Afzal Tahir
Encyclopedia
Admiral
Muhammad Afzal Tahir, NI(M), (born January 4, 1949) is the former Chief of Naval Staff (CNS)
of the Pakistan Navy
and the career naval officer, who retired on 7 October 2008 after completing the three-year service. He was succeeded by newly-appointed Admiral Noman Bashir
. Tahir took over the command of Pakistan Navy from Admiral Shahid Karimullah
on 7 October 2005, after Karimullah ended his three-year Naval chief tenure. On promotion, Admiral Tahir superseded at least one senior officer, Vice Admiral Mohammad Haroon the then Chief of Staff (COS), but he continued to serve and was later made Vice Chief of Naval Staff (VCNS) on 7 November 2005.
in Arain
family. He joined the Pakistan Navy
on 11 May 1967 and attended the Pakistan Military Academy
(with 40th PMA Long Course) and the Naval Academy
at Abbottabad
and Karachi respectively prior to commissioning in December 1970 in the special operations branch. He was among one of the few naval officers who were selected for the training with Army
's Special Service Group, and his naval unit was sent to United States
to conduct its excersize and training with U.S. Navy SEALs in 1969. After his training, he was transferred to the Special Service Group Navy
, a Navy's special operations unit, as an elite commanding officer. He saw action in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
where he actively participated in the conflict. Previously had studied special war courses in Pakistan Military Academy, Lieutenant Commander
Tahir was a platoon commander of the Special Service Group Navy
(SSGN) where he commanded a small team of Navy commandos in East Pakistan
against the Indian Army. Lt. Crdr. Tahir led 3 successful ground based naval operations along with the Army and gained a respective reputation in Special Service Group Navy. After the conflict, Lt.Cdr.
Tahir left the naval special forces and served on surface ships and minesweepers before opting to join Naval Aviation in March 1974. His tours of duty in Aviation Service took him twice to the United Kingdom for Basic Observer and Helicopter Warfare Instructor (HWI) courses.
In July 1985 he was promoted to the rank of Commander
, to Captain
in July 1992 and to Commodore
in 1998. In 1999, he again saw action in Indo-Pakistani War of 1999. In 2000, he was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral
, to that of Vice Admiral
on 1 September 2004 when he was serving as the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (training and personnel) and to that of Admiral on 7 October 2005 and appointed as Chief of Naval Staff of the Pakistan Navy. He is a graduate of Joint Services Staff College, Chaklala and National Defence College
, Islamabad
.
and Hilal-i-Imtiaz
.
right|thumb|Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Mullen presents Pakistan Navy Chief of Naval Staff Adm. Afzal Tahir with the Legion of Merit
.]]
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Muhammad Afzal Tahir, NI(M), (born January 4, 1949) is the former Chief of Naval Staff (CNS)
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 the 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 the career naval officer, who retired on 7 October 2008 after completing the three-year service. He was succeeded by newly-appointed Admiral Noman Bashir
Noman Bashir
Admiral Noman Bashir, Admiral Noman Bashir, Admiral Noman Bashir, (NI(M), TI(MI, SI(M), HI(M), LM) was a 4-star rank Admiral who served as the 18th Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) of the Pakistan Navy, 7 October 2008 when Admiral Afzal Tahir retired from the navy, until 07 October 2011...
. Tahir took over the command of Pakistan Navy from Admiral Shahid Karimullah
Shahid Karimullah
Admiral Shahid Karimullah, TI, SI, HI, NI, SJ, L'd'H LM, is the former four-star naval officer who, as Chief of Naval Staff , commanded Pakistan Navy from 2002 to 2005. He is one of the most decorated military officer of the Pakistan Defense Forces who later served as Pakistan's ambassador to Saudi...
on 7 October 2005, after Karimullah ended his three-year Naval chief tenure. On promotion, Admiral Tahir superseded at least one senior officer, Vice Admiral Mohammad Haroon the then Chief of Staff (COS), but he continued to serve and was later made Vice Chief of Naval Staff (VCNS) on 7 November 2005.
Naval career
Admiral Tahir was born in FaisalabadFaisalabad
Faisalabad , formerly known as Lyallpur, is the third largest metropolis in Pakistan, the second largest in the province of Punjab after Lahore, and a major industrial center in the heart of Pakistan. Before the foundation of the city in 1880, the area was very thinly populated. The population has...
in Arain
Arain
The Arain , are a Muslim agricultural caste settled mainly in the Punjab, with significant numbers also in Sindh. They are chiefly associated with farming, traditionally being landlords or zamindars.- Origin :...
family. He joined the 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 11 May 1967 and attended the Pakistan Military Academy
Pakistan Military Academy
The Pakistan Military Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service military academy. It is located at Kakul near Abbottabad in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan....
(with 40th PMA Long Course) and the Naval Academy
Pakistan Naval Academy
The Pakistan Naval Academy The Pakistan Naval Academy The Pakistan Naval Academy (formerly known as Pakistan Naval Station Rahbar (PNS Rahbar) is a four-year coeducational federal military academy located in Manora Island, Sindh Province, Pakistan...
at Abbottabad
Abbottabad
Abbottabad is a city located in the Hazara region of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, in Pakistan. The city is situated in the Orash Valley, northeast of the capital Islamabad and east of Peshawar at an altitude of and is the capital of the Abbottabad District...
and Karachi respectively prior to commissioning in December 1970 in the special operations branch. He was among one of the few naval officers who were selected for the training with Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
's Special Service Group, and his naval unit was sent to United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to conduct its excersize and training with U.S. Navy SEALs in 1969. After his training, he was transferred to the Special Service Group Navy
Special Service Group Navy
The Special Service Group Navy, codename SSG, are the Pakistan Navy's elite principal special operations naval force component. Together with the PAF 312th SS Wing, Special Service Group, Pakistan Marines, and Rangers, they form Pakistan Special Operations Command under the joint administrative...
, a Navy's special operations unit, as an elite commanding officer. He saw action in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military conflict between India and Pakistan. Indian, Bangladeshi and international sources consider the beginning of the war to be Operation Chengiz Khan, Pakistan's December 3, 1971 pre-emptive strike on 11 Indian airbases...
where he actively participated in the conflict. Previously had studied special war courses in Pakistan Military Academy, Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
Tahir was a platoon commander of the Special Service Group Navy
Special Service Group Navy
The Special Service Group Navy, codename SSG, are the Pakistan Navy's elite principal special operations naval force component. Together with the PAF 312th SS Wing, Special Service Group, Pakistan Marines, and Rangers, they form Pakistan Special Operations Command under the joint administrative...
(SSGN) where he commanded a small team of Navy commandos in East Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
against the Indian Army. Lt. Crdr. Tahir led 3 successful ground based naval operations along with the Army and gained a respective reputation in Special Service Group Navy. After the conflict, Lt.Cdr.
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
Tahir left the naval special forces and served on surface ships and minesweepers before opting to join Naval Aviation in March 1974. His tours of duty in Aviation Service took him twice to the United Kingdom for Basic Observer and Helicopter Warfare Instructor (HWI) courses.
In July 1985 he was promoted to the rank of Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
, to Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
in July 1992 and to Commodore
Commodore (rank)
Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
in 1998. In 1999, he again saw action in Indo-Pakistani War of 1999. In 2000, he was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
, to that of 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...
on 1 September 2004 when he was serving as the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (training and personnel) and to that of Admiral on 7 October 2005 and appointed as Chief of Naval Staff of the Pakistan Navy. He is a graduate of Joint Services Staff College, Chaklala and National Defence College
National Defence University, Islamabad
The National Defense University is an institution of higher education funded by the Ministry of Defence of Government of Pakistan, intended to facilitate high-level training, education, and the development of national security strategy...
, Islamabad
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
.
Appointments and honors
His staff appointments include deputy chief of naval staff (operations), deputy chief of naval staff (projects), chief staff officer to the Pakistan fleet commander and instructor at the Joint Services Staff College. His command assignments include the command of a guided missile destroyer and command of naval aviation. His last command appointment was as the commander of the Pakistan fleet (COMPAK). He is a recipient of the Sitara-i-ImtiazSitara-i-Imtiaz
The Sitara-i-Imtiaz , is the third highest honour and civilian award in the State of Pakistan. It recognizes the individuals who made an "especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of Pakistan, world peace, cultural or other significant public endeavors"...
and Hilal-i-Imtiaz
Hilal-i-Imtiaz
The Hilal-i-Imtiaz, English: Crescent of Excellence, Urdu: هلال ا متيا ز , is the second highest civilian award and honor given to both civilians and military officers of the State of Pakistan|Pakistan armed forces by the Government of Pakistan...
.
right|thumb|Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Mullen presents Pakistan Navy Chief of Naval Staff Adm. Afzal Tahir with the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
.]]