Biography
Rana was born in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, British India, Punjab in British Indian Empire, British India on 3 November 1910 into a Panjabi Islam in India, Muslim Rajput family that belonged to the Naroo clan of the Rajput tribe. His father, Rana Talia Muhammad Khan, Rana Talia, was an British Army ranks, officer in the British Indian Army who was later appointed as the first Muslim Inspector-General of Police, Inspector-General of the Punjab Police (India), Punjab Police based in Patiala State. Rana Talia Muhammad Khan, Rana Talia was later appointed to the North-West Frontier Province (1901–55), North-West Frontier Province and briefly served in the Frontier Constabulary where he was deployed in Kohat, Hangu, Pakistan, Hangu, and Federally Administered Tribal Areas, areas adjacent to Afghanistan. After his Matriculation in India, matriculation, Bakhtiar went to attend the famed Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and later made a College transfer, transfer to attend the Forman Christian College University in Lahore. In 1931, Bakthiar left his university studies when he was accepted to join the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, and Passing out (military), passed out from the academy in 1936.Military career
In 1936, he was Commissioned officer, commissioned in the 59th Scinde Rifles (Frontier Force), 1st Piffers in the Frontier Force Regiment as a Second Lieutenant, 2nd-Lt. In 1939, Lieutenant (British Army and Royal Marines), Lt. Bakhtiar participated in World War II, first serving in British Indian Army during World War II, India's Waziristan campaign (1936–1939), frontier operations before being dispatched to the Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II, Mediterranean and Middle East Front, and later fighting in North African Campaign, North Africa and Italian Campaign (World War II), Italy. For the time being, Major (United Kingdom), Maj. Bakhtiar served as an acting commanding officer of the 13th Frontier Force Rifles, 6/13th FF Rifles. His valorous actions earned him the Military Cross from Great Britain in 1945–1946. In August 1947, Maj. Bakhtiar held the command of the The Garhwal Rifles, 2nd Garhwal Rifles before being posted in western India. After the Partition of India, partition of British Indian Empire, India, Lieutenant-Colonel, Lt-Col. Bakhtiar decided to transfer to the Pakistan Army, and his 59th Scinde Rifles (Frontier Force), 1st Piffers Btn was known for having more locals than any other regiment in the country at that time. In 1953, Brigadier (United Kingdom), Brig. Bakhtiar Rana was appointed to command the Frontier Corps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa as its Inspector-General until 1955.http://www.khyber.org/pashtohistory/frontiercorps/frontiercorps.shtml He was Chief Martial Law Administrator (West Pakistan). As a Lieutenant General, he commanded one of Pakistan Army's strike corps, I Corps (Pakistan), I Corps, as its Corps Commander from 1958 to 1966. As a Brigadier, he commanded the Frontier Corps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as its Inspector-General from 1953 to 1955. His younger son, Major-General Ghaziuddin Rana, also went on to command the Frontier Corps from 1988 to 1990. To this day, they are the only father and son duo to have commanded the Frontier Corps during their separate military careers. As a Lieutenant General, he commanded one of Pakistan Army's strike corps, I Corps (Pakistan), I Corps, as its Corps Commander from 1958 to 1966. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Lt. Gen. Bakhtiar Rana was the only lieutenant general commanding a corps, namely 1 Corps, and he was one of only two lieutenant generals in the Pakistan Army during the war, the other being Lt. Gen. Altaf Qadir, who was on deputation to the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO).Family
Rana had two sons and one daughter. Both his sons, Ghaziuddin Rana and Salahuddin Rana, joined the Pakistan Army and rose to the ranks of Major General and Brigadier respectively. His younger son, Maj. Gen. Ghazi-ud-din Rana, also served as his Aide-de-camp. Lt. Gen. Bakhtiar Rana's sister, Begum Akhtar Sultan, was married to Amir Habibullah Khan Saadi and his daughter, Talat, was married to the grandson of Chaudhry Niaz Ali Khan.Death
Rana died in Lahore, Pakistan, in 4:30 pm 10 February 1998.Awards and decorations
Foreign decorations
References
External links
* http://www.khyber.org/pashtohistory/frontiercorps/frontiercorps.shtml * http://afpakwar.com/blog/archives/4667 * http://www.understandingpakistan.com/index.php/pakistan-india-war-of-1965-the-ground-war-athar-osama {{DEFAULTSORT:Rana, Bakhtiar 1910 births 1999 deaths Punjabi people People from Hoshiarpur Aligarh Muslim University alumni Forman Christian College alumni Indian Military Academy alumni British Indian Army soldiers British Indian Army officers Pakistani generals Military personnel from Lahore Generals of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965