# Yahya Khan

_Former Pakistani president (1917–1980)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/yahya-khan
Last updated: 2026-11-08

> Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan was a Pakistani four-star rank general who served as the third president of Pakistan from 1969 to 1971, under martial law. His presidency oversaw a civil war in East Pakistan, resulting in Bangladesh's secession. He also served as the fifth commander-in-chief of the Pakistan Army from 1966 to 1971.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 4 February 1917 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q333981#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Chakwal ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q333981#P19))
- **Died:** 10 August 1980 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q333981#P570))
- **Place of death:** Rawalpindi ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q333981#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Pakistan; British Raj ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q333981#P27))
- **Occupation:** diplomat; politician; military personnel ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q333981#P106))
- **Education:** United States Army Command and General Staff College; Royal Military Academy Sandhurst; University of the Punjab; Indian Military Academy ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q333981#P69))
- **Positions held:** Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs (5 April 1969 – 20 December 1971); Federal Minister for Defence (5 April 1969 – 20 December 1971); President of Pakistan (25 March 1969 – 20 December 1971); Commander in Chief (Pakistan Army) (18 June 1966 – 20 December 1971) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q333981#P39))
- **Awards:** Nishan-e-Pakistan; Order of Pahlavi; anniversary medal at the occasion of the 2500th anniversary of the founding of the Iranian Empire ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q333981#P166))

## Questions

**When was Yahya Khan born?**  
Yahya Khan was born on 4 February 1917 in Chakwal.

**What positions has Yahya Khan held?**  
Positions held by Yahya Khan include: Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs (1969–1971); Federal Minister for Defence (1969–1971); President of Pakistan (1969–1971); Commander in Chief (Pakistan Army) (1966–1971).

**Where did Yahya Khan study?**  
Yahya Khan was educated at United States Army Command and General Staff College, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, University of the Punjab, Indian Military Academy.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Yahya Khan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yahya_Khan) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikipedia (Nepali): याह्या खान](https://ne.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q333981](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q333981) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Yahya Khan (cropped version).jpg by Yahya and Nixon.jpg : Original uploader was User:Yahoo1 at en.wikipedia (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yahya_Khan_(cropped_version).jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Yahya Khan, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Yahya Khan (cropped version).jpg — Yahya and Nixon.jpg : Original uploader was User:Yahoo1 at en.wikipedia, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Yahya Khan". DigiNepal. Last updated 8 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/yahya-khan. Retrieved 8 November 2026.