Tariq Mehmood

In 1965, SSG was preparing for covert Operations in Kashmir, meanwhile Mehmood was selected for an advance course with U.S. Army Special Forces, but he opted himself for covert operations instead of leaving for the United States to attend the advance course. He was awarded Sitara-e-Jurat (SJ) for his acts of bravery during the Indo-Pak war of 1965. Tariq Mahmood was promoted to the rank of Major in 1970 and was stationed in Peshawar. Mehmood was posted as the commandant Parachute Training School.

In 1971, Mehmood volunteered to go East Pakistan to participate in the Bangladesh-Pakistani War of 1971. In this conflict, Mehmood was sent to Shahjalal International Airport (Dhaka Airport) to lead an operation against Indian-led Bangladeshi forces. The airport was heavily guarded and it was considered a no-fly zone. Mehmood commanded the Shaheen Company, 1st commando battalion and his company saw heavy fighting in the airport. After 34 hours, the Shaheen Company gained control of the airport and its surrounding areas. Both sides had suffered heavy casualties and the airport was nearly destroyed in the battle. He was again awarded Sitara-e-Jurat (SJ) for this gallantry act.

In 1979, he was promoted to colonel, and in 1982, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier. Mehmood, now a one-star general, was made commandant of the Special Service Group. In 1984, Mehmood commanded the Special Service Group at Siachen Conflict. SSG launched an aggressive and quick operation against the Indian Army. Mehmood secured a narrow victory in 1984.

Throughout the 1980s, the SSG and ISI were collaborating with American intelligence to lead Operation Cyclone. Mehmood was also a commanding officer of the fierce Battle for Hill 3234 in January 1988, although the Soviet Airborne troops managed to hold their position. On 5 September 1986, Pan Am Flight 73 was hijacked in Karachi, Sindh. He came to public prominence after having led the successful Operation PANAM to liberate the airline from terrorists. The hijackers opened fire on the SSG team, killing and injuring the passengers but soon all the hijackers were arrested and many lives were saved. Later, in 1987–88, he led operations against criminals in Sindh.[4]