Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan
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About
Pakistani general who rose to 5th-in-command of the entire Pakistan military during his career before seizing power of the presidency. He ruled over the genocidal Operation Searchlight campaign in 1971 against nationalist Bengalis, leading to the killing of over 3 million citizens. His troubled leadership ultimately led to the liberation of the very people he opposed, as well as the end to his own brutal regime.
Before Fame
He fought as a soldier along the Indian army opposed to Germany and Italy. This made his later pivot into authoritarianism all the more tragic to his earliest followers.
Trivia
He was popularly known as Yahya Khan. He was held as a prisoner of war in World War II but managed to escape on his third attempt. The corruption was so egregious that when Khan was overthrown, the new government was forced to rewrite their own constitution to prevent further exploitation.
Family Life
He was born into a Shia Muslim family, but did not observe the Muslim prohibition against alcohol. He had one son named Ali Yahya Khan. He had affairs but never married.
Associated With
His military background and Pakistani identity is similar to that of Raheel Sharif.
