Lt. Gen. Kirpal Singh Randhawa, a distinguished officer of the Indian Army, played a pivotal role in shaping military training in Iraq during a crucial period in the late 1970s. Born in Lahore in 1932, General Randhawa’s exemplary service and leadership earned him the prestigious Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in 1978 and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) in 1988. However, his legacy extends beyond these honors, as he was personally sought by the Iraqi government to train their armed forces.
In a rare diplomatic move, the Government of Iraq formally requested the Indian government to appoint General Randhawa as the Chief Instructor of the Indian Army Training Team in Baghdad between 1977 and 1979. This extraordinary request stemmed from his previous role as an instructor at the Pune Army Training College in 1970, where he mentored General Saadi Tuma Abbas, then a rising officer in the Iraqi military. General Abbas, who later became Iraq’s Chief of Army Staff and a close aide to Defence Minister Adnan Khairallah, was deeply influenced by General Randhawa’s expertise and leadership. His admiration led him to lobby for Randhawa’s appointment, marking a significant moment in India-Iraq military cooperation.
General Randhawa’s career was marked by numerous prestigious instructional roles, including appointments at the Infantry School, the Armoured Corps School, and the College of Combat’s Higher Command. A graduate of the Defence Services Staff College and Britain’s Royal College of Defence Studies, he also had international experience in conflict zones, serving as Secretary ADC to the Chairman of the International Commission for Supervision and Control in Laos and Vietnam.
His tenure in Iraq was a testament to India’s military expertise and the global recognition of its officers. For a Sikh General to be specially chosen for such a mission in a foreign army was not just a personal triumph but also a moment of pride for India. General Randhawa’s contribution to military training in Iraq remains a lesser-known but significant chapter in the history of international defense cooperation.
