Former FM Sahibzada Yaqub Ali Khan passes away

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Former foreign minister and military general Lieutenant General (r) Sahibzada Yaqub Ali Khan passed away in Islamabad on Tuesday. He was 95.

Born on December 23, 1920 in Indian state Rampur, Khan was a high-profile figure and high-ranking general and held senior military and government assignments. He represented Pakistan for three decades at international forums.

Educated and received commission in the army after attending the Rashtriya Indian Military College, Yaqub Khan served well in World War II on behalf of British Indian Army, his military career saw the actions in Operation Tobruk, and later opted for Pakistan, joining the staff of Pakistan Army.

As Major-General, he commanded the combatant 1st Armored Division during the 1965 September war against India and posted in East-Pakistan shortly after the war was ended. He also served as Governor of East Pakistan for a week.

On retiring from the Army he embarked on a career as a diplomat, serving as Ambassador to France, the United States and Soviet Union from 1972 to 1982. While posted in USA, he also played a major role in the resolution of 1977 Hanafi Siege in Washington.

Since 1982 he served as Foreign Minister under seven different governments. Then from 1992 until 1997 Yaqub Khan was the United Nations Secretary General's Special Representative for the Western Sahara.