Afzal Rahman Khan
Afzal Rahman Khan | |
|---|---|
| 10th Defence Minister of Pakistan | |
| In office 12 October, 1966 – 5 April, 1969 | |
| President | Field MarshalAyub Khan |
| Preceded by | Field Marshal Ayub Khan |
| Succeeded by | General Yahya Khan |
| 13th Interior Minister of Pakistan | |
| In office December 5, 1966 – 5 April, 1969 | |
| President | Field Marshal Ayub Khan |
| Succeeded by | LGen Abdul Hamid Khan |
| 3rd Naval Commander-in-Chief | |
| In office 1 March 1959 – 20 October 1966 | |
| Preceded by | VAdm Siddiq Chaudhrie |
| Succeeded by | VAdm S.M. Ahsan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Afzal Akram Rehman Khan British Indian Empire (now Pakistan and India) |
| Citizenship |  British Indian Empire Pakistan |
| Nationality | British Subject Pakistani (1947-) |
| Political party | None (Military Government) |
| Residence(s) | Naval Headquarter (NHQ), Rawalpindi |
| Alma mater | Indian Naval Academy |
| Occupation | Military administrator |
| Cabinet | Ayub Khan Administration |
| Awards | Hilal-e-Pakistan Hilal-e-Quaid-i-Azam Hilal-i-Jurat |
| Nickname | A.R. Khan |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | British Indian Empire Pakistan (1947-1971) |
| Branch/service |  Royal Navy Pakistan Navy |
| Years of service | 1938-1969 |
| Rank |  Vice-Admiral |
| Unit | Naval Operation Branch (PN No. 006) |
| Commands | Naval Commander-in-Chief Commander Logistics Commander Pakistan Fleet DG Naval Intelligence (DGNI) PNS Tariq PNS Tippu Sultan |
| Battles/wars | World war II Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Operation Dwarka |
Vice-Admiral Afzal Rahman Khan (usually shortened as A.R. Khan), (HPk, HJ, HQA), was a high profile military official who served as the Interior and Defence Minister under the military government of Field Marshal Ayub Khan. Khan was one of the leading active duty naval officers who held this government offices and left these offices when General Yahya Khan, Army Commander-in-Chief, instituted another martial law on 25 March 1969. Before being appointed as Defense and Interior Minister, Khan was the Naval Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan Navy and was also the longest serving Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan Navy whose tenure ran from 1959 to 1966.[1] He was awarded Hilal-i-Jurat for his role in leading the navy in the Indo-Pakistani September War of 1965. Vice Admiral Afzal Rahman Khan is known as "Father of Pakistan's Submarine Service Branch", during which, he played an influential role in Pakistan Navy to induced PNS Ghazi and PNS Hangor submarines.
Naval career
Khan gained commissioned in Royal Navy as Midshipman in 1938, and had participated in World War II, along with the Royal Navy. After the Partition and Independence of Pakistan from Great Britain, he was inherited in newly created Pakistan Navy. On September 30 September 1949, Pakistan Navy's first destroyer, PNS Tariq was given commissioned in Pakistan Navy. Khan as serving as Lieutenant-Commander A.R. Khan was made commander of the ship, he was late made commander of PNS Tippu Sultan in 1950.[2] As he was the Commander of the vessel formation, the vessel commenced a goodwill visit to Jeddah, Saudia Arabia. After the visit, the vessel formation made another good carried out e goodwill cruise of the Eastern Mediterranean, visiting Venice, Athens, Istanbul, Izmir and Crete. Throughout his career, Khan continued to elevated the ranks and also played an influential role in the expansion of Pakistan Navy's operations in West Pakistan and East Pakistan.[3] Khan also helped established the Naval Intelligence in the Pakistan Navy as well helped commissioned the naval bases in Karachi.
In 1959, Rear Admiral A.R. Khan was promoted to three-star Vice Admiral, and assumed the command of Pakistan Navy. A.R. Khan is considered as Father of Submarine Service Branch of Pakistan Navy.[4] Khan played an integral part in the induction of PNS Ghazi and PNS Hangor in Pakistan Navy, and sent large number of officers to the Naval academies of United States and United Kingdom.
Vice Admiral A.R. Khan was one of the mainstream leader during the 1965 Indo-Paki War. He had commenced the Operation Dwarka, and led the Navy in numerous battles. An integral of Navy, Vice-Admiral Khan led numerous successful naval operations in 1965, which led him to gained Hilal-i-Jurat after the war.
Civil Service
Khan completed his term from Pakistan Navy in 1966 and handed over the command of Pakistan Navy to Vice Admiral Syed Mohammad Ahsan. After his naval service, President Ayub Khan appointed the still-active duty Vice Admiral A.R. Khan served in the military government as his government minister. Khan's new military and government assignment reign for three years as the country's Interior and Defence Minister from 1966 to 1969.[5] Khan resigned from the ministries as a protest when General Yahya Khan, instituted another martial law on 25 March 1969.[6]
Post Retirement
After resigning from the government, Khan moved to Islamabad where he lived a very quiet life and was put out of public life. He did not comment on Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, and died peacefully in 2005 in Islamabad.
Memorial and Honors
PNS Akram: Named after the late Vice Admiral Afzal Rahman Khan who was the Commander-in-Chief from 1959 to 1966. It is the first Pakistan Navy's establishment to be commissioned on the Makran Coast. Located at Gwadar, the establishment was commissioned on 31 Jul 1987. It serves as a forward operating base for the Navy and acts as a depot for all naval personnel stationed west of Ormara.[7]
References
- ^ Pillar of Pakistan. "Chiefs of Naval Staff".
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "The First Destroyer". Pakistan Military Consortium. Pakdef.info.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Pakistan Military Consortium. "The First Destroyer".
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Recollections about 1965 war".
{{cite web}}:|first=missing|last=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Pillar of Pakistan. "Defense and Interior Ministries:Vice-Admiral Afzal Rahman Khan".
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Pillar of Pakistan. "Chief ExecutivesVice-Admiral Afzal Rahman Khan".
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Their Name Liveth for Ever More:PNS Akram".
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External links
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