Afzal Rahman Khan
Encyclopedia
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. 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.
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. 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. 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. 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.
. 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. Khan resigned from the ministries as a protest when General Yahya Khan, instituted another martial law on 25 March 1969.
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Hilal-i-Jurat
The Hilal-i-Jur'at Various official sources that are highly reputable spell the name of the medal differently, so the Pakistan Army website spelling is being taken as the official spelling...
, HQA), was a high profile military official who served as the Interior and Defence Minister
Defence Minister of Pakistan
The Defence Minister of Pakistan heads the Ministry of Defence, under which serve the three armed forces of the country, Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force, and Pakistan Navy...
under the military government
Military government
Military government can refer to conditions under either Military occupation, or Military dictatorship.-Military Government:Military government is the form of administration by which an occupying power exercises governmental authority over occupied territory.The Hague Conventions of 1907 specify...
of Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
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
Yahya Khan
General Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan Qizilbash, H.Pk, HJ, S.Pk, psc was the third President of Pakistan from 1969 to 1971, following the resignation of Ayub 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
Chief of Naval Staff (Pakistan)
The Chief of the Naval Staff, abbreviated as CNS, is the highest ranking officer in the Pakistani Navy unless a 4-star naval officer is appointed as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. The current Chief of the Naval Staff is Admiral Asif Sandila who commands the Navy. The CNS reports...
of Pakistan Navy
Pakistan Navy
The Pakistan Navy is the naval warfare/service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. Pakistan's Navy is responsible for Pakistan's coastline along the Arabian Sea and the defense of important civilian harbors and military bases...
and was also the longest serving Commander-in-Chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
of Pakistan Navy whose tenure ran from 1959 to 1966. He was awarded Hilal-i-Jurat
Hilal-i-Jurat
The Hilal-i-Jur'at Various official sources that are highly reputable spell the name of the medal differently, so the Pakistan Army website spelling is being taken as the official spelling...
for his role in leading the navy in the Indo-Pakistani September War of 1965
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 was a culmination of skirmishes that took place between April 1965 and September 1965 between Pakistan and India. This conflict became known as the Second Kashmir War fought by India and Pakistan over the disputed region of Kashmir, the first having been fought in 1947...
. 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 NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
as Midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
in 1938, and had participated in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, along with the Royal Navy. After the Partition
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
and Independence of Pakistan from Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, he was inherited in newly created Pakistan Navy
Pakistan Navy
The Pakistan Navy is the naval warfare/service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. Pakistan's Navy is responsible for Pakistan's coastline along the Arabian Sea and the defense of important civilian harbors and military bases...
. 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. As he was the Commander of the vessel formation, the vessel commenced a goodwill visit to Jeddah
Jeddah
Jeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
, 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. 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
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
, and assumed the command of Pakistan Navy. A.R. Khan is considered as Father of Submarine Service Branch of Pakistan Navy. 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
Hilal-i-Jurat
The Hilal-i-Jur'at Various official sources that are highly reputable spell the name of the medal differently, so the Pakistan Army website spelling is being taken as the official spelling...
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 AhsanSyed Mohammad Ahsan
Vice-Admiral Syed Mohammad Ahsan HQA, SPk, DSO, was a senior three-star admiral who was the 4th Chief of Naval Staff of Pakistan Navy from October 20, 1966 to August 31, 1969...
. 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
Defence Minister of Pakistan
The Defence Minister of Pakistan heads the Ministry of Defence, under which serve the three armed forces of the country, Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force, and Pakistan Navy...
from 1966 to 1969. Khan resigned from the ministries as a protest when General Yahya Khan, instituted another martial law on 25 March 1969.
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.External links
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