Hamid Gul facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lieutenant General
Hamid Gul
HI(M) SI(M) SBt
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| حمید گل | |
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| 8th Director General of the ISI | |
| In office 29 March 1987 – 27 May 1989 |
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| Preceded by | Akhtar Abdur Rahman |
| Succeeded by | Shamsur Rahman Kallu |
| Corps Commander II Corps | |
| In office May 1989 – January 1992 |
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| Director General Military Intelligence | |
| In office 1983–1987 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Hamid Gul
20 November 1936 Sargodha, Punjab, British India (now in Punjab, Pakistan) |
| Died | 15 August 2015 (aged 78) Murree, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Relatives | Ahmad Awais (brother-in-law) |
| Alma mater | GCU Lahore PMA Kakul |
| Occupation | Retired army officer and former spymaster |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Pakistan |
| Branch/service |  Pakistan Army |
| Years of service | 1956–1993 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Unit | 19th Lancers, Army Armoured Corps |
| Commands | Commander II Corps DG Military Intelligence DG ISI |
| Battles/wars | Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 Soviet–Afghan War Afghan Civil War (1989-1992)
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| Awards |  Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military) Sitara-e-Basalat |
Lieutenant General Hamid Gul (20 November 1936 – 15 August 2015) was a Pakistani army officer. He was known for being the Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). This is Pakistan's main intelligence agency. He led the ISI from 1987 to 1989.
During his time as ISI chief, Gul helped Afghan groups fight against Soviet forces. He worked with the CIA and received money and weapons from the US. He also supported groups in the Kashmir region against India. Because of his actions, he was seen as a very important person in Pakistan's strategies.
In 1988, Gul also helped create the IJI. This was a group of political parties that worked together against the PPP. He passed away on 15 August 2015, after a brain haemorrhage.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Hamid Gul was born on 20 November 1936 in Sargodha. This area was part of British India then, but it is now in Punjab, Pakistan. His family was Punjabi-Pathan.
His father was a soldier in the British Indian Army. Gul's family had moved from Swat to Lahore before settling in Sargodha. His grandfather was active in the Khilafat Movement.
Gul went to school in his village. Later, he studied at Government College Lahore. He then joined the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul.
Army Career Highlights
Hamid Gul joined the Pakistan Army in October 1956. He was part of the 19th Lancers regiment. He fought as a squadron commander in the 1965 war with India.
From 1972 to 1976, Gul worked directly under General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. He was promoted to Brigadier in 1978. He became the Martial Law Administrator of Bahawalpur. Later, he commanded the 1st Armoured Division in Multan in 1982.
Gul was then made the Director-General of Military Intelligence (DGMI). In March 1987, he became the chief of the ISI. This was a very important role.
In May 1989, PM Benazir Bhutto replaced him as ISI commander. Gul was then moved to command the II Corps in Multan. In this role, he led a large military exercise called Zarb-e-Momin in 1989. This was the biggest show of Pakistan's military strength since the 1971 war.
In 1991, Gul was given a less important job at Heavy Industries Taxila. He refused this assignment and was retired from the army.
Leading the ISI (1987–1989)
Supporting Afghan Resistance
As the head of the ISI, Hamid Gul helped plan operations during the Soviet–Afghan War. One major plan was to capture Jalalabad from the Afghan army in 1989. This battle was a big change because it was a traditional war, not just guerrilla fighting.
The battle showed that the Afghan army could fight without Soviet help. It also made the Afghan government's supporters more confident. However, the fighters involved in the attack lost some morale.
Influence on Pakistani Politics
During his time as ISI chief, General Gul brought together conservative politicians. He helped them form the IJI in 1988. This group was created to oppose the PPP.
Gul later admitted his role in forming the IJI in interviews. This caused some debate in Pakistan.
Views on Kashmir and India
Some people, like Indian commentator B Raman, said that Gul supported the Khalistan movement. Gul believed that supporting these groups was a way to protect Pakistan. He also strongly supported local Kashmiri groups. He thought that sending Pakistani and Afghan fighters into Kashmir would play into India's hands.
Promoting Pan-Islamism
Under Hamid Gul, the ISI started to focus more on pan-Islamist ideas. This means he wanted a group of Islamic countries, led by Pakistan, to work together against India. He imagined an alliance of Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, and Afghanistan.
He also wanted to help Muslim groups around the world who were facing problems. This included groups in Eritrea, Bosnia, Myanmar, Uzbekistan, and China. He dreamed of a "green Islamic flag" flying over many Muslim lands.
Relationship with the United States
General Gul worked closely with the CIA when the Soviets were in Afghanistan. But he became unhappy with the United States after the Soviets left in 1989. He felt the US did not keep its promise to help rebuild Afghanistan.
He was also upset when the US put economic and military limits on Pakistan. This was because of Pakistan's secret nuclear program. Gul then said that Muslim countries should unite against the US.
US officials thought Gul might have warned the Taliban and Osama bin Laden about missile strikes in 1998. Bin Laden later thanked the Pakistani government for tips. He said they got information from "groups within the government."
Views on September 11 Attacks
General Gul met Osama bin Laden in 1993. He said he would not call bin Laden a terrorist without clear proof. After the September 11 attacks, Gul believed the attacks were "clearly an inside job."
In an interview, Gul suggested that the US government planned the 9/11 attacks. He said that al-Qaeda's role was not certain. He also mentioned that bin Laden had denied responsibility for the attacks.
After Retirement
After retiring, Lieutenant General Hamid Gul remained active. He attended an Islamic conference in 2001. This meeting said it was a duty for Muslims to protect the government in Afghanistan.
In 2007, Gul joined protests against General Pervez Musharraf. He faced police when they tried to arrest him at a rally. He was later arrested by military police during a state of emergency in 2007.
The United States government tried to put Gul's name on a list of international terrorists. However, China did not agree to this. In 2008, Gul was told he was on a US watch list. He denied the accusations against him.
After Osama bin Laden's death, Gul believed US forces killed him in Afghanistan. He thought they moved the body to Abbottabad to embarrass Pakistan.
Family Life
Hamid Gul's father was a farmer who served in the British Army. Gul was married, and his wife passed away in 2019. He had two sons, Umar and Abdullah, and a daughter, Uzma.
His son, Abdullah Gul, is the Chairman of Tehreek-e-Jawanan Pakistan and Kashmir (TJP). His daughter, Uzma, leads the Jammu Kashmir Solidarity Movement & Pak Kashmir Women Alliance.
Death
Hamid Gul had a haemorrhagic stroke in Murree. He had been suffering from high blood pressure and headaches. Many important people, including former Prime Ministers and army chiefs, expressed their sadness at his death.
Gul is buried at the army cemetery in Westridge, Rawalpindi. He owned a piece of the Berlin Wall. It was given to him by Germans for his role against the Soviet Union.
Books Written by Hamid Gul
- Īfāʼe ʻAhd (ايفائے عهد), 2012. This book talks about political changes in Pakistan. It also discusses efforts to destabilize Pakistan's security.
- Ek Janral Se Inṭarviyū (ايک جنرل سے انٹرويو), 2013. This is a collection of interviews with him.
Awards and Decorations
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