Khalid Mahmud Arif
Pakistani general (1930–2020) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Khalid Mahmud Arif?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
General Khalid Mahmud Arif NI(M) HI(M) SI(M) SBt LoM (Urdu: خالد محمود عارف 29 December 1930 – 6 March 2020)[2] popularly known as K.M. Arif, was a senior officer of the Pakistan Army, serving as the vice-chief of army staff under President Zia-ul-Haq, who retained the command of the army since 1976.[4][5]
Khalid Mahmud Arif | |
---|---|
Native name | خالد محمود عارف |
Other name(s) | K.M. Arif |
Born | (1930-12-29)29 December 1930[1] Jalandhar, East Punjab, British India (present-day in India) |
Died | 6 March 2020(2020-03-06) (aged 89)[2] |
Allegiance | Pakistan |
Service/ | Pakistan Army |
Years of service | 1947–87 |
Rank | General |
Service number | PA–3107 |
Unit | 11th Cavalry (Frontier Force), Armoured Corps |
Commands held | Vice Chief of Army Staff Ins-Gen. Training and Evaluation DG Military Intelligence (DGMI) OC, 111th Infantry Brigade |
Battles/wars | Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 |
Awards | Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military) Sitara-e-Basalat Legion of Merit[3] |
Other work | Military historian |
His career in the army was mostly spent in the military intelligence, and served in the East Pakistan Rifles, briefly fighting in the civil war aided by neighboring India.[6]: 140 Upon repatriation to Pakistan in 1973, he continued with his military service in the army and eventually ascended as director-general of military intelligence before assuming the staff appointment at the Army GHQ.[6]: 175 Appointed as vice-chief of army staff in 1984, he played crucial role in stabilizing the administration of President Zia-ul-Haq, and was succeeded by General Mirza Aslam Beg as army chief in March 1987.[7]: 701
Upon his retirement in 1987, he authored several books on the political and military history of Pakistan, of which Working With Zia: Pakistan's Power Politics is the best known.