Habib ur Rahman (Indian National Army officer)

Not to be confused with Habib Ur Rehman, Member of the Haryana Legislative Assembly in India.

Fateh-e-Bhimber

Habib ur Rahman
Born22 December 1913
Panjeri, Jammu and Kashmir, British India (now Azad Kashmir, Pakistan)
Died26 December 1978
Panjeri, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan
Allegiance British Raj (1936-1942)
Free India (1942-1945)
 Pakistan (1947-?
Awards Sitara-e-Pakistan
Nishan-e-Imtiaz
Tamgha-e-Imtiaz
Tamgha-i-Khidmat
Spouse(s)Badshah Begum
Children2

Habib ur Rahman (1913–1978) was an army officer in the Indian National Army (INA) who was charged with "waging war against His Majesty the King Emperor". He served as Subhas Chandra Bose's chief of staff in Singapore, and accompanied Bose on his alleged last fatal flight from Taipei to Tokyo, sharing the last moments of his life.[1] Rahman also played an important role in the First Kashmir War. Convinced that Maharaja Hari Singh was out to exterminate the Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir, he joined Major General Zaman Kiani, in launching a rebellion against the Maharaja from Gujrat in Pakistani Punjab.[2][3][4] Rehman and his volunteer force launched an attack on the Bhimber town.[5] But, the records of the 11th Cavalry of the Pakistan Army indicate that their efforts did not succeed, and eventually the Cavalry was responsible for conquering Bhimber.[6]

  1. ^ Bose, His Majesty's Opponent 2011, pp. 302–303.
  2. ^ Bose, His Majesty's Opponent 2011, pp. 324.
  3. ^ Zaheer, The Times and Trial of the Rawalpindi Conspiracy 1998, p. 113; Zaheer, The Times and Trial of the Rawalpindi Conspiracy 2007, pp. 145–146: "GHQ Azad, originally called the Planning Cell, was created in October [1947] and located in Rampiari Palace, Gujrat. It was headed by Major General M. Z. Kiani, who was designated C-in-C Azad Kashmir Forces, and manned by Brigadier Habibur Rehman as the Chief of Staff, and other senior officers."
  4. ^ Suharwardy, Tragedy in Kashmir 1983, pp. 140–141: "Habibur Rehman was already apprehensive of the dark designs of the Dogras and wanted to do something. He was in possession of reliable information from a relative, Captain Afzal, that the Dogra Commander of the Brigade at Nowshera had received secret instructions from the Maharaja to clear the border belt of Muslims.... Yet he did not lose courage and collected a band of dedicated men from Bhiring village of Bhimber tehsil and other areas inhabited by ex-servicemen.... armed with Frontier-made rifles, Habibur Rehman wanted to push out the Dogra garrison at Bhimber town..."
  5. ^ Nazir Salehria, retired Pakistani Army officer, in ISPR, Defence and Media 1991, p. 127: "Brigadier Habib ur Rehman organised us into a regular force and 15 Azad Kashmir battalion was raised. Unfortunately this battalion has not been mentioned anywhere."
  6. ^ Effendi, Punjab Cavalry 2007, p. 156.