Ahsan Malik

For the Dutch cricketer, see Ahsan Malik (cricketer).

Colonel Ahsan Malik SJ   SI(M)
Malik in 2010
Birth name	Ahsan Siddique Malik
Born	(1948-11-03) November 3, 1948 (age 77) Gujranwala, Punjab, Pakistan
Allegiance	Pakistan
Branch	Pakistan Army
Battles / wars	Indo-Pak War of 1971 Battle of Kamalpur
Awards	Sitara-e-Jurat Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military)
Alma mater	Pakistan Military Academy

Ahsan Siddique Malik SJ SI(M) (Born 3 November 1948) is a retired Pakistan Army officer who is best known defending Kamalpur in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, when he was a captain in the 31st Battalion, Baloch Regiment.

Carer

Main article: Defence of Kamalpur

In late 1971, Malik commanded the border post at Kamalpur. The garrison was subjected to engagements by Mukti Bahini forces and the Indian Army's 13th Battalion, Brigade of the Guards. Following attacks on October 22 and November 14, the post was isolated from Pakistani supply lines. Subsequent attempts by the 31st Battalion to extract Malik's unit or resupply the garrison on November 29 were unsuccessful. ^{[1] [2]}

Indian forces, under the command of Brigadier Hardev Singh Kler, established a siege of the Kamalpur position. On December 4, 1971, the post was targeted by multiple sorties of Indian Air Force MiG-21 aircraft. Following written communications from Indian Major General Gurbux Singh and a subsequent directive via radio from Pakistani command, Malik surrendered the post at 19:00 hours on December 4. The engagement lasted approximately 21 days. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

Following the war, the Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army, Sam Manekshaw, acknowledged the defense of the Kamalpur garrison in correspondence with Pakistani military officials. Upon his return to Pakistan, Malik was awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat, the third-highest military decoration in the Pakistan Armed Forces. ^[6]

Awards and decorations

Sitara-e-Jurat (Star of Courage) 1971 War	Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Star of Excellence)		Sitara-e-Harb 1971 War (War Star 1971)
Tamgha-e-Jang 1971 War (War Medal 1971)	10 Years Service Medal	20 Years Service Medal	30 Years Service Medal
Tamgha-e-Sad Saala Jashan-e- Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam (100th Birth Anniversary of Muhammad Ali Jinnah) 1976	Hijri Tamgha (Hijri Medal) 1979	Jamhuriat Tamgha (Democracy Medal) 1988	Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha (Resolution Day Golden Jubilee Medal) 1990

See also

• Last Stand
• Defence of Kamalpur

References

1. Brian Cloughley (2002). A History of the Pakistan Army: Wars And Insurrections Second Edition With A New Chapter On The Kargil Issue. Lancer. p. 202. ISBN   978-81-7062-283-3.
2. Sukhwant Singh (2009) [First published 1980]. India's Wars Since Independence. Lancer Publishers. p. 162. ISBN   978-1-935501-13-8.
3. Economic and political weekly. Sameeksha Trust. 1977. p. 1325.
4. Lachhman Singh (1991). Victory in Bangladesh. Natraj Publishers. p. 151.
5. Sukhwant Singh (2009) [First published 1980]. India's Wars Since Independence. Lancer Publishers. p. 86. ISBN   978-1-935501-13-8.
6. "A lesson from the past". Hindustan Times . 14 April 2007. Retrieved 29 October 2019.

• Brian Cloughley (2006). A history of the Pakistan Army – Wars and Insurrections Third Edition. Ameena Saiyid, Oxford University Press. ISBN   0-19-547334-5.