Mirza Hamid Hussain
Brigadier Mirza Hamid Hussain | |
|---|---|
| Born | 4 July 1914 Delhi British Indian Empire |
| Died | 12 July 1987 (aged 73) Lahore, Pakistan |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | British India (1935-47) Pakistan (1947-77) |
| Branch | British Indian Army Pakistan Army |
| Years of service | 1935 – 1977 |
| Rank | Brigadier |
| Unit | 11th Sikh Regiment Indian Army Ordnance Corps Pakistan Army Ordnance Corps |
| Commands | Director Inter-Services Intelligence |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Orden del Mérito Militar |
| Relations | Nawab Qasim Jan |
Brigadier Mirza Hamid Hussain (4 July 1914 – 12 August 1987) was a Pakistan army officer, intelligence officer and diplomat.[1]
Early life
Hussain was born in 1914 at Delhi. He was educated at Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh and the 'Prince of Wales' Royal Military College RIMC, Dehra Dun from 1926 to 1932, and the Indian Military Academy.[2]
Indian Army career
He was commissioned from the Indian Military Academy on 1 February 1935 and was attached to a British Army regiment, 1st battalion The King's Shropshire Light Infantry.[3] He joined the 5th battalion, 11th Sikh Regiment, on 16 March 1936.[4] His initial date of commission was antedated to 4 February 1934 and he was promoted to Lieutenant on 4 May 1936.[5] He saw active service on the Frontier Waziristan operations.
He was the first and senior most Muslim Commissioned Officer to join the Indian Army Ordnance Corps in 1940. He served in Iraq and Iran in various senior appointments such as DADOD 10th Army and Chief Ordnance Officer. He graduated from the Staff College, Quetta, in 1945 and commanded various Ordnance Depots in India. He was then appointed ADOS in G.H.Q. India where he was in charge of Operation and training for the Ordnance Service.
Pakistan Army career
On the independence of Pakistan in 1947, he opted for Pakistan Army and came to Pakistan as Deputy Director Ordnance Service G.H.Q. Rawalpindi. Later he was appointed Director of Weapon and Equipment in the General Staff Branch G.H.Q. and subsequently took over as Director of Staff Duties. He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier.[6][7] On completion of tenure, he was appointed Director of Inter-Services Intelligence, Pakistan.[1]
Diplomatic appointments
He was selected for Foreign Service of Pakistan in 1951 and was appointed Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign affairs in charge of the Middle East Division.[8] Later, he became Chief of Protocol. In 1952, he was selected for the appointment of Counselor, High Commission of Pakistan, London. He was a counselor in Iraq, Iran and Turkey. He was charge d'affairs as Joint secretary, Chief of Protocol. He was honored with the 'Order of Monrovia' and 'Membership of the Civil Merit' from Spain.
He was a direct descendant of Nawab Qasim Khan who came to India from Yarkand. He died in 1987 at the age of 73 in Lahore, Pakistan.
Further reading
- The Battle Within, by Brigadier Mirza Hamid Hussain, Pakistan Army 33. 1970. ISBN 969-407-286-7 -.(ebook)
References
- ^ a b Syed Ali Hamid (7 May 2021). "Early Years of the ISI". The Friday Times newspaper. Archived from the original on 26 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
- ^ C. Christine Fair (25 April 2014). Fighting to the End, The Pakistan Army's Way of War (Mirza Hamid Hussain). p. 72. ISBN 9780199892709.
- ^ January 1936 Indian Army List
- ^ October 1939 Indian Army List
- ^ October 1939 Indian Army List
- ^ Mirza Hamid Hussain (2003). The Battle Within. p. 180. ISBN 9789694072869.
- ^ Mirza Hamid Hussain (2003). The Battle Within. p. 1, 2, 35. ISBN 9789694072869.
- ^ Owen L. Sirrs (July 2016). Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate - Covert action and internal operations (Mirza Hamid Hussain see page 33). Routledge. p. 33. ISBN 9781138677166.