The Jihadi General Zia-ul-Haq: The Man Who Drenched Pakistan’s Army and Society in Radical Islam

The current condition of Pakistan—its transformation into a hub of terrorism and the fact that its military generals now speak the language of hardline clerics—can be largely attributed to Pakistan’s sixth President, General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. Ruling Pakistan from 1977 to 1988, Zia significantly impacted both the army and Pakistani society by promoting a radical Islamist agenda. His policies, a fusion of personal religious beliefs and strategic political objectives, reshaped the nature and functioning of the military.

Zia came to power in 1977 through a military coup that ousted then-Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

He imposed martial law in the country and made Islamization the central focus of his regime, aiming to place all Pakistani institutions under Sharia—Islamic law. Zia sowed his religious and radical policies into the army, using it as an instrument of ideological enforcement.

He introduced the concept of Nizam-e-Mustafa (“Rule of the Prophet”) as a guiding principle for governance and military functioning.

Zia emphasized that the army’s role was not only to defend Pakistan’s borders but also to safeguard the country’s Islamic identity.

Islamic slogans were integrated into military training—for example, the concept of jihad (holy war) was formally included in army doctrine. These changes fostered a mindset where military service was equated with religious duty. Zia deliberately promoted religious rituals within the military’s internal culture and aligned it with hardline Islamic ideologies—particularly the Deobandi and Salafi schools of thought.

He reshaped the religious character of military mosques. In the 1970s, about 90% of army mosques followed Sufi traditions, but by the 1980s, nearly 85% had aligned with the hardline Deobandi or extremist ideology. Zia recruited and promoted religious officers in the military and favored those who openly displayed religiosity, while sidelining secular or liberal-minded individuals. He appointed members of Islamist groups like Jamaat-e-Islami to advisory roles, integrating their ideology into the army’s strategic thinking.

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Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan

From 1979 to 1989, the Soviet presence in Afghanistan gave Zia a major opportunity to gain international support while radicalizing the army further.

Under Zia’s leadership, the Pakistani military became a central player in the U.S.-backed Afghan jihad, deeply influencing its ideology and operations.

Zia’s army trained and armed Afghan mujahideen and other Islamist fighters. During this time, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) became the main coordinator of jihadist activities, fostering a culture of extremism within the armed forces. His regime supported groups like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Sipah-e-Sahaba, initially formed to counter Shia influence but later turning into sectarian terrorist organizations. These groups maintained ties with the military, further strengthening radical elements within it.

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Legal Reforms

General Zia instituted legal and structural reforms in Pakistan that empowered Islamist ideology within both the military and society, creating an environment conducive to extremism.

A key example was the Hudood Ordinances of 1979, which prescribed harsh punishments such as flogging and amputation for offenses like adultery and theft. Zia also established the Shariat Court to ensure laws conformed to Islamic principles, extending its influence into military governance. The court’s rulings legitimized Zia’s Islamization drive and provided a legal framework for the army’s ideological posture.

Zia promoted the creation of thousands of madrasas (Islamic schools), many funded by Saudi Arabia. Some of the youth educated in these institutions later joined the military or terrorist organizations, contributing further to the army’s radicalization.

Zia’s Islamization had a lasting impact on the Pakistani military, embedding radical Islamist elements so deeply that today, separating them from the institution is nearly impossible. While Zia is often blamed for militarizing Islamism, some argue the seeds were already sown. Pakistan, being established as an Islamic state in 1947, laid the foundation for religious influence in governance and military affairs. Still, Zia’s deliberate and calculated efforts—through legal reforms, military changes, and involvement in the Afghan jihad—took Pakistan’s Islamization to a whole new level.

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Zia’s Death

Zia-ul-Haq died on August 17, 1988, in a plane crash near Bahawalpur, Pakistan.

At the time, he had just attended a military demonstration of American-made tanks and was traveling aboard a C-130 Hercules aircraft. The plane also carried senior Pakistani military officials, U.S. Ambassador Arnold Raphel, and Brigadier General Herbert M. Wassom—30 people in total. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft crashed, killing everyone on board.

The impact was so severe that few traces remained. The exact cause of the crash remains unknown. However, Zia’s son, Ijaz-ul-Haq, claimed it was a conspiracy involving explosives hidden in a crate of mangoes, nerve gas to incapacitate the pilots, or possibly a missile attack. Chemical analysis of the wreckage suggested sabotage.

Strangely, except for one American official, no post-mortems were conducted on the victims. Conspiracy theorists have pointed fingers at various entities—ranging from the Soviet Union, the CIA, and Mossad to Pakistani military generals and the Bhutto family. Yet despite decades of speculation, no conclusive evidence has ever surfaced.