Early Life and Military Career

General Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan served as the 3rd President of Pakistan and became the country’s second military ruler. His rule from 1969 to 1971 faced political unrest, the breakup of Pakistan, and the emergence of Bangladesh. Despite having a military background and introducing reforms, Yahya Khan presided over one of the most chaotic periods in Pakistan’s history.

Yahya Khan was born on February 4, 1917, in Chakwal, Punjab, which was then part of British India. He belonged to a Pathan family and studied at the Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College in Dehradun. He later joined the Indian Military Academy and earned his commission in the British Indian Army in 1939. Yahya Khan distinguished himself during World War II and, after Pakistan gained independence in 1947, he joined the newly established Pakistan Army.

He advanced rapidly through the ranks because of his competence and strong leadership. In 1966, President Ayub Khan appointed him as Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army. When mass protests forced Ayub Khan to resign in 1969, Yahya Khan took power as Chief Martial Law Administrator and soon afterward assumed the presidency.

Assumption of Power and Reforms

After seizing control, Yahya Khan pledged to restore democratic governance. He dismantled the One Unit scheme in West Pakistan and restored the original provinces. He then began preparing for Pakistan’s first general elections. Many welcomed his decision to hold elections as a genuine move toward democracy.

In 1970, Pakistan held the most transparent and fair general elections in its history up to that point. The Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, won a sweeping victory in East Pakistan and secured a majority in the National Assembly. Despite this, Yahya Khan—facing pressure from West Pakistani political elites and the military—refused to transfer power to the Awami League. His refusal triggered widespread unrest in East Pakistan.

The 1971 Crisis and War with India

Yahya Khan ordered a military crackdown in East Pakistan, launching Operation Searchlight in March 1971. His forces carried out large-scale violence and repression, causing a humanitarian disaster that pushed millions of refugees into India. India responded by intervening militarily, and the conflict escalated into the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.

Indian forces, along with East Pakistani freedom fighters, pushed the Pakistani military to surrender in Dhaka. This defeat led to the creation of the new nation of Bangladesh and marked one of the gravest crises in Pakistan’s history.

Resignation and Later Life

Widespread criticism and national outrage over the military failure forced Yahya Khan to resign on December 20, 1971. He handed over power to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who assumed leadership as Pakistan’s new civilian leader. The new administration placed Yahya Khan under house arrest and kept him away from public life until his death.

Legacy

Yahya Khan died on August 10, 1980, and his legacy remains highly controversial. Although he initiated political reforms and allowed democratic elections, he failed to manage the political tensions and mishandled the crisis in East Pakistan. His decisions directly contributed to Pakistan’s most devastating national loss—the secession of East Pakistan and the birth of Bangladesh. Many historians hold him chiefly responsible for that tragedy.