Yahya Khan, Agha Mohammad (1917-1980), was president of Pakistan from 1969 to 1971. He was born in Chakwal near Peshawar on Feb. 4, 1917. Khan graduated top of his class from the Indian Military Academy at Dehra Dun. After active service in World War II (1939-1945), Khan set up the Pakistani Staff College in 1947. He fought against India in the dispute over Kashmir, and became his country’s youngest general at the age of 40. In 1966, he was appointed commander in chief of the armed forces. He became chief martial law administrator when the authority of President Mohammad Ayub Khan began to wane during civil disorder.
In 1969, Khan became president of Pakistan. He held general elections in 1970. But disturbances in East Pakistan hastened his downfall. In 1971, East Pakistan separated from Pakistan and became the independent Republic of Bangladesh. That same year, Khan handed over the government of Pakistan to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Khan died on Aug. 8, 1980.
