Mian Ghulam Jilani facts for kids
Major General Mian Ghulam Jilani (Pashto, میاں غلام جیلانی; 1913 — March 1, 2004) was a brave soldier, a smart businessman, and a politician from Pakistan. People also knew him by his nicknames Kaka, Speen Dada, and Jilly.
He was a high-ranking officer, a two-star general, in the Pakistan Army. During World War II, he was part of the British Indian Army and was captured by the Japanese, surviving a tough prisoner-of-war camp. He played a very important part in stopping the fighting during the First Kashmir War.
Later, as Pakistan's military representative in Washington D.C. (from 1952 to 1955), he helped Pakistan join important agreements like the Baghdad Pact. He left the army in 1962 because he disagreed with the government at the time. After that, he focused on business and became a politician.
In the 1970s, he faced many challenges for his political beliefs and was put in jail for over three years. An international group called Amnesty International even called him a "prisoner of conscience" in 1974, meaning they believed he was jailed for his beliefs. He managed to escape from custody and found safety in the United States in 1975, later becoming a US citizen in 1981.
Quick facts for kids
Major General
Mian Ghulam Jilani
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| میاں غلام جیلانی | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jilani in 1962
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| Member of Provincial Assembly of North West Frontier | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 7 December 1970 – 1977 |
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| Constituency | PF-21 Mardan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GOC 15th Infantry Division (Sialkot) |
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| In office ?–1962 |
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| Force Commander Bajaur Campaign | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office October 1960 – September 1961 |
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 1913 Sibi, British Balochistan |
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| Died | 1 March 2004 (aged 90–91) Fairfax, Virginia, USA |
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| Cause of death | Pneumonia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | National Awami Party (Wali) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse |
Nancy Habiba Jilani
(m. 1949) |
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| Relations | Mian Hayaud Din (cousin) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education |
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| Nicknames | Kaka Speen Dada Jilly |
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| Military service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allegiance |  British India (1936-47) Pakistan (1947-62) |
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| Branch/service |  British Indian Army Pakistan Army |
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| Years of service | 1936–1962 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank |   Major General |
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| Unit | 4th Battalion 19th Hyderabad Regiment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commands |
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Contents
Early Life and Learning
Mian Ghulam Jilani was born in 1913 in a place called Sibi, which was then part of British Balochistan.
His Education Journey
He studied at Forman Christian College in Lahore. Later, he went to Aligarh Muslim University in India to study law.
Family Life
In 1949, Mian Ghulam Jilani married Nancy Habiba Jilani. They had four children: a son named Mian Arshad Jilani, and three daughters named Hadia Jilani Roberts, Halima Jilani Raza, and Habiba Jilani Freeman. When he passed away, he had nine grandchildren.
Military Career
Jilani began his military training at the Rashtriya Indian Military College in British India. He became an officer in 1936. After some initial training, he joined the 4th battalion of the 19th Hyderabad Regiment.
Captured in World War II
During the Second World War, Jilani's battalion was sent to Singapore. In 1942, he was captured by the Japanese army and became a prisoner of war. He was held for almost 40 months. During this time, he faced very difficult conditions and was kept alone for seven months. He was recognized for his brave service during this period.
After World War II, British India was divided, and Pakistan became an independent country in 1947. Jilani was very excited about this new nation.
Serving Pakistan
Jilani joined the newly formed Pakistan Army. He was one of the first senior officers.
Role in the Kashmir War
Soon after joining the Pakistan Army, he took a break to volunteer and fight in Kashmir. He wanted Kashmir to join Pakistan. In April 1948, he became the Commanding Officer in Gilgit. His troops played a big part in creating what is now known as the Line of Control between India and Pakistan. He led a special kind of fighting, called guerrilla warfare, in northern Kashmir. His actions were very important in stopping the fighting during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947.
Connecting with the United States
In October 1952, Jilani was sent to Washington D.C. as Pakistan's first military representative. He also worked with Canada and Mexico.
Awards and Recognition
He helped create a military agreement between the United States and Pakistan in May 1954, called the Baghdad Pact. Because of his efforts, US President Dwight D. Eisenhower honored him with the Legion of Merit award in 1955. The Government of Pakistan also gave him the Sitara-i-Quaid-i-Azam (Star of the Quaid), which is named after Pakistan's founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
Leading Divisions
As a Major General, he commanded the 14th Infantry Division in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). He also led the Pakistan Command and Staff College and was in charge of military supplies (Master General of Ordnance). Later, he commanded the 15th Infantry Division in Sialkot. He also served as Force Commander during the Bajaur Campaign in 1960.
Leaving the Army
After retiring from the army, he worked as a General Manager for a business group called Valika Group in Karachi.
Political Journey
Mian Ghulam Jilani joined the National Awami Party (Wali). In the 1970 elections, he was elected as a member of the provincial assembly for the North West Frontier Province from his home area of Mardan. He also led the youth group of his party, called Zalmay Pakhtun.
Facing Political Challenges
Jilani was a strong critic of the government led by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Because of his views, he was arrested by the government on February 15, 1973. He was arrested many times, but the courts always dismissed the charges against him. Amnesty International recognized him as a "prisoner of conscience" in 1974.
Escape to Freedom
In 1975, while on a hospital visit, Jilani managed to escape from his guards. He was then granted political asylum in the United States, meaning he was allowed to live there safely because of his political situation. He became a US citizen in 1981.
Life in the United States
After becoming a US citizen, Jilani traveled and gave speeches at colleges, government groups, and veterans' organizations. He shared his experiences from Pakistan and talked about military affairs around the world.
His Passing
Mian Ghulam Jilani passed away from Pneumonia on March 1, 2004, at his daughter's home in Fairfax, Virginia.
