Ayub Khan (Field Marshal) - Military Career

Military Career

Ayub Khan did well at Sandhurst and was given a commission as Second Lieutenant in the Indian Army on 2 February 1928 and then joined the 1st Battalion of the 14th Punjab Regiment Sherdils, later known as 5th Punjab Regiment. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1932; a Captain in 1936 and Major in 1940.

During the Second World War, he was promoted as a Lieutenant-Colonel in 1942 and was significantly drafted in British Army to participate on 1942 Burma front. He commanded the 1st Battalion, 14th Punjab Regiment as its Commanding officer. In 1945, he was promoted to Colonel and assumed the command of his regiment to direct operations on 1945 Burma campaign.

He returned to British-controlled North-West Frontier Province and in 1947, he was promoted to one-star rank, a Brigadier and commanded a combatant brigade in Waziristan. After the establishment of State of Pakistan, he joined the fledgling Pakistan Army as the 10th ranking senior officer (his Pakistan Army number was PA-010). He was immediately promoted to two-star rank, Major-General in 1948. Khan was appointed as GOC of 14th Army Division, stationed in East-Pakistan. In 1949, he was appointed as Commander-in-Chief of East Pakistan Army, and held responsibility for the ground defence of entire state. The same year, he was awarded Hilal-i-Jurat (HJ) by Prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan for non-combatant service. In November 1949, he briefly returned to Pakistan and posted asAdjutant-General at the Army combatant Headquarters (GHQ). In 1951, Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan approved the promotion of Ayub Khan to a three-star rank, a Lieutenant-General and elevated as Deputy chief of staff of Pakistan Army..