General Abdul Waheed Kakar, Pakistan’s 5th Army Chief, played a decisive role in ending the 1993 constitutional crisis by securing the resignations of President Ghulam Ishaq Khan and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Read a full 1,000-word biography covering his early life, military career, leadership, and legacy.
General Abdul Waheed Kakar — The Army Chief Who Quietly Reshaped Pakistan’s Political Landscape
General Abdul Waheed Kakar (born 23 March 1937) stands as one of Pakistan’s most influential yet understated military leaders. As the 5th Chief of Army Staff (COAS), appointed on 12 January 1993, he assumed command during a period of extreme political turmoil. His tenure—marked by integrity, discipline, and constitutional intervention—remains one of the most significant in Pakistan’s civil–military history.
Although appointed amid controversy due to his surprising elevation over several senior generals, Kakar went on to play a critical role in restoring political stability at a time when Pakistan was heading toward institutional breakdown.
Early Life and Tribal Heritage
Abdul Waheed Kakar was born into a Pashtun family belonging to the Shahabzai Kakars of Abdullahzai (Mardzai) village in Zhob, Balochistan. His tribe originates from the historic Kakar lineage of Zhob but later settled in Peshawar. His family had strong connections within Pakistan’s political and nationalist movements.
His uncle, Abdul Rab Nishter, was one of the founding figures of Pakistan, later serving as the Governor of Punjab and President of the Muslim League. This political environment helped shape Kakar’s understanding of national affairs from an early age.
Education and Entry into the Pakistan Army
Kakar joined the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA), Kakul, and although he was expected to graduate in 1958, his training was extended by six months. He was finally commissioned in 1959 into the Frontier Force Regiment as a Second Lieutenant.
His academic excellence became evident early in his career. After the 1965 war, he was selected to attend the prestigious Canadian Command and Staff College, where he stood first in his examinations and earned the PSC qualification. Later, he attended Pakistan’s National Defence University (NDU), receiving advanced military education.
Service in the 1965 and 1971 Wars
Kakar served with distinction during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965, particularly in the Chawinda–Sialkot sector, one of the fiercest battlefields of the conflict. His battlefield performance strengthened his reputation for calm leadership and operational discipline.
In the 1971 war, he was posted as a Lieutenant Colonel in Azad Kashmir, commanding the 27 AK Regiment, where he gained further strategic experience.
Rise Through the Ranks
Kakar’s career trajectory included a series of prominent command and staff appointments:
1976–78 – Chief of Staff II Corps (Multan)
He served under Lt Gen Rahimuddin Khan, gaining key operational exposure.
1984 – Major General & GOC 16th Infantry Division (Quetta)
As General Officer Commanding, he handled critical security responsibilities in Balochistan.
1987–89 – Adjutant General at GHQ
Here, he demonstrated firm principles. He famously refused President Zia-ul-Haq’s direct order to admit three underqualified students to the Army Medical College, citing meritocracy. Zia responded by increasing the AMC seats from 60 to 100.
1989 – XII Corps Commander (Quetta)
His role as Corps Commander placed him in charge of one of Pakistan’s most sensitive regions.
Appointment as Chief of Army Staff (1993)
General Kakar’s elevation to COAS was one of the most controversial promotions in Pakistan’s history.
After the death of General Asif Nawaz Janjua, President Ghulam Ishaq Khan bypassed six senior generals, choosing Kakar, then a relatively junior three-star general.
Those superseded included:
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Lt Gen Farrukh Khan (CGS)
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Lt Gen Javed Nasir (DG ISI)
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Lt Gen Muhammad Ashraf (IV Corps)
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Lt Gen Hamid Niazi
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Lt Gen Arif Bangash (QMG)
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Lt Gen Rahim Dil Bhatti (NDU President)
This decision stunned political and military observers, but Kakar accepted the appointment quietly and professionally.
Role in the 1993 Constitutional Crisis — The “Kakar Formula”
The defining moment of Kakar’s career came in 1993, when Pakistan was paralyzed by an extreme political conflict between:
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President Ghulam Ishaq Khan, and
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Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
The confrontation pushed the country toward institutional collapse. Parliament was dysfunctional, the economy was stagnating, and governance had come to a standstill.
General Kakar intervened—not through force, but through quiet persuasion. In a historic move, he secured the simultaneous resignations of both the President and the Prime Minister, without imposing martial law.
This approach came to be known as The Kakar Formula, widely regarded as the only peaceful, constitutional military intervention in Pakistan’s history.
Following the resignations, Kakar supervised the formation of a caretaker setup and oversaw free and fair general elections, restoring political order without assuming direct control.
Final Years in Office and 1995 Coup Attempt
During his last year as COAS, Pakistan faced another threat—the 1995 coup attempt, led by a group of mid-ranking officers influenced by Brigadier Mustansir Billah.
Kakar acted decisively, neutralizing the plot and maintaining the army’s institutional stability. This swift suppression preserved Pakistan’s democratic continuity.
Retirement and Legacy
General Abdul Waheed Kakar retired in 1996 after completing his full three-year tenure. Unlike many other military leaders in Pakistan’s history, he did not seek political office, extensions, or public influence after leaving the army.
His legacy is defined by:
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Constitutional intervention without martial law
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Upholding merit over political pressure
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Restoring political order peacefully
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Maintaining professionalism within the Pakistan Army
Kakar remains one of Pakistan’s most respected but least publicized military leaders—a general who exercised great power but chose restraint, stability, and constitutional balance.
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