Pervez Musharraf

General Pervez Musharraf ({{lang-ur| ????? ????}}; born August 11, 1943, Near Delhi, India) became de facto Head of Government (using the title Chief Executive and assuming extensive powers) of Pakistan on October 12, 1999 following a bloodless coup d'état. He assumed the office of President of Pakistan (becoming Head of State) on June 20, 2001.

Military Career

He was commissioned in artillery regiment in 1964. He fought the 1965 war with India as a young officer and was awarded Imtiazi Sanad for gallantry. In 1967/68, he was promoted to Captain. He also achieved the Nishan-i-Imtiaz (military) and the Tamgha-i-Basalat. He has also been on the faculty of the Command and Staff College, Quetta and the war wing of the National Defence College, Pakistan. He volunteered to be a commando, and remained in the Special Service Group for seven years.

Related Topics:
Artillery - Regiment - 1964 - 1965 - Imtiazi Sanad - Gallantry - 1967 - 68 - Captain - Nishan-i-Imtiaz - Tamgha-i-Basalat - Command and Staff College, Quetta - National Defence College, Pakistan - Commando - Special Service Group

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He also participated in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 as a Company Commander in the SSG Commando Battalion. He has had the responsibility of commanding artillery regiments and an armored division. In September 1987, heading a newly formed SSG Mountain warfare unit at Khapalu base (Kashmir) he launched an assault to capture the Indian held posts of Bilafond La pass in the Siachen Glacier but was eventually beaten back. On promotion to the rank of Major General on January 15, 1991, he was given the command of an Infantry Division and later of a prestigious Strike Corps as Lieutenant General on October 21, 1995.

Related Topics:
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 - Company - Commander - SSG - Battalion - Artillery - Regiment - Division - 1987 - Mountain warfare - Pass - Siachen Glacier - Major General - January 15 - 1991 - Infantry Division - Lieutenant General - October 21 - 1995

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Musharraf has served on various important staff and instructional appointments during his career. He has also been the Director General Military Operations at the GHQ from 1993 to 1995. He rose to the rank of General and was appointed as the Chief of Army Staff, Pakistan on October 7, 1998 when Pakistan's army chief, General Jehangir Karamat was forced to resign after calling for military representation in a National Security Council of Pakistan. He was given the additional office of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) on April 9, 1999. He led the Pakistani armed forces through the Kargil War between Indian and Pakistan in May to July 1999.

Related Topics:
GHQ - 1993 - 1995 - General - Chief of Army Staff, Pakistan - October 7 - 1998 - Jehangir Karamat - National Security Council of Pakistan - April 9 - 1999 - Kargil War

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On September 15, 2004, Musharraf backed down from his commitment to step down as Army Chief, citing circumstances of national necessity that he felt required him to keep both offices.

Related Topics:
September 15 - 2004

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