Former Pakistan army chief Gen Abdul Waheed Kakar dies in Rawalpindi at 89
General (retd) Abdul Waheed Kakar, who led Pakistan's army from 1993 to 1996 and brokered the exit of both the president and prime minister in 1993, has died in Rawalpindi, the military said.
At a glance
- Former Chief of Army Staff Gen (retd) Abdul Waheed Kakar died in Rawalpindi on Monday, October 26, 2026, the military's media wing ISPR said. He was 89.
- Kakar led the army from January 1993 to January 1996 and retired at the end of his three-year term, reportedly declining an extension.
- In July 1993 he brokered the joint resignations of President Ghulam Ishaq Khan and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, an arrangement later called the 'Kakar formula', which led to fresh elections won by Benazir Bhutto.
- Field Marshal Asim Munir, President Asif Ali Zardari, PM Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz and PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan offered condolences.
Former Pakistan Army chief General (retd) Abdul Waheed Kakar died in Rawalpindi on Monday, October 26, 2026, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. He was 89. Kakar commanded the army from January 1993 to January 1996 and is remembered above all for the 1993 settlement in which both the president and the prime minister resigned, opening the way to fresh elections.
What happened
In a statement on Monday, ISPR said Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, and all ranks of the Pakistan Army expressed deep sorrow at Kakar's death. The army paid tribute to his "distinguished military career, leadership and invaluable services" and said it shares the grief of the bereaved family. No cause of death was announced, and details of the funeral prayers had not been made public by Monday afternoon.
| Gen Abdul Waheed Kakar | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 23 March 1937 |
| Commissioned | 1959, Frontier Force Regiment |
| Wars | 1965 and 1971 |
| Last command before COAS | XII Corps (Quetta) |
| Chief of Army Staff | January 1993 – January 1996 |
| Predecessor / successor | Gen Asif Nawaz / Gen Jehangir Karamat |
| Died | 26 October 2026, Rawalpindi, aged 89 |
A soldier's career
Kakar joined the army in 1956, trained at the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul and was commissioned into the Frontier Force Regiment in 1959. He fought in the 1965 and 1971 wars with India, studied at the Canadian Command and Staff College and the National Defence University, and rose through command and staff posts that included the 16th Infantry Division in Quetta, Adjutant General at General Headquarters and command of XII Corps.
He was appointed army chief in January 1993 after the sudden death of General Asif Nawaz, promoted ahead of several more senior generals. The appointment came during a period of open conflict between President Ghulam Ishaq Khan and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The 1993 'Kakar formula'
The feud between the president and the prime minister paralysed government in 1993. Ishaq Khan dismissed Sharif's government in April; the Supreme Court restored it in May; and by July the two men were again at a standoff. Kakar, rather than taking power himself, persuaded both to step down. Senate chairman Wasim Sajjad became acting president, a caretaker government under Moeenuddin Qureshi took office, and general elections in October 1993 brought Benazir Bhutto back as prime minister.
The arrangement became known as the "Kakar formula" or "Kakar model". Supporters saw it as a rare case of the army resolving a crisis without imposing martial law; critics argued it still showed the military acting as the final arbiter of civilian politics.
In 1995, during his tenure, the army uncovered a plot by a group of serving officers, led by Major General Zahirul Islam Abbasi, to overthrow the government; the officers were arrested and court-martialled. Kakar retired in January 1996 at the end of his three-year term, reportedly turning down an extension, and was succeeded by General Jehangir Karamat. He lived quietly in Rawalpindi afterwards and stayed out of public life.
Reactions
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed grief, prayed for the departed soul and for patience for the family. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to Kakar's services to the armed forces. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also offered condolences. PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said Kakar would be remembered with honour and respect for his professional dedication.
Why it matters
Kakar's tenure is a reference point in debates about civil-military relations in Pakistan. His decision to step aside after brokering the 1993 transition, and to retire on time in 1996, is often cited as an example of an army chief who did not seek to extend his stay — a subject that remains politically sensitive. His death closes the chapter on one of the key figures of the 1990s, a decade in which no elected government in Pakistan completed its term.
What happens next
The army is expected to announce the time and place of the funeral prayers in Rawalpindi, which senior serving and retired officers usually attend. Military funerals for former chiefs typically include a guard of honour and a wreath from the current army chief.
Questions people are asking
Who was General Abdul Waheed Kakar?
Abdul Waheed Kakar was Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff from January 1993 to January 1996. He is best known for the 1993 'Kakar formula', under which both the president and the prime minister resigned and fresh elections were held.
When did Gen Waheed Kakar die?
He died in Rawalpindi on Monday, October 26, 2026, at the age of 89, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). No cause of death was announced.
What was the Kakar formula of 1993?
During a power struggle between President Ghulam Ishaq Khan and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 1993, army chief Kakar persuaded both to step down. A caretaker government took over and held general elections in October 1993, which returned Benazir Bhutto to power.
