Tariq Khan (general)

Tariq Khan
طارق خان
Commander I Corps, Mangla
In office
2010–2014
Inspector General, Frontier Corps
In office
2008–2010
Personal details
Born
AwardsHilal-e-Imtiaz (Military)
Kuwait Liberation Medal
Legion of Merit
Sword of Honour
Military service
Allegiance Pakistan
Branch/service Pakistan Army
Years of service1977 – 2014
Rank Lieutenant-General
UnitArmoured Corps
Commands1st Armoured Division, Multan
14th Infantry Division, D.I. Khan
Frontier Corps (KP)
I Corps, Mangla
Battles/wars

Tariq Khan HI(M) is a retired Pakistan Army general officer who was the Commander of I Strike Corps at Mangla.[1]

A war hero, he has been the Inspector General of the Frontier Corps from September 2008 till October 2010.[2] He has also commanded the 1st Armoured Division in Multan from 2006 to 2007 and then the 14th Infantry Division in South Waziristan till 2008. Khan gained fame when he led the Frontier Corps to victory against Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan in the Battle of Bajaur in 2009.[3][4]

Additionally, he has served as the Chief Executive and Managing Director of Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited (FFC), FFC Energy Limited, and Fauji Fresh n Freeze Limited. He also holds directorships on the boards of several major companies in Pakistan.[5]

Early life and education

Hailing from Tank in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Tariq Khan is a graduate of the Command and Staff College Quetta and the National Defence University Islamabad. He holds a Master’s degree in War Studies.[5]

Military career

He was commissioned in the Armoured Corps in the 55th PMA Long Course on 16 April 1977 and was awarded the Sword of Honour from the Pakistan Military Academy.[6] He has participated in the First Gulf War of 1991, and contributed towards the international effort in the war on terrorism as Pakistan's Senior National Representative at CENTCOM, Tampa, Florida from 2004 to 2005.[citation needed]

Khan was then promoted to major general in 2006 and commanded an armoured division in Multan and later an infantry division in South Waziristan leading Operation Zalzala against the militants.[7] After commanding an infantry division, Maj Gen Tariq was posted as IG FC KPK, where he changed FC from a ragtag group of fighters into a force on par with Pakistan Army. As IG FC, he commanded the spearhead of Pakistan's war against terror. On 1 October 2010 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and appointed Corps Commander Mangla and Commander Central Command.[1]

Post-retirement

Academic career

Tariq Khan served on the faculty of Command and Staff College Quetta and National Defence University Islamabad. Following his retirement, he has continued his association with National Defence University as a senior mentor and serves on the honorary faculty of reputed institutions.[5]

Corporate career

Following his retirement from the Pakistan Army, Tariq Khan transitioned to the corporate sector. He serves as Chief Executive and Managing Director of Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited (FFC), FFC Energy Limited, and Fauji Fresh n Freeze Limited. In addition to these roles, he holds directorships on the boards of Fauji Fertilizer Bin Qasim Limited, Askari Bank Limited, Fauji Foods Limited, Philip Morris (Pakistan) Limited, Fauji Meat Limited, FFBL Foods Limited, FFBL Power Company Limited, Thar Energy Limited, and Pakistan Maroc Phosphore S.A.[5]

Honors

Tariq Khan has been successful in turning the Frontier Corps around from a force in great difficulty into a highly professional one which has seen great successes in its recent operations against the militants in Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. On 9 December 2007, Tariq Khan received United States Legion of Merit for meritorious services as a liaison officer at CENTCOM during Operation Enduring Freedom.[5]

Writings

Tariq Khan has contributed to articles in Defence Journal.[8]

Awards and decorations

Hilal-e-Imtiaz

(Military)

(Crescent of Excellence)

2013

Tamgha-e-Baqa

(Nuclear Test Medal)

1998

Tamgha-e-Istaqlal Pakistan

(Escalation with India Medal)

2002

10 Years Service Medal
20 Years Service Medal 30 Years Service Medal 35 Years Service Medal Tamgha-e-Sad Saala Jashan-e-

Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam

(100th Birth Anniversary of

Muhammad Ali Jinnah)

1976

Hijri Tamgha

(Hijri Medal)

1979

Jamhuriat Tamgha

(Democracy Medal)

1988

Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha

(Resolution Day

Golden Jubilee Medal)

1990

Tamgha-e-Salgirah Pakistan

(Independence Day

Golden Jubilee Medal)

1997

Command & Staff College Quetta

Instructor's Medal

Kuwait Liberation Medal

(Saudi Arabia)

(Gulf War 1991)

Nuth al-Markat

(Combat Medal)

Saudi Arabia

(Gulf War 1991)

The Legion of Merit

(Degree of Officer)

(United States)

2007

Foreign decorations

Foreign Awards
Saudi Arabia Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) (Gulf War 1991)
Saudi Arabia Nuth al-Markat (Combat Medal) (Gulf War 1991)
USA The Legion of Merit (Degree of Officer)

References

  1. ^ a b "Lt-Gen Waheed Arshad new CGS" Dawn, 1 October 2010
  2. ^ Ismail Khan "Battle to be won or lost in Bajaur" Dawn, 21 September 2008
  3. ^ Bill Roggio. "Taliban has 'lost' in Bajaur, Mohmand: Pakistan military" The Long War Journal, 1 March 2009
  4. ^ "Tide turns against the Taliban"BBC News, 21 May 2009
  5. ^ a b c d e "Lt Gen Tariq Khan, HI(M) (Retd)" (PDF). Fauji Fertilizer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 February 2026. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  6. ^ "Sword of Honour Winners, PMA, Kakul, Abbotabad". The Pakistan Page. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
  7. ^ "29 brigadiers promoted as major general" Dawn, 5 January 2006
  8. ^ "Author's profile". Defence Journal. Retrieved 28 February 2026.