Akhtar Abdur Rahman
Pakistani intelligence chief
Died when: 64 years 67 days (770 months)Star Sign: Gemini
Akhtar Abdur Rahman Khan NI(M), HI(M), TI(M), SBt (Urdu: ???? ??? ???????; 11 June 1924 – 17 August 1988), was a Pakistani senior army general who served as the 5th Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Pakistan Armed Forces from 1987 to 1988 and as also served as the 7th Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence from 1979 to 1987.
As DG ISI, General Akhtar collaborated with the Central Intelligence Agency and masterminded the resistance network of the Afghan Mujahideen against the Soviet Union, eventually managing to force the Soviets out of Afghanistan.
Due to his close friendship with President of Pakistan General Zia-ul-Haq, General Akhtar was widely considered to be the second most powerful man in the country during General Zia's eleven-year military dictatorship.
He died in the plane crash which also killed General Zia and the US Ambassador to Pakistan Arnold Lewis Raphel.
After his death, his sons Humayun Akhtar Khan and Haroon Akhtar Khan joined politics and have been elected as Members of Parliament and headed key ministerial portfolios several times.