Yahya Khan, Agha Muhammad (1917-1980)

Pakistani president 1969-71. His mishandling of the Bangladesh separatist issue led to civil war and he was forced to resign.

Yahya Khan fought with the British army in the Middle East during World War II, escaping German capture in Italy. Later, as Pakistan's chief of army general staff, he supported General Ayub Khan's 1958 coup and in 1969 became military ruler. Following defeat by India in 1971, he resigned and was under house arrest 1972-75.