Agha Ibrahim Akram: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Pakistani army general and historian}}
{{Short description|Pakistani general and historian (1923-89)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
| honorific_prefix = [[Lieutenant general (Pakistan)|Lieutenant General]]
{{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] -->
| name = A. I. Akram<br /> آغا ابراہیم اکرم
| name = A. I. Akram
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=PAK|size=100%|HI(M)|SI(M)|SK}}
| caption =
| native_name = {{nq|اے آئی اکرم}}
| image = Agha Ibrahim Akram.jpg
| image = Agha Ibrahim Akram.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| image_size = 200px
| office = Founding President [[Institute of Regional Studies]]
| pseudonym =
| term_start = November 1981
| term_end = 4 March 1989
| office1 = [[Pakistan–Spain relations|Ambassador of Pakistan to Madrid]]
| term_start1 = 14 May 1978
| term_end1 = 30 September 1980
| office2 = Deputy Martial Law Administrator<br>Zone F ([[North-West Frontier Province|NWFP]])
| term_start2 = 6 July 1971
| term_end2 = 6 July 1972
| president2 = [[Yahya Khan]]<br>[[Zulfikar Ali Bhutto]]
| office3 = Chief Instructor [[Command and Staff College Quetta]]
| term_start3 = 17 September 1960
| term_end3 = 11 September 1965
| successor3 = [[Amjad Ali Chaudhri]]
| birth_name = Agha Ali Ibrahim Akram
| birth_name = Agha Ali Ibrahim Akram
| birth_date = 22 September 1923
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1923|09|22|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Ludhiana]], [[Punjab region|Punjab]], [[British India]]
| birth_place = [[Ludhiana]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province]], [[British India]]
| death_date = 1989
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1989|03|04|1923|09|22|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Pakistan]]
| death_place = [[Islamabad]], [[Pakistan]]
| children = 3
| occupation = [[Army Officer]] and writer
| education = [[Government College, Lahore]]<br>[[Staff College, Quetta]]
| nationality = Pakistani
| rank = [[File:OF-8 PakistanArmy.svg|10px]] [[File:US-O9 insignia.svg|40px]] [[Lieutenant general (Pakistan)|Lieutenant General]]
| genre = [[Military history]]
| unit = [[13th Frontier Force Rifles]]<br>[[Frontier Corps|Tochi Scouts]]<br>[[Frontier Force Regiment|Piffers]]
| subject =
| service_number = PA-911<ref name="GZ">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9LpPAQAAMAAJ&q=Brigadier+Agha+Ali+Ibrahim+Akram|title=The Gazette of Pakistan|year=1978|page=681 |author1=Pakistan }}</ref>
| notableworks = The Sword of Allah Khalid Bin Waleed, The Muslim Conquest of Persia, The Muslim Conquest of Egypt and North Africa
| branch = {{army|British India}} (1942-47)<br>{{army|PAK}} (1947-78)
| influences =
| serviceyears = 1942-78
| influenced =
| signature =
| battles = {{Tree list}}
*[[World War II]]
| awards =
**[[Burma Campaign]]
*[[Indo-Pakistani war of 1947–1948]]
*[[Indo-Pakistani war of 1965]]
*[[Indo-Pakistani war of 1971]]
{{Tree list/end}}
| commands = Permanent Military Representative of [[Pakistan]] to [[CENTO]]<br>[[Frontier Force Regiment]]<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lopIAAAAMAAJ&q=a.+i.+akram|title=The Wardens of the Marches A History of the Piffers, 1947-1971|year=1980|page=190 |last1=Rahman |first1=Mohammed Attiqur }}</ref><br>[[7th Infantry Division (Pakistan)|7th Infantry Division]]<br>[[Military Secretary (Pakistan)|Military Secretary]] [[GHQ (Pakistan)|GHQ]]<br>Colonel Staff HQ [[XXX Corps (Pakistan)#Structure|15th Division]]
| module = {{Infobox writer
| embed = yes
| genre = [[Military history]]<br>[[Islamic history]]
| notableworks = {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LzVtAAAAMAAJ&q=1989|title=The Sword of Allah, Khalid Bin Al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns |last1=Akram |first1=A. I. |date=2006 }} (1970)<br>{{cite book|url=https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/1746034|title=The Muslim Conquest of Persia}} (1975)<br>{{cite book|url=https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/2710460|title=The Muslim Conquest of Egypt and North Africa}} (1977)<br>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rZ1CAAAAYAAJ|title=The Muslim Conquest of Spain |last1=Akram |first1=A. I. |date=1980 }} (1980)<br>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/TheFalconOfTheQuraish_201807|title=The Falcon of The Quraish Abdur Rahman The Immigrant of Spain}} (1991)<br>{{cite book|url=https://picclick.co.uk/THE-RISE-OF-CORDOBA-by-Lt-Gen-A-313374206491.html|title=The Rise of Cordoba}} (1992)
}}
}}
}}


[[Lieutenant General (Pakistan)|Lieutenant General]] '''Agha Ali Ibrahim Akram''' {{post-nominals|country=PAK|size=100%|HI(M)|SI(M)|SK}} ([[Urdu]]: {{nq|آغا علی ابراہیم اکرم}}; 22 September 1923 — 4 March 1989) better known as '''A. I. Akram''' was a [[three-star rank]] [[Lieutenant general (Pakistan)|general]], [[military strategist]], author, historian, diplomat, and one of Pakistan's most influential soldier-scholars. In the 1980s, Akram was a well-known defence expert and defence analyst. Akram's most popular work was his biography of [[Khalid ibn al-Walid]], ''The Sword of Allah'' which Akram published while serving in the [[Pakistan Army]]. For several years. it was compulsory reading in the [[Pakistan Army]] for admission into the [[Command and Staff College Quetta]] and has been on the leadership syllabus in the [[Malaysian Army]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pXpDAAAAYAAJ&q=akram|title=Sûrya India|year=1984|volume=8|page=71}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AxttDwAAQBAJ&dq=general+ai+akram&pg=PT66|title=The Secret World A History of Intelligence|year=2018|isbn=978-0-300-24052-8 |last1=Andrew |first1=Christopher |publisher=Yale University Press }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1YHHjsGZ7yoC&dq=a.+i.+akram&pg=PA82|title=Air University Library Index to Military Periodicals|year=1975|volume=26}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aYTjAAAAMAAJ&q=akram|title=Afghanistan Today|year=1987}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DjC6AAAAIAAJ&q=akram|title=Near East/South Asia Report|year=1984}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U5sdAAAAIAAJ&q=akram|title=Geopolitics, Political Geography, and Pakistan|year=1992|page=107 |last1=Azam |first1=Ikram }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TmVDAAAAYAAJ&q=Gen%20Akram%20writes|title=Indo-Pak Conflicts Over Kashmir|pages=186, 218}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7E7fAAAAMAAJ&q=akram|title=The Pakistan Army: With a New Foreword and Epilogue|year=1998|page=166}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZX79YLOiBHsC&dq=A.I+Akram&pg=PA102|title=UFO's in the Quran|year=2008|page=102}}</ref> Akram was once seen as a close confidant of [[Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq]] and his conceptual adviser.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l9uRAAAAMAAJ&q=akram|title=Journal of Peace Studies|year=1998|volume=5}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G3wdAQAAMAAJ&q=akram|title=Times of India Illustrated Weekly|date=October 1987 |pages=20–21, 45|volume=108}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pFVDAAAAYAAJ&q=AI+Akram|title=India Today|volume=13|year=1988}}</ref>
'''Agha Ali Ibrahim Akram''' ([[Urdu]]: '''آغا ابراہیم اکرم'''), (1989- 1923) better known as '''A. I. Akram''' was a [[Lieutenant-General]] in the [[Pakistan Army]] and a historian. He wrote books about early [[Muslim]] conquests. His most famous book The [[Sword of Allah]] is a biography on the Muslim general, [[Khalid ibn al-Walid]]. He retired from the Pakistan Army as Lieutenant-General in 1978. He also served as [[Pakistan]]'s Ambassador to Spain. He founded the Institute of Regional Studies in 1982 and remained its president till his death in 1989.<ref name="Across the Wagah">{{cite book |last=Tikekar |first=Maneesha |year=2004 |title=Across the Wagah: An Indian's Sojourn in Pakistan |publisher=Promilla |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HGqsWktyFcEC |page=34 |isbn=978-81-85002-34-7}}</ref>


Akram served in several key positions including as Permanent Military Representative of [[Pakistan]] to [[CENTO]] in [[Ankara]], [[Colonel Commandant]] [[Frontier Force Regiment]], Deputy Martial Law Administrator - Zone F ([[North-West Frontier Province|NWFP]]) under [[President of Pakistan|President]] [[Yahya Khan]] and [[President of Pakistan|President]] [[Zulfikar Ali Bhutto]], [[General officer commanding|GOC]] [[7th Infantry Division (Pakistan)|7 Division]], [[Military Secretary (Pakistan)|Military Secretary]] [[GHQ (Pakistan)|GHQ]], and Colonel Staff HQ 15 Division.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1DYcAAAAMAAJ&q=military+secretary+akram|title=Main Currents of Contemporary Thought in Pakistan: 1970-1972|year=1973 |last1=Said |first1=Hakim Mohammad }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2SQUAQAAMAAJ&q=akram|title=Dialogue with a Galaxy of Scientists, Culturists, Historians, Educationists...|year=1990 |last1=Pakistan |first1=Hamdard Foundation }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z6TfAAAAMAAJ&q=a.+i.+akram+colonel|title=Defence Journal|volume=6|year=2002|page=139}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LtJPAQAAMAAJ&q=ibrahim%20akram|title=The Gazette of Pakistan|year=1978|page=586 |author1=Pakistan }}</ref>
==Biography==
A. I. Akram was born in [[Ludhiana]], now in [[India]], on 22 September 1923 to an Indian Police Officer.<ref name="October 1945 Indian Army List"> October 1945 Indian Army List</ref>
He graduated from Government College Lahore in 1942 and joined the [[British Indian Army]], being commissioned a second lieutenant in the [[13th Frontier Force Rifles]] on 26 November 1942. By October 1945 he held the rank of temporary Captain, a promotion he received on 1 January 1945.<ref name="October 1945 Indian Army List" /> He served in [[Burma]] in [[World War II]], and first three [[Indo-Pakistan Wars]].<ref name="The Muslim Conquest of Spain, About Author, page=4">{{cite book |last=Agha |first=Ibrahim Akram |title=The Muslim Conquest of Spain |publisher=Oxford University Press, Pakistan |location=Pakistan |page=265 |isbn=978-0-19-597715-8}}</ref><ref name="A. I. Akram interview with WGBH">{{cite web |title=Interview with General A.I. Akram, 1987 |work=Pakistan's rivalry and conflicts with India |publisher=WGBH Educational Foundation |url=http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/wpna-832494-interview-with-general-a-i-akram-1987-part-3-of-4 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130416051135/http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/wpna-832494-interview-with-general-a-i-akram-1987-part-3-of-4 |access-date=13 February 2012 |archive-date=16 April 2013}}</ref>


Akram dedicated his books, ''The Muslim Conquest of Egypt and North Africa'' to his son Hassan, ''The Muslim Conquest of Spain'' to his son Masood, ''The Falcon of The Quraish: Abdur Rahman The Immigrant of Spain'' to his brother Mahmud, and ''The Rise of Cordoba'' to his late wife Loge. Akram was fluent in [[Urdu]], [[English language|English]], [[Farsi]], [[Arabic]], and [[Spanish language|Spanish]], learning the latter two for research.<ref name="DJ9"/><ref name="CD">{{cite book|url=https://picclick.co.uk/THE-RISE-OF-CORDOBA-by-Lt-Gen-A-313374206491.html|title=The Rise of Cordoba|year=1992}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rZ1CAAAAYAAJ&q=masood|title=The Muslim Conquest of Spain|year=1980|page=5 |last1=Akram |first1=A. I. }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FZ8JAQAAIAAJ|page=3|year=1977|title=The Muslim Conquest of Egypt and North Africa|isbn=978-969-0-00224-2|last1=Akram|first1=A. I.|publisher=Ferozsons}}</ref>
With Partition in 1947, he chose to join the Pakistan Army.


In the 1980s, Akram stated he opposed nuclear weapons and suggested that Pakistan and other developing countries should use [[Nuclear power|nuclear energy]]. Akram expected that by the end of the 20th century, only about 10 countries would have nuclear weapons.<ref>{{cite web |title=War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; Carter's New World; Interview with A. I. Akram|url=https://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_A645DCD569B94EEB9F1B105C49E1C215|date=2 September 1987}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kl1PAQAAMAAJ&q=AI+Akram|title=ACDIS Bulletin|year=1982|volume=4-6}}</ref>
He taught military history as Colonel and Chief Instructor at [[Pakistan Command and Staff College|Command and Staff College]], [[Quetta]] from September 1960 to November 1965,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archived copy |url=http://armystaffcollege.gov.pk/Gallery_CI.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326013326/http://armystaffcollege.gov.pk/Gallery_CI.php |access-date=27 January 2017 |archive-date=26 March 2017}}</ref>
during which he acutely felt the lack of detailed, clear and objective literature on Muslim military history. It was at this time when he decided to fill the void himself.


==Early life==
His first book, ''The Sword of Allah'', on the life and campaigns of [[Khalid ibn al-Walid]], was published in 1970 after a five years effort, including visits to battle-fields in [[Lebanon]], [[Syria]], [[Jordan]], [[Iraq]], [[Kuwait]] and [[Saudi Arabia]]. It has two English editions, and has been translated into [[Urdu]], [[Arabic]], German and [[Malay language|Bahasa]]. For several years it was compulsory reading in the Pakistan Army for entrance to the Staff College and has been on the leadership syllabus in the [[Malaysian Army]]. His second book ''The Muslim Conquest of Persia'' was published after four years, after visiting the battlefields in [[Iran]] and discussions with [[Iranian peoples|Iranian]] scholars. ''The Muslim Conquest of Egypt and North Africa'' was his third book, which also took four years of preparations and visits to Egypt and Tunisia. His last book was ''The Rise of Cordoba'', which was published in 1986. To research for writing all these books he learned [[Arabic]], [[Persian language|Persian]] and Spanish and collected an impressive library of historical works.<ref name="Back cover of The Sword Of Allah">{{cite book |last=Agha |first=Ibrahim Akram |year=2006 |title=The Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns |edition=3rd |orig-year=First published 1970 |publisher=Mr. Books |location=Islamabad |page=back cover |oclc=191257949}}</ref>
Akram was born in [[Ludhiana]] on 22 September 1923, his father was an Indian Police Officer. Akram graduated from [[Government College, Lahore]] in 1942 and joined the [[British Indian Army]].<ref name="ArmyList"/>


==Personal life==
In 1978, he retired from [[Pakistan Army]] as a Lieutenant-General after being superseded by General [[Zia-ul Haq]].<ref name="Khalid Mahmud">{{cite book |last=Arif |first=Khalid Mahmud |year=1995 |title=Working with Zia: Pakistan Power Politics, 1977–1988 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=USA |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=26TjAAAAMAAJ |page=43 |isbn=978-0-19-577570-9}}</ref>
Akram was married to his wife Loge, who died before him. They have three children, daughter Yasmin, and sons Hassan and Masood.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LzVtAAAAMAAJ&q=1989|title=The Sword of Allah Khalid Bin Al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns|year=2006|edition=Second |last1=Akram |first1=A. I. }}</ref>
After that he served as [[Pakistan]]'s Ambassador to Spain for two and a half years. He founded the ''Institute of Regional Studies'' in 1982 and remained its president till his death in 1989.<ref name="Across the Wagah" />


[[Inamul Haque Khan]] states that Akram was a well-read person and used to discuss philosophy and [[Allama Iqbal]]'s poetry.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_dzgAAAAMAAJ&q=A.I.%20akram|title=Memoirs of Insignificance|year=1999|page=74|first=Inamul|last=Haq}}</ref>
==Works==

# The Sword of Allah<ref name="The Sword of Allah: Khalid Bin Al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns">{{cite book |last=Agha |first=Ibrahim Akram |year=2006 |title=The Sword of Allah: Khalid Bin Al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns |publisher=Adam Publishers & Distributors, India |isbn=978-81-7435-467-9}}</ref>
==British Indian Army career==
# The Muslim Conquest of Persia<ref name="The Muslim Conquest of Persia">{{cite book |last=Agha |first=Ibrahim Akram |title=The Muslim Conquest of Persia |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Pakistan |isbn=978-0-19-597713-4}}</ref>
Akram was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the [[13th Frontier Force Rifles]] of the [[British Indian Army]] on 26 November 1942, receiving a promotion on 26 August 1943 as a [[Military rank#Types of rank|War substantive]] Lieutenant.<ref name="ArmyList">{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.278926/page/n675/mode/2up?q=agha_ali_ibrahim_akram|title=Indian Army List For October I Part 1|year=1945}}</ref>
# The Muslim Conquest of Egypt and North Africa<ref name="The Muslim Conquest of Egypt and North Africa">{{cite book |last=Agha |first=Ibrahim Akram |year=1977 |title=The Muslim Conquest of Egypt and North Africa |publisher=Ferozsons Ltd,Pakistan |location=Pakistan |isbn=978-969-0-00224-2}}</ref>

# The Muslim Conquest of Spain<ref name="The Muslim Conquest of Spain">{{cite book |last=Agha |first=Ibrahim Akram |title=The Muslim Conquest of Spain |publisher=Oxford University Press, Pakistan |location=Pakistan |isbn=978-0-19-597715-8}}</ref>
During [[World War II]], Akram saw action in [[Burma]] and was promoted to Acting Captain on 31 December 1944. Later, Akram received a promotion on 1 January 1945 as Temporary Captain and was appointed as the [[Quartermaster]] of the [[55th Coke's Rifles (Frontier Force)|14th Battalion of the 55th Coke's Rifles (Frontier Force)]].<ref name="ArmyList"/><ref name="W2"/><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kKDh7uj3I8gC&q=akram|title=The Frontier Force Rifles|year=1953|page=176}}</ref>
# The Falcon of the Quraish

# The Rise of Cordoba
==Pakistan army career==
[[File:ColonelAkram.png|thumb|left|150px|Chief Instructor Colonel Akram's portrait at the [[Command and Staff College Quetta]] (1960)]]
After the [[Partition of British India]] in 1947, Akram opted to join the [[Pakistan Army]] and commanded a company of the Tochi Scouts of the [[Frontier Corps]] during the [[First Kashmir War]]. Akram was later transferred to the [[Frontier Force Regiment|Piffers]].<ref name="W2">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LzVtAAAAMAAJ&q=1948|title=The Sword of Allah Khalid Bin Al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns|year=2006|edition=Second }}</ref><ref name="DJ9">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z4LfAAAAMAAJ&q=Frontier%20Corps|title=Defence Journal|year=1990|page=12}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z4LfAAAAMAAJ&q=tochi|title=Defence Journal|year=1990|page=13}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ljTDYYrp6oMC&q=a.+i.+akram|title=The Asiatic Review|year=1949}}</ref>

In September 1949, [[Pakistan]] among several countries received an invitation to attend the Harbnen Medal presentation by the Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene of the [[United Kingdom]]. [[Pakistan]] accepted the invitation and Major A. I. Akram represented the country.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QYUXAQAAIAAJ&q=akram|title=The Journal of the Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene|year=1949|volume=12}}</ref>

Akram was the Assistant Army [[Liaison officer]] of Pakistan at the [[High Commission of Pakistan, London]] in 1951.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QeouC8bONrEC&q=AI%20Akram|title=The Commonwealth Relations Office List|year=1951|page=20}}</ref>
Colonel Akram taught military history as Chief Instructor at [[Command and Staff College Quetta]] from 17 September 1960 to 11 September 1965, during which he felt that there was a lack of detailed, clear and objective literature on Muslim military history. It was at this time when he decided to fill the void himself and began working on the biography of [[Khalid bin Walid]], ''The Sword of Allah''.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PTy5AAAAIAAJ&q=Akram|title=Mehdi Papers|year=1987|volume=3|pages=15, 27 |last1=Mahdī |first1=Sayyid G̲h̲Affār }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gallery Chief Instructors |url=http://armystaffcollege.gov.pk/Gallery_CI.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326013326/http://armystaffcollege.gov.pk/Gallery_CI.php |archive-date=2017-03-26 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1yOxBkXHgccC&dq=akram&pg=PA74|title=South Asia A Strategic Survey · Volume 550, Issue 3|year=1966}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Chief Instructors Staff College Quetta|url=http://armystaffcollege.gov.pk/Hist_CI.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513084926/http://armystaffcollege.gov.pk/Hist_CI.php |archive-date=2017-05-13 }}</ref><ref name="DJ">{{cite book|url=http://www.defencejournal.com/2000/june/army-mosaic.htm|date=June 2000|title=The Army's Mosaic of Ideas-III|first=Abdul|last=Qayyum|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026190727/http://www.defencejournal.com/2000/june/army-mosaic.htm |archive-date=2017-10-26 }}</ref>

Colonel Akram was appointed as Colonel Staff HQ 15 Division on 20 September during the [[1965 war]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defencejournal.com/2002/sept/honour.htm|title="A Matter of Honour"|year=2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116163935/http://www.defencejournal.com/2002/sept/honour.htm |archive-date=2017-11-16 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=szaTAwAAQBAJ&dq=a.+i.+akram+brigadier&pg=PA232|title=Fighting to the End The Pakistan Army's Way of War|page=232|year=2014|isbn=978-0-19-989271-6 |last1=Christine Fair |first1=C. |publisher=Oxford University Press }}</ref>

Brigadier Akram was the Parade commander of the [[Pakistan Day Parade#Parade commanders|Pakistan Day Parade]] of 1967 and held the position of Administrator for Sub-Sector No. 1, overseeing the civil districts of [[Bannu]] and [[D.I. Khan]], as well as the tribal territories governed by these districts in 1969.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1r6tCv-IGIkC&q=A.I%20Akram|title=The Martial Law Regulations and Orders, 1969 and 1958|year=1969|page=36 |last1=Ikram |first1=Muhammad }}</ref>

His first book, ''The Sword of Allah'' is about the life and campaigns of [[Khalid ibn al-Walid]] which was published during his army service in 1970 after a five year effort, including visiting battle-fields in [[Lebanon]], [[Syria]], [[Jordan]], [[Iraq]], [[Kuwait]] and [[Saudi Arabia]] for research. It has two English editions and has been translated into [[Urdu]], [[Arabic]], [[German language|German]], [[French language|French]] and [[Malay language|Bahasa]].<ref name="Back cover of The Sword Of Allah">{{cite book |last=Agha |first=Ibrahim Akram |year=2006 |title=The Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns |edition=3rd |orig-year=First published 1970 |publisher=Mr. Books |location=Islamabad |page=back cover |oclc=191257949}}</ref>

On 6 July 1971, [[President Yahya Khan]] appointed Akram as the Deputy Administrator of Martial Law - Zone F and kept in the role until 6 July 1972 during [[President of Pakistan|President]] [[Zulfikar Ali Bhutto]]'s government.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QabrVeVhDywC&q=ibrahim%20akram|title=Pakistan News Digest|volume=19-20|year=1971|page=3}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ayw-AQAAIAAJ&q=agha%20ibrahim|title=The All Pakistan Legal Decisions|date=1972 |volume=24|page=92}}</ref>

During a parade in [[Multan]], on 2 May 1974, both the [[Sub-units of the Frontier Force Regiment#Frontier Force Regiment Battalions|7 FF]] and [[Sub-units of the Frontier Force Regiment#Frontier Force Regiment Battalions|10 FF]] received their regimental colors together. Major General A.I. Akram, the Colonel Commandant of the [[Frontier Force Regiment|FF Regiment]], made the presentation.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lopIAAAAMAAJ&q=parade+ai+akram|title=The Wardens of the Marches: History of the Piffers, 1947-1971|year=1980|page=190 |last1=Rahman |first1=Mohammed Attiqur }}</ref>

While Akram was Pakistan's Permanent Military Deputy to [[CENTO]], he published his second book ''The Muslim Conquest of Persia'' in 1975 after a four year research effort including visiting battlefields in [[Iran]] and discussing with [[Iranian peoples|Iranian]] scholars.<ref>{{cite book|last=Akram|first=A. I.|url=https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/1746034|title=The Muslim Conquest of Persia|year=1975}}</ref>

''The Muslim Conquest of Egypt and North Africa'' was his third book, published in 1977, which also took four years of preparations and visits to [[Egypt]] and [[Tunisia]].<ref name="Back cover of The Sword Of Allah"/>

===Hamoodur Rehman Commission report===
{{main|Hamoodur Rahman Commission}}
Major General Akram was not involved in the [[Bangladesh genocide]] as he was posted at the Western Front to defend [[Pakistan]]'s borders against the [[Indian Army]], later appearing as Witness Number 139 in the [[Hamoodur Rahman Commission]] report.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v_xtAAAAMAAJ&q=akram|title=The Report of the Hamoodur Rehman Commission of Inquiry Into the 1971 War, as Declassified by the Government of Pakistan|page=314}}</ref>

===Consideration for the role of Chief of Army Staff===
In March 1976, several generals were in consideration for the role of [[Chief of Army Staff (Pakistan)|Chief of Army Staff]] to succeed [[Tikka Khan]].

In order of seniority, these officers were [[Muhammad Shariff (general)|Muhammad Shariff]], Muhammed Akbar Khan, [[Aftab Ahmad Khan]], Azmat Baksh Awan, Agha Ibrahim Akram, [[Majeed Malik]], and [[Ghulam Jilani Khan]]. [[Prime Minister of Pakistan|Prime Minister]] [[Zulfikar Ali Bhutto]] had a personal rapport with all these generals but superseded them for the most junior [[Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq]], who would later be responsible for hanging Bhutto.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=26TjAAAAMAAJ|title=Working with Zia: Pakistan's Power Politics, 1977-1988|page=43|year=1995}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jt3eAAAAMAAJ&q=Agha%20Ali%20Ibrahim|title=An Army Its Role & Rule|year=2002|page=300}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nf0vAQAAIAAJ&q=rapport|title=Khaki Shadows: Pakistan 1947-1997|page=152|year=2001}}</ref>

Akram retired from the [[Pakistan Army]] on 8 April 1978.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9LpPAQAAMAAJ&q=agha%20ibrahim|title=The Gazette of Pakistan|year=1978|page=681}}</ref><ref name="Khalid Mahmud">{{cite book |last=Arif |first=Khalid Mahmud |year=1995 |title=Working with Zia: Pakistan Power Politics, 1977–1988 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=USA |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=26TjAAAAMAAJ |page=43 |isbn=978-0-19-577570-9}}</ref>

==Military research papers==
{{cite journal|last=Akram|first=A. I.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fp7-v41QIjUC&dq=a.+i.+akram&pg=PA93|title=On Relative Strengths|year=1958|journal=Pakistan Army Journal}}

==Diplomatic career==
On 9 April 1978, Akram assumed charge as [[Officer on Special Duty#Pakistan and Bangladesh|Officer on Special Duty]] Grade 20 at the [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Pakistan)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b7tPAQAAMAAJ&q=Gen%20Akram|title=The Gazette of Pakistan|year=1978|page=322}}</ref>

On 12 May 1978, President [[Zia-ul-Haq]] appointed Akram as the [[Pakistan–Spain relations|Ambassador of Pakistan to Madrid]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rZ1CAAAAYAAJ&q=May+1978|title=The Muslim Conquest of Spain|year=1980|page=XII|first=A. I.|last=Akram|publisher=Army Education Press [[General Headquarters (Pakistan Army)|GHQ, Rawalpindi]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b7tPAQAAMAAJ&q=spain|title=The Gazette of Pakistan|year=1978|page=371}}</ref>

Here, Akram learned [[Spanish language|Spanish]] and wrote his book ''The Muslim Conquest of Spain'', which was the last book Akram published while he was alive in 1980.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BaBHAAAAMAAJ&q=akram|title=Al-Mashriqi, the Disowned Genius: The Story of a World Revolutionary who was Bogged Down in His Own Country, at Once Inspiring and Painful|year=1991|page=288}}</ref> To research for writing all these books he learned [[Arabic]], [[Persian language|Persian]] and Spanish and collected an impressive library of historical works.

Akram's tenure ended on 30 September 1980.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=98pPAQAAMAAJ&q=Et%20Gen.|title=The Gazette of Pakistan|year=1980|page=726 |author1=Pakistan }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ydJPAQAAMAAJ&q=akram|title=The Gazette of Pakistan|year=1980|page=479 |author1=Pakistan }}</ref>

==Later life==
On 24 March 1981, Akram was elected as Chairman Rawalpindi Club.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y9fBedrfXN0C&q=Lt%20Gen%20Akram|title=The Senate of Pakistan Debates: official report|page=264|year=1986 |last1=Senate |first1=Pakistan. Parliament }}</ref>

He founded the ''[[Institute of Regional Studies]]'' in March 1982 and remained its president till his death.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HGqsWktyFcEC&q=agha%20ibrahim|title=Across the Wagah: An Indian's Sojourn in Pakistan|year=2004|isbn=978-81-85002-34-7 |last1=Tikekar |first1=Maneesha |publisher=Bibliophile South Asia }}</ref>

On 27 February 1984, Akram disclosed that [[President Zia-ul-Haq]] had offered [[India]] to send its military team to Pakistan to evaluate the latter's defence requirements and suggest how much of armed strength [[Pakistan]] should possess.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dNBFAQAAIAAJ&q=akram|page=238|title=Pakistan Year Book|year=1985}}</ref>

==Death==
Akram died on 4 March 1989 in [[Islamabad]], [[Pakistan]] at the age of 65.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_XRqkYFjdaoC&dq=A.I+Akram&pg=PP164|title=OBITUARY|publisher=Pakistan Affairs|year=1989|volume=40-45}}</ref>

===Posthumous book releases===
Akram's final books ''The Falcon of The Quraish: Abdur Rahman The Immigrant of Spain'' and ''The Rise of Cordoba'' were published after his death.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/TheFalconOfTheQuraish_201807|title=The Falcon of The Quraish: Abdur Rahman The Immigrant of Spain|year=1991}}</ref><ref name="CD"/>

==Books==
* {{cite book|last=Akram|first=A. I.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LzVtAAAAMAAJ&q=1989|title=The Sword of Allah Khalid Bin Al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns|year=1970}}
* {{cite book|last=Akram|first=A. I.|url=https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/1746034|title=The Muslim Conquest of Persia|year=1975}}
* {{cite book|last=Akram|first=A. I.|url=https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/2710460|title=The Muslim Conquest of Egypt and North Africa|year=1977}}
* {{cite book|last=Akram|first=A. I.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rZ1CAAAAYAAJ|title=The Muslim Conquest of Spain|publisher=Army Education Press [[General Headquarters (Pakistan Army)|G.H.Q., Rawalpindi]]|year=1980}}
* {{cite book|last=Akram|first=A. I.|url=https://archive.org/details/TheFalconOfTheQuraish_201807|title=The Falcon of The Quraish: Abdur Rahman The Immigrant of Spain|publisher=Army Education Press [[General Headquarters (Pakistan Army)|G.H.Q., Rawalpindi]]|year=1991}}
* {{cite book|last=Akram|first=A. I.|url=https://picclick.co.uk/THE-RISE-OF-CORDOBA-by-Lt-Gen-A-313374206491.html|title=The Rise of Cordoba|year=1992|publisher=Army Education Press [[General Headquarters (Pakistan Army)|G.H.Q., Rawalpindi]]}}

== Awards and decorations ==
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
| colspan="4" |{{ribbon devices|ribbon=Hilal-e-Imtiaz.png|width=130}} {{ribbon devices|ribbon=Sitara-e-Imtiaz.png|width=130}} {{Ribbon devices|ribbon=Sitara-e-Khidmat (SK) (1957-86).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=Sitara-e-Harb 1971 War.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=Tamgha-e-Diffa.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=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-e-Imtiaz]]'''
'''[[Hilal-i-Imtiaz|(Military)]]'''

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

''(Star of Excellence)''
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces#Commemorative medals|Sitara-e-Khidmat]]'''
''(Star of Service)''

''(SK)''
|-
|'''[[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|Sitara-e-Harb 1971 War]]'''
''(War Star 1971)''
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces#Campaign / war medals|Tamgha-e-Jang 1965 War]]'''
''(War Medal 1965)''
|'''[[Tamgha-e-Diffa]]'''
''(General Service Medal)''

'''1. [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965|1965 War]] Clasp'''

'''2. [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|1971 War]] Clasp'''
|-
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces#Campaign / war medals|Tamgha-e-Jang 1971 War]]'''
''(War Medal 1971)''
|'''[[Pakistan Medal|Pakistan Tamgha]]'''
''([[Pakistan Medal]])''

'''1947'''
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces#Commemorative medals|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==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Akram, Agha Ali Ibrahim}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Akram, Agha Ibrahim}}
[[Category:1923 births]]
[[Category:1923 births]]
[[Category:1989 deaths]]
[[Category:1989 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century historians]]
[[Category:People from Ludhiana]]
[[Category:20th-century Pakistani historians]]
[[Category:British Indian Army officers]]
[[Category:British Indian Army officers]]
[[Category:Indian Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Indian Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Pakistani generals]]
[[Category:Pakistani generals]]
[[Category:People of the Indo-Pakistani war of 1947]]
[[Category:Pakistani military historians]]
[[Category:Pakistani military historians]]
[[Category:Historians of Islam]]
[[Category:Muslim writers]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of Pakistan to Spain]]
[[Category:20th-century Pakistani military personnel]]
[[Category:Government College University, Lahore alumni]]
[[Category:Pakistani military personnel of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
[[Category:Pakistani diplomats]]
[[Category:Military personnel of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]
[[Category:Anti–nuclear weapons activists]]
[[Category:Pakistani anti–nuclear weapons activists]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Staff College, Quetta]]
[[Category:People from Punjab Province (British India)]]
[[Category:Recipients of Hilal-i-Imtiaz]]
[[Category:Recipients of Sitara-i-Imtiaz]]

Revision as of 19:44, 28 April 2024

Lieutenant General
A. I. Akram
HI(M) SI(M) SK
اے آئی اکرم
Founding President Institute of Regional Studies
In office
November 1981 – 4 March 1989
Ambassador of Pakistan to Madrid
In office
14 May 1978 – 30 September 1980
Deputy Martial Law Administrator
Zone F (NWFP)
In office
6 July 1971 – 6 July 1972
PresidentYahya Khan
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Chief Instructor Command and Staff College Quetta
In office
17 September 1960 – 11 September 1965
Succeeded byAmjad Ali Chaudhri
Personal details
Born
Agha Ali Ibrahim Akram

(1923-09-22)22 September 1923
Ludhiana, Punjab Province, British India
Died4 March 1989(1989-03-04) (aged 65)
Islamabad, Pakistan
Children3
EducationGovernment College, Lahore
Staff College, Quetta
Military service
Branch/service British Indian Army (1942-47)
 Pakistan Army (1947-78)
Years of service1942-78
Rank Lieutenant General
Unit13th Frontier Force Rifles
Tochi Scouts
Piffers
CommandsPermanent Military Representative of Pakistan to CENTO
Frontier Force Regiment[2]
7th Infantry Division
Military Secretary GHQ
Colonel Staff HQ 15th Division
Battles/wars
Writing career
GenreMilitary history
Islamic history
Notable worksAkram, A. I. (2006). The Sword of Allah, Khalid Bin Al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns. (1970)
The Muslim Conquest of Persia. (1975)
The Muslim Conquest of Egypt and North Africa. (1977)
Akram, A. I. (1980). The Muslim Conquest of Spain. (1980)
The Falcon of The Quraish Abdur Rahman The Immigrant of Spain. (1991)
The Rise of Cordoba. (1992)

Lieutenant General Agha Ali Ibrahim Akram HI(M) SI(M) SK (Urdu: آغا علی ابراہیم اکرم; 22 September 1923 — 4 March 1989) better known as A. I. Akram was a three-star rank general, military strategist, author, historian, diplomat, and one of Pakistan's most influential soldier-scholars. In the 1980s, Akram was a well-known defence expert and defence analyst. Akram's most popular work was his biography of Khalid ibn al-Walid, The Sword of Allah which Akram published while serving in the Pakistan Army. For several years. it was compulsory reading in the Pakistan Army for admission into the Command and Staff College Quetta and has been on the leadership syllabus in the Malaysian Army.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Akram was once seen as a close confidant of Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq and his conceptual adviser.[12][13][14]

Akram served in several key positions including as Permanent Military Representative of Pakistan to CENTO in Ankara, Colonel Commandant Frontier Force Regiment, Deputy Martial Law Administrator - Zone F (NWFP) under President Yahya Khan and President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, GOC 7 Division, Military Secretary GHQ, and Colonel Staff HQ 15 Division.[15][16][17][18]

Akram dedicated his books, The Muslim Conquest of Egypt and North Africa to his son Hassan, The Muslim Conquest of Spain to his son Masood, The Falcon of The Quraish: Abdur Rahman The Immigrant of Spain to his brother Mahmud, and The Rise of Cordoba to his late wife Loge. Akram was fluent in Urdu, English, Farsi, Arabic, and Spanish, learning the latter two for research.[19][20][21][22]

In the 1980s, Akram stated he opposed nuclear weapons and suggested that Pakistan and other developing countries should use nuclear energy. Akram expected that by the end of the 20th century, only about 10 countries would have nuclear weapons.[23][24]

Early life

Akram was born in Ludhiana on 22 September 1923, his father was an Indian Police Officer. Akram graduated from Government College, Lahore in 1942 and joined the British Indian Army.[25]

Personal life

Akram was married to his wife Loge, who died before him. They have three children, daughter Yasmin, and sons Hassan and Masood.[26]

Inamul Haque Khan states that Akram was a well-read person and used to discuss philosophy and Allama Iqbal's poetry.[27]

British Indian Army career

Akram was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 13th Frontier Force Rifles of the British Indian Army on 26 November 1942, receiving a promotion on 26 August 1943 as a War substantive Lieutenant.[25]

During World War II, Akram saw action in Burma and was promoted to Acting Captain on 31 December 1944. Later, Akram received a promotion on 1 January 1945 as Temporary Captain and was appointed as the Quartermaster of the 14th Battalion of the 55th Coke's Rifles (Frontier Force).[25][28][29]

Pakistan army career

Chief Instructor Colonel Akram's portrait at the Command and Staff College Quetta (1960)

After the Partition of British India in 1947, Akram opted to join the Pakistan Army and commanded a company of the Tochi Scouts of the Frontier Corps during the First Kashmir War. Akram was later transferred to the Piffers.[28][19][30][31]

In September 1949, Pakistan among several countries received an invitation to attend the Harbnen Medal presentation by the Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene of the United Kingdom. Pakistan accepted the invitation and Major A. I. Akram represented the country.[32]

Akram was the Assistant Army Liaison officer of Pakistan at the High Commission of Pakistan, London in 1951.[33]

Colonel Akram taught military history as Chief Instructor at Command and Staff College Quetta from 17 September 1960 to 11 September 1965, during which he felt that there was a lack of detailed, clear and objective literature on Muslim military history. It was at this time when he decided to fill the void himself and began working on the biography of Khalid bin Walid, The Sword of Allah.[34][35][36][37][38]

Colonel Akram was appointed as Colonel Staff HQ 15 Division on 20 September during the 1965 war.[39][40]

Brigadier Akram was the Parade commander of the Pakistan Day Parade of 1967 and held the position of Administrator for Sub-Sector No. 1, overseeing the civil districts of Bannu and D.I. Khan, as well as the tribal territories governed by these districts in 1969.[41]

His first book, The Sword of Allah is about the life and campaigns of Khalid ibn al-Walid which was published during his army service in 1970 after a five year effort, including visiting battle-fields in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia for research. It has two English editions and has been translated into Urdu, Arabic, German, French and Bahasa.[42]

On 6 July 1971, President Yahya Khan appointed Akram as the Deputy Administrator of Martial Law - Zone F and kept in the role until 6 July 1972 during President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's government.[43][44]

During a parade in Multan, on 2 May 1974, both the 7 FF and 10 FF received their regimental colors together. Major General A.I. Akram, the Colonel Commandant of the FF Regiment, made the presentation.[45]

While Akram was Pakistan's Permanent Military Deputy to CENTO, he published his second book The Muslim Conquest of Persia in 1975 after a four year research effort including visiting battlefields in Iran and discussing with Iranian scholars.[46]

The Muslim Conquest of Egypt and North Africa was his third book, published in 1977, which also took four years of preparations and visits to Egypt and Tunisia.[42]

Hamoodur Rehman Commission report

Main article: Hamoodur Rahman Commission

Major General Akram was not involved in the Bangladesh genocide as he was posted at the Western Front to defend Pakistan's borders against the Indian Army, later appearing as Witness Number 139 in the Hamoodur Rahman Commission report.[47]

Consideration for the role of Chief of Army Staff

In March 1976, several generals were in consideration for the role of Chief of Army Staff to succeed Tikka Khan.

In order of seniority, these officers were Muhammad Shariff, Muhammed Akbar Khan, Aftab Ahmad Khan, Azmat Baksh Awan, Agha Ibrahim Akram, Majeed Malik, and Ghulam Jilani Khan. Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had a personal rapport with all these generals but superseded them for the most junior Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, who would later be responsible for hanging Bhutto.[48][49][50]

Akram retired from the Pakistan Army on 8 April 1978.[51][52]

Military research papers

Akram, A. I. (1958). "On Relative Strengths". Pakistan Army Journal.

Diplomatic career

On 9 April 1978, Akram assumed charge as Officer on Special Duty Grade 20 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[53]

On 12 May 1978, President Zia-ul-Haq appointed Akram as the Ambassador of Pakistan to Madrid.[54][55]

Here, Akram learned Spanish and wrote his book The Muslim Conquest of Spain, which was the last book Akram published while he was alive in 1980.[56] To research for writing all these books he learned Arabic, Persian and Spanish and collected an impressive library of historical works.

Akram's tenure ended on 30 September 1980.[57][58]

Later life

On 24 March 1981, Akram was elected as Chairman Rawalpindi Club.[59]

He founded the Institute of Regional Studies in March 1982 and remained its president till his death.[60]

On 27 February 1984, Akram disclosed that President Zia-ul-Haq had offered India to send its military team to Pakistan to evaluate the latter's defence requirements and suggest how much of armed strength Pakistan should possess.[61]

Death

Akram died on 4 March 1989 in Islamabad, Pakistan at the age of 65.[62]

Posthumous book releases

Akram's final books The Falcon of The Quraish: Abdur Rahman The Immigrant of Spain and The Rise of Cordoba were published after his death.[63][20]

Books

Awards and decorations

Hilal-e-Imtiaz

(Military)

(Crescent of Excellence)

Sitara-e-Imtiaz

(Military)

(Star of Excellence)

Sitara-e-Khidmat

(Star of Service)

(SK)

Sitara-e-Harb 1965 War

(War Star 1965)

Sitara-e-Harb 1971 War

(War Star 1971)

Tamgha-e-Jang 1965 War

(War Medal 1965)

Tamgha-e-Diffa

(General Service Medal)

1. 1965 War Clasp

2. 1971 War Clasp

Tamgha-e-Jang 1971 War

(War Medal 1971)

Pakistan Tamgha

(Pakistan Medal)

1947

Tamgha-e-Jamhuria

(Republic Commemoration Medal)

1956

1939-1945 Star
Burma Star War Medal

1939-1945

India Service Medal

1939–1945

Queen Elizabeth II

Coronation Medal

(1953)

Foreign Decorations

Foreign Awards
 UK 1939-1945 Star
Burma Star
War Medal 1939-1945
India Service Medal 1939–1945
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal

References

  1. ^ Pakistan (1978). The Gazette of Pakistan. p. 681.
  2. ^ Rahman, Mohammed Attiqur (1980). The Wardens of the Marches A History of the Piffers, 1947-1971. p. 190.
  3. ^ Sûrya India. Vol. 8. 1984. p. 71.
  4. ^ Andrew, Christopher (2018). The Secret World A History of Intelligence. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-24052-8.
  5. ^ Air University Library Index to Military Periodicals. Vol. 26. 1975.
  6. ^ Afghanistan Today. 1987.
  7. ^ Near East/South Asia Report. 1984.
  8. ^ Azam, Ikram (1992). Geopolitics, Political Geography, and Pakistan. p. 107.
  9. ^ Indo-Pak Conflicts Over Kashmir. pp. 186, 218.
  10. ^ The Pakistan Army: With a New Foreword and Epilogue. 1998. p. 166.
  11. ^ UFO's in the Quran. 2008. p. 102.
  12. ^ Journal of Peace Studies. Vol. 5. 1998.
  13. ^ Times of India Illustrated Weekly. Vol. 108. October 1987. pp. 20–21, 45.
  14. ^ India Today. Vol. 13. 1988.
  15. ^ Said, Hakim Mohammad (1973). Main Currents of Contemporary Thought in Pakistan: 1970-1972.
  16. ^ Pakistan, Hamdard Foundation (1990). Dialogue with a Galaxy of Scientists, Culturists, Historians, Educationists...
  17. ^ Defence Journal. Vol. 6. 2002. p. 139.
  18. ^ Pakistan (1978). The Gazette of Pakistan. p. 586.
  19. ^ a b Defence Journal. 1990. p. 12.
  20. ^ a b The Rise of Cordoba. 1992.
  21. ^ Akram, A. I. (1980). The Muslim Conquest of Spain. p. 5.
  22. ^ Akram, A. I. (1977). The Muslim Conquest of Egypt and North Africa. Ferozsons. p. 3. ISBN 978-969-0-00224-2.
  23. ^ "War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; Carter's New World; Interview with A. I. Akram". 2 September 1987.
  24. ^ ACDIS Bulletin. Vol. 4–6. 1982.
  25. ^ a b c "Indian Army List For October I Part 1". 1945.
  26. ^ Akram, A. I. (2006). The Sword of Allah Khalid Bin Al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns (Second ed.).
  27. ^ Haq, Inamul (1999). Memoirs of Insignificance. p. 74.
  28. ^ a b The Sword of Allah Khalid Bin Al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns (Second ed.). 2006.
  29. ^ The Frontier Force Rifles. 1953. p. 176.
  30. ^ Defence Journal. 1990. p. 13.
  31. ^ The Asiatic Review. 1949.
  32. ^ The Journal of the Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene. Vol. 12. 1949.
  33. ^ The Commonwealth Relations Office List. 1951. p. 20.
  34. ^ Mahdī, Sayyid G̲h̲Affār (1987). Mehdi Papers. Vol. 3. pp. 15, 27.
  35. ^ "Gallery Chief Instructors". Archived from the original on 2017-03-26.
  36. ^ South Asia A Strategic Survey · Volume 550, Issue 3. 1966.
  37. ^ "Chief Instructors Staff College Quetta". Archived from the original on 2017-05-13.
  38. ^ Qayyum, Abdul (June 2000). The Army's Mosaic of Ideas-III. Archived from the original on 2017-10-26.
  39. ^ ""A Matter of Honour"". 2002. Archived from the original on 2017-11-16.
  40. ^ Christine Fair, C. (2014). Fighting to the End The Pakistan Army's Way of War. Oxford University Press. p. 232. ISBN 978-0-19-989271-6.
  41. ^ Ikram, Muhammad (1969). The Martial Law Regulations and Orders, 1969 and 1958. p. 36.
  42. ^ a b Agha, Ibrahim Akram (2006) [First published 1970]. The Sword of Allah: Khalid bin al-Waleed, His Life and Campaigns (3rd ed.). Islamabad: Mr. Books. p. back cover. OCLC 191257949.
  43. ^ Pakistan News Digest. Vol. 19–20. 1971. p. 3.
  44. ^ The All Pakistan Legal Decisions. Vol. 24. 1972. p. 92.
  45. ^ Rahman, Mohammed Attiqur (1980). The Wardens of the Marches: History of the Piffers, 1947-1971. p. 190.
  46. ^ Akram, A. I. (1975). The Muslim Conquest of Persia.
  47. ^ The Report of the Hamoodur Rehman Commission of Inquiry Into the 1971 War, as Declassified by the Government of Pakistan. p. 314.
  48. ^ Working with Zia: Pakistan's Power Politics, 1977-1988. 1995. p. 43.
  49. ^ An Army Its Role & Rule. 2002. p. 300.
  50. ^ Khaki Shadows: Pakistan 1947-1997. 2001. p. 152.
  51. ^ The Gazette of Pakistan. 1978. p. 681.
  52. ^ Arif, Khalid Mahmud (1995). Working with Zia: Pakistan Power Politics, 1977–1988. USA: Oxford University Press. p. 43. ISBN 978-0-19-577570-9.
  53. ^ The Gazette of Pakistan. 1978. p. 322.
  54. ^ Akram, A. I. (1980). The Muslim Conquest of Spain. Army Education Press GHQ, Rawalpindi. p. XII.
  55. ^ The Gazette of Pakistan. 1978. p. 371.
  56. ^ Al-Mashriqi, the Disowned Genius: The Story of a World Revolutionary who was Bogged Down in His Own Country, at Once Inspiring and Painful. 1991. p. 288.
  57. ^ Pakistan (1980). The Gazette of Pakistan. p. 726.
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  59. ^ Senate, Pakistan. Parliament (1986). The Senate of Pakistan Debates: official report. p. 264.
  60. ^ Tikekar, Maneesha (2004). Across the Wagah: An Indian's Sojourn in Pakistan. Bibliophile South Asia. ISBN 978-81-85002-34-7.
  61. ^ Pakistan Year Book. 1985. p. 238.
  62. ^ OBITUARY. Vol. 40–45. Pakistan Affairs. 1989.
  63. ^ The Falcon of The Quraish: Abdur Rahman The Immigrant of Spain. 1991.
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