Indians are not new to making history, but to have gotten themselves a place in another country’s military is sure at a whole new level. An Indian origin businessman based in Saudi has been appointed to a top military post in Kyrgyzstan.
According to a report in the Khaleej Times, the Chairman of Gammon Group, Sheikh Rafik Mohammad, was appointed as the Major General by Kyrgyzstan’s Defence Minister Ali Mirza at an official ceremony in the Central Asian country, on 31st December 2016.
Sheikh Rafik Mohammad completed his primary schooling from Mumbai. He later worked in the UAE, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Kyrgyzstan.
Sheikh Rafik also worked as an advisor to the former Kyrgyzstan President Kurmanbek Saliyevich Bakiyev (2005-2010) whom he met in Iran where he was developing a major steel plant. The position he has been posted to now is a rare military position occupied by an overseas Keraliite.
While Indian origin enterpreneurs have often carved themlselves a niche abroad, none have ever made it to a military position of this stature. With this piece of news, 2017 is sure off to an unconventional start.
