as Musa must have been, into harebrained escapades in Kashmir without counting the cost.
MAJOR-GENERAL AGHA MOHAMMAD YAHYA KHAN, HJ, S.Pk (PA 98) GOC 7 DIVISION PESHAWAR
A Pathan of Afghan descent he was born in 1917 in Peshawar. Having obtained his B.A. at the Punjab University, he attended a course at the Indian Military Academy, Dehra Dun, and was commissioned in 1939, was attached to the 2 Battalion The Worcester Regiment for one year and then joined the Baluch Regiment.
Prior to World War 11, Major-General Yahya Khan took part in operation on the North-West Frontier and during the war went overseas with his regiment and was active in Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Libya, Cyprus, Iraq and Italy. Whilst in Italy he was captured but successfully escaped from his POW camp.
He returned to India in 1945 and attended the 13th Staff College course in 1946, thereafter holding an appointment at GHQ before returning as an Instructor at the Staff College, Quetta. He was promoted T/Lt-Colonel in May 1949 and subsequently commanded a battalion of his regiment. After that, he was GSO I of a Division before his promotion to T/Brigadier in 1951.
With Abdul Hamid and Peerzada he was responsible for the planning of the operation by which Martial Law was imposed on the country. He "vas also probably in the small ring which planned and executed the take-over of the Government by Ayub in 1957.
A heavy drinker, womanizer, intriguer and possible anti-British. He is said to be a strong favourite as the next C-in-C of the Pakistan Army.
His tenure of appointment in 15 Division has been even shorter but he was GOC during the mobilization of the Army at the Rann of Kutch affair in 1965 and command this key division when it was deployed in battle positions on the Indo-Pakistan border. As he took the place of Lt-General Altaf Qadir in 7 division this may be looked upon as promotion. During the Indo-Pakistan conflict of September 1965 he seems to have commanded in the Chamb Sector. He was awarded an immediate HJ.
Brigadier P.H.D. Panton, CBE
January, 1966
MAJOR-GENERAL SAHABZADA MOHD YAQUB KHAN (PA 136)
One of the Princely Pataudi family. Born 23 Dec 1920 in Rampur, U.P. Educated in England and Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College, and Indian Military Academy, Dehra Dun. He was commissioned in 1940 into the 18th Cavalry after a year with a British Infantry Regiment. The same year he went to the Middle East and served in 3 Ind Motor Brigade. Took part in the battle of MCHILI, withdrawal to TOBRUK and the siege of TOBRUK. He was later employed on security duties in Syria. He was taken prisoner by the Germans in 1942 and released in 1945. He returned to 18th Cavalry and was later appointed Adjutant of the Viceroy's Bodyguard. In 1948 he commanded the Governor General's Bodyguard. He later commanded an Inf Bn of the 1 st Punjab Regiment. In 1949 he graduated from the Command and Staff College Quetta. He also attended the War College, France. He commanded a number of Cavalry Regiments and 4 Armoured Brigade, he then served as Deputy Commandant Staff College Quetta. He was VCGS before taking over command of I Armoured Division early in 1961. In 1962 he became Commandant of the Command and Staff College, Quetta. During the Indo-Pakistan conflict of September 1965 he took over I Armoured Division after its Commander had led it to disaster.
Major-General Yaqub is an interpreter in French, Russian, German and Italian, most of which languages he learnt as a POW. A deep thinking intelligent and rather intellectual General who has the potential to reach the highest rank. He is however of a rather shy nature and one cannot see him inspiring his officers by the force of his personality though he might inspire admiration for his integrity and intellect. He always appears cool and collected but on the polo field can become emotional and excited, but then, so do so many polo players.
He was married to Lt-General Sher Ali Khan's sister, but in 1960 divorced her and married a girl who had been brought up in Calcutta. She is charming and sophisticated, having defied convention and gone, on her own, to seek education in England. She is shy until one gets to know her when she becomes an entertaining conversationalist. Yaqub is a first class polo player and always has good ponies.
Brigadier P.H.D. Panton, CBE
January, 1966
Full Letter Click Link:
ARMY HIGH COMMAND: PROFILES OF YAHYA AND YAOUB KHAN
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