In a small American town, Pakistan’s top military generals are making headlines for receiving International Hall of Fame Awards at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas City.
Four former Pakistani four-star generals left behind all the military generals of its neighbouring countries — India, Russia, Iran, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan — in this globally recognised race where 253 graduates of the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth have been inducted into the International Hall of Fame (IHOF) Awards over the last 41 years. This is the world’s best military award, which was established in 1973 under the Kansas City Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars and the Command and General Staff College Foundation.
United States Army Command and General Staff College is a graduate school for United States Army and international military officers, which was established in 1881.
Only four-star generals can qualify for the prestigious IHOF award.
Among these four Pakistani generals one ruled the country for more than 11 years. General Ziaul Haq, who ruled Pakistan from 1977 to 1988, graduated from the Command and General Staff College in 1963. He was the first Pakistani top military general to be inducted into the IHOF in 1982.
Others include General Rahimuddin Khan who attended the army college in 1965 and was later inducted to IHOF. He served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee from 1984 to 1987 in Pakistan.
Another well-known name is General Jehangir Karamat who graduated from this college in 1974. He received the IHOF award a year before the then Chief of Army Staff General Pervez Musharraf became chief executive of the country by removing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 1999.
General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani was the last Pakistani general who received the IHOF in 2009 – some 21 years after he graduated from this college. He was the longest-serving Chief of Army Staff who served from 2007 to 2013.
Meanwhile, the newly retired Indian army chief, General Bikram Singh, is the first and only Indian top soldier who was inducted into the United States Army War College’s International Fellows Hall of Fame last year.
Military officers of the Philippines are leading this military college with 32 IHOF Awards in four decades. With 15 IHOF Awards, Brazil’s four-star generals secured the second position while 13 IHOF Awards were given to top generals of Guatemala.
Correction: An earlier version of the article incorrectly noted:
Entry into the IHOF is linked to a role in role in 'International Peace and Stability.'
That soldiers cannot be inducted into the IHOF the same year they graduate.
Gen Bikram Singh did not graduate from CGSC Fort Leavenworth. He is a 2004 graduate of US Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 3rd, 2014.
COMMENTS (57)
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@Tamil Arasan: You just proved yourself Wrong... "That shows what grade they...." That also shows we don't follow American "Dictation" as Phillipines does, lol. Or they would have awarded us wholesale medals like them. Phillipinos are 28 times more loyal to U.S than us that proves. And India is getting more technology and trade assistance from U.S. What does that prove?
@Omair: Then why is one Indian in this list?
Military officers of the Philippines are leading this military college with 32 IHOF Awards in four decades
The above statement is the reason - there is no Indian or Russian in the list because these two countries are not dictated by America, by the way inspite of having very good relationship with US same like Philippines they have awarded only four Pakistani and 32 Philippines - that shows in what grade they have kept your country, because I believe the little tiny stature Philippines have been awarded 28 times more than you by the Americans...!!
Philippines and Guatemala ?????? There is something wrong with this Hall of Fame
@Hassan He didnt start war against India, that he could do. So by logic that Money saved is money earned, not disturbing the peace is peace earned, thats how he contributed to the peace.
I honestly really want to understand how Gen. Zia contributed to peace of any kind?
@Wow!: Yeah. Its more like a hall of shame.
@Strategic Asset: As per my understanding of this report, your ex Chief of Army Staff general Bikram Singh is also mentioned as are other Indians who are likely to have attended. Get the facts and get a life.
@Someone: One guy goes and that's enough for you? Get a life.
As per Indian logic, Indian Army must be owned by the U.S. as your very own general Bikram Singh has been inducted here.
congratulations. Pak generals are world famous in small US town.
@Weirdity: Son, I had no idea, who was at the other end. The above posts have become a real entertainer for me now, lol! First you tell me; who's buying Defence Technology from whom? Who need training of M1 tanks and F-16 fighter jets plus radars equipment and tons of other high tech stuff? And since when... we "stopped" giving training in those fields to the clients after manufacturing & selling that equipment? I personally know we train personnel of many Middle Eastern & African countries in quite a few field, please don't ask me for a list. You have to look-it-up yourself something.
@SorrySir!: how many American officers were sent to Pakistan for advance education?
@Weirdity: It's normal. Countries not just send their personnel for training but for advance education and other tactical training from the collaborative partners all the time. No country avoid this if given the opportunity. One need to be broad minded and brave enough to not loose heart for such maters.
one is responsible for not taking on Talibans when it was urgently needed to prevent innocent deaths, and the other is responsible for taking the country towards the dark ages, and this country still is going to feel good about seeing some clueless committee giving these characters any award? If they had caused this much harm to their country trust me they would have hanged them high and not given an award!
Most countries would feel ashamed that they have to send their army officers abroad for education. But not Pakistan.
I can totally understand why indians are not happy and making such comments :)
@Sohaib Irshad: Wasn't it Gen. Ziaul the father of terrorism in Pakistan who outsourced the country's battles to terror syndicates?
Will Pakistan walk the talk and pay $100,000 p.a., for next 25 years, for the up keep of this museum?
@Ahmad:
"Proud of our Army."
What is there to be proud of? Attending an American military school?
Or, losing all the wars? Repeatedly usurping the constitution and illegally taking over power in coups? Encouraging Islamic radicalism? Allowing global terrorists such as Osama bin Laden to live in Pakistan under the army's protection? Killing thousands of its own citizen?
It is nice to see you all gloating over America when the whole country hates it, It speaks volumes.
its again proved that who was loyal to them and who was loyal to land of pure...Thank you Gen. Pervez Mushraf for making us proud...you are beyond these puppet awards
India got inheritance of industry & infrastructure from partition. What Pak got was all British trained and "left-behind" army and it's administration.
@Omair: General Sundarji was an aberration. Long after he was commissioned into the Indian Army in 1946, he went to Fort Leavenworth in 1967-68 to learn about the role of technology in modern warfare after the 1965 war.
Now, if only they could do what their basic duty, training and expectation is - to win a war or two. I take that back. Winning two wars is much, too much to hope and expect. They are not able to win one , even when they give themselves the benefit of surprise - by starting every war.
They are pride of our Nation . Pak Army zindaabaad Pakistan Paaindabaad.
@Zindabad: Yes , really professional army.
That's why we have our former head of strategic assets now working for an American think tank.
It's a great tradition! Bravo! Bravo!
What a tragedy or our slavery mind set Dictators become heroes if get something in US.
@Strategic Asset: Then why is one Indian in this list?
Not very many Indian or Russian army are trained in Leavenworth since neither countries military are owned and funded by the US.
Oh, one more thing, these famous International Award is only published in Pakistan and no where else, not even in the US. Hopefully, people living in the city of Leavenworth has heard about it.
It must have been copied from the onion magazine.
@matter of fact .. yes, but definitely not strange to see your jealousy on any such post that brings good news from Pakistan.. hahahaha
American staff colleges are no centres of excellence for foreign attendees. There for bonhomie, influencing minds etc.
I see Zia's picture - wasn't he responsible for the death of 24,000 Palestinians in 1971 as leader of Black September operation in Jordan?
The only reason that more Pakistani generals feature is because we , having had a longer time in the American camp, have been sending more 'students' to the college, over a longer period! It is no use comparing with India or Russia! And that explains why there are so many Filipinos and Brazilians! But the award itself becomes a joke when people like Zia and Kayani get it, for bringing 'peace' to the world!
Not sure why a stamp of approval is needed from US every time?
Gandhi: we're not in Kansas anymore
Two Nations theory: One nation is proud of his son Mahatma Gandhi who taught non violence to world had statutes all over the world. His great-grandson Shanti Gandhi, 72 of has been elected to Kansas state assembly. He is son of late Saraswati Gandhi, wife of Mahatma Gandhi's grandson the late Kanti Lal. The other nation is proud of Generals who deal in war machine and are famous in a small town in Kansas
Men are ruled by toys...
Pakistanis gloating over the inclusion of names of their Generals in some US hall of fame should realise that it is quite natural for US to pamper Pak Generals since they hold disproportionate power and of course US-Pak have been allies. This US recognition for Pak Generals is more a political move than an acceptance of their military capabilities. Please don't forget that none of the above mentioned Generals have ever won a war or for that matter no Pakistani General has ever won a war, official jingoistic propaganda notwithstanding. That for me speaks a lot about this Hall of Fame business.
.......now is the something to be proud of ?
what a misleading story ! It just indicates the length co operation between the countries for last 6 decades. Pakistan has military relationship for 6 decades where India has less than 1 decade. Also strange to see that Pakistan giving so much importance to American Honour !
Most of them were trained in counter insurgency. Such is the connection between US and Pakistan army.
A slap on those who want a war with US.
this thread is about to be overrun by indians and mutahida goons from america
"Only those four-star generals who have contributed to international peace and stability can qualify for the prestigious IHOF award" and Zia ul haq. does it make any sense?
Its good to see our 4 star generals in this list. Lets give them credit without any ifs and buts.and remember they are not rewarded bcoz of america's interests but for their hardwork.
Certain generals in this list are a bit controversial, but Generals Keramat and Rahimuddin have unanimously helped this country with integrity. I salute them.
so far we send the best officer to UK and 2nd to USA, it should change now. Promotions in army should be on professional competancy not on loyalty to boss. May I know how many top Majors who went to foreign courses have made to Lt General and above in Pakistan? The above picture means that these 4 Generals were hard working/good officers since young age.
General Zia. Our scapegoat for every problem in Pakistan.
This is indeed a great honor for Pakistan and its army. To be recognized by the top army of the world and inducted into its International Hall of Fame, means that co-operation between the US and Pak armies is something that will continue into the future. Good luck and Godspeed to both institutions. Salams
The International Hall of Fame recognizes international CGSC students who have reached the highest positions in their nations’ armed forces or an equivalent position in a multinational military organization.
Indians do not go to Command and General Staff College (CGSC) at Fort Leavenworth, so any comparison with India is meaningless.
Well done Pak , army , its good that at least army is working without corruption at institutional level .
then these are the army general who have made pakistan a brave and strong nation in the world.if a am not wrong ...
These Generals' professional excellence has earned them this great reputation. Long live the tradition of professionalism of Pakistan Army.
Proud of our Army.