1st War Course: Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul

He joined the Pakistan army in May 1966 after graduation from the Pakistan

Military Academy, Kakul as part of the 1st War Course .

19th Battalion of Frontier Force Regiment

He was commissioned in the 19th battalion of the

Frontier Force Regiment.

Operational Duties: Chamb-Juarian in

Akhnor Sector

Immediately, he was sent to the operational area in Azad Kashmir

where his unit was located close to Chamb Jurian – Akhanor sector

and later he moved to Bannu with unit and did the field service

duties.

SERVICE IN (THEN) EAST PAKISTAN

In middle of 1968, Brig Hamid moved to Former East Pakistan

(Now Bangladesh) and performed internal security and

operational duties. He had the opportunity to do security duties on

Agartala conspiracy case and was tasked to guard the founder of

Bangladesh, Mr. Sheikh Mujeeb ur Rehman.

INTERNAL SECURITY : DHAKA (EAST PAKISTAN)

In East Pakistan, he was tasked to do many administrative and operational duties which

involved postings all over East Pakistan. He was also assigned duty at the president house on

visit of the President of Pakistan, General Yahya Khan.

While in East Pakistan, Brigadier Hamid Mahmood did many law and order duties, including

supervision of the General Election of 1970 in which the Awami League won a land-slide

victory.

He attended many infantry, intelligence, command and staff courses

during the course of his career.

He completed many infantry, intelligence, command and staff courses

during the course of his career.

INTELLIGENCE DUTIES

In March 1970 , he was posted in the field Intelligence Unit at Lahore,

where he managed to unearth several Indian intelligence networks

operated by RAW in Lahore.

UNVEILING CONSPIRACIES: GANGA AIRPLANE HIJACKING In 1970 he was one of the first officers to enter the hijacked Indian airplane called Ganga at Lahore Airport. Apparently, the hijacking of the plane was staged and the handiwork of Indian intelligence agencies. He conveyed his assessment to the senior command after interviewing a man posing as a captain of the Indian army, specifically, 2 Assam Rifles which was stationed in Indian-occupied Kashmir.

Later the airplane was burnt and all flights over India were cancelled. Pakistani flights between East and West Pakistan had to take a longer route through the Arabian sea, via Colombo, Sri Lanka. This hampered communication between the two wings of the country and set in motion a series of events that led to Indian invasion of East Pakistan.

DEFENSE OF SHAKARGARH – 1971 Pak-India War

Major Hamid Mahmood in mid 1971 was posted to 19 Frontier Force

Regiment at Sialkot which was tasked to defend Sharkargarh bulge.

Valor at Battle Front

It was a unique history in the warfare that he and his company fought war with

such a bravery and valor and did hand to hand fight where he was recommended

for the Sitar-a-Jurrat by killing and capturing maximum number of Indian

Prisoners at Battle of Sharagarh on the West Pakistan battle front.

Royal Military College, U.K.

He graduated from Command and Staff College, Quetta,

Electrical & Mechanical College of Pakistan, and received

training at the Royal Military College in United Kingdom.

Colonel of the Battalion

He was appointed as Colonel of the Battalion twice - a

unique honor to have such an appointment.

THE LEADING WARRIORS

After retirement from service, Brigadier (Retired) Hamid Mahmood was appointed a

Chairman 1st War Coursemate association.. In the 1st War Course General (r) Mohammad

Aziz Khan —ex- Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee, Lt. General (r) Hamid Javaid —

Chief of Staff to the General (r) Pervaz Mussaraf, – Lt. General (r) Khalid Maqbool-

Governor of Punjab and Major General (r) Anis Ahmed Bajawa — 1 St Chief of Staff to the

President of Pakistan.