A Stranger in My Own Country: East Pakistan, 1969–1971

Khadim Hussain Raja (1922–1999) was born at Haranpur, District Jhelum. He graduated, with Honours in English, from Government College, Lahore. In 1942, he joined the British Indian Army and received the King’s Commission from the IMA, Dehra Dun. He served in the Burma ­Theatre till the end of the Second World War and later opted for a career in the Pakistan Army. During 1947–8, he volunteered and saw action in Kashmir. He graduated from the Staff College, Quetta, and later from the US Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth. He had the distinction of serving on the faculty of Command and Staff College, Quetta, twice. Later, he commanded the First Pakistan Battalion (Quaid-i-Azam’s own) at the PMA, Kakul, and rose to the rank of Major General. Before retirement from active duty, he served as DG Artillery at the GHQ. In 1972, he was appointed to raise and organize the Army Welfare Trust as its founding Managing Director and served this organization for five years before his retirement. Later, he was appointed Ambassador of Pakistan in Mozambique and was also accredited to Angola, Swaziland, and Lesotho.