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After becoming the President of Pakistan, Yahya Khan declared that he aimed to restore law and order in the country, form a new constitution, and return to the barracks. That’s why he announced to hold free and fair elections as soon as possible. The elections, though, were not held “as soon as possible” as announced for several reasons. But one of the major reasons for the delay was the President’s obvious lack of interest. The One-Unit scheme was a bone of contention among the West Pakistan provinces and that was the reason that the people around the president kept on insisting him to dissolve it. So finally in early 1970, Yahya Khan announced the Legal Framework Order to determine principles for the new would be the constitution of Pakistan. It also announced that the One-Unit would end on 1st July and the government will hold free elections on adult franchises. As promised the One-Unit dissolved on the promised date. The elections were postponed for some reasons including floods and cyclones in East Pakistan. When finally held in December 1970, they were indeed free and fair and were held in a peaceful manner.

It was the weakness of Yahya Khan and his lack of political farsightedness that he did not settle the issue of provincial autonomy before the elections. The Awami League and Mujib were insisting to accept their Six-Point Formula while Bhutto and his party were not willing to accept. The President met Mujib and tried to convince him to compromise on certain points for which he promised. Again Yahya did not perceive the intentions of Mujib and his party and did not see the trouble coming. Thus after the elections, Mujib backed out and refused to discuss or amend the Six-Points at any cost.
Again, when the political situation in the country came to a deadlock due to the failure of negotiations between PPP and AL, Yahya Khan thought it best to postpone the meeting of the National Assembly not realizing they would be the impact of this postponement. Thus the East Pakistanis came on the streets to protest against this decision of his. Then again instead of finding a peaceful solution to that problem and planning himself he acted on his fellow military men’s advice and took to military action. That again led to more riots. Similarly, when the situation grew worse in Bengal, Yahya again listened to the army, and under Lieutenant-General Tikka Khan, who was well-known for his repute of violence, he authorized the military to do whatever it takes to restore law and order in the region. But this decision led to severe consequences and resulted in the division of the country.

Yahya regime, thus, is accused of being one of the major causes of the division of Pakistan but we cannot suspect his intentions, for, although, during his time the Yahya’s weakness in handling the affairs fairly led to the dismemberment of Pakistan.

After the end of the 1971 war and separation of Bengal, people of the “remaining” Pakistan came out on the streets declaring Yahya and his fellows, traitors, and asked for his removal from his designation. So under strong public pressure, he resigned and asked Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, president of the PPP to form the government.

General Yahya is also notorious for having an affair with General Rani (Akleem Akhtar). Akleem Akhtar had not acquired formal skills or qualifications to support an independent career but she had come to know many rich and powerful men through frequenting clubs. She met General Yahya Khan via these means and a relationship between them developed.[2]
Due to Akhtar’s close association with Yahya Khan and the power she exercised due to the connection, she was known as General Rani (General’s Queen). She is said to have lovingly called Yahya Khan ‘Agha Jani’. Akhtar held no official position, but she was given special treatment due to her connection with Yahya Khan. She denied she was ever a Yahya Khan’s “mistress” and claimed that they were merely friends. She revealed in an interview that drinking alcohol and women were Yahya Khan’s weaknesses and General Rani exploited both of his weaknesses.

ON March 25, 1971, Gen Yahya Khan ordered the army to restore the writ of the state in East Pakistan. On Dec 16, 1971, East Pakistan was no more.
“In war, opportunities come but once, the great art is to seize them,” said Napoleon. The first opportunity to implement this concept came in September 1971 when the Indian defenses in the west had not yet been fully energized. At this point, a strategic offensive in the Ravi-Chenab corridor, centered on armored forces, could have severed Indian Kashmir from the mainland by securing line Samba-Madhopur Headwork, then exploiting towards Jammu. From the geo-strategic, operational, and logistics standpoint, this was the most suitable corridor for an offensive that could not only salvage the forces in the east but also recompense for the probable loss of East Pakistan, given that the people there had risen in rebellion against the Pakistani state.
The second opportunity came a week later when this corps was fully committed and struggling to make headway. At this point, the western half of the corridor, which was lightly held, presented an opening that went unnoticed by Yahya and his war directing team. A counter-offensive through this opening could have turned the western flank of the corps and created a critical situation for them.
But Yahya khan missed the chances and the country was divided into two parts.

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• This topic was modified 4 years ago by  eman.

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