Karamat Rahman Niazi
Encyclopedia
Admiral
Karamat Rahman Niazi, NI(M), SJ
, HI(M), (usually shortened to K.R. Niazi) is a retired senior four-star naval officer who served as a Chief of Naval Staff (CNS)
of Pakistan Navy
from 1979 to 1983. A submariner by profession, Admiral Niazi took over the command of Pakistan Navy
on March 22, 1979 from another four-star Admiral Mohammad Shariff
, after Admiral Mohammad Shariff became Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee
(JCSC).
who was born in Karachi, British Indian Empire. He joined the Pakistan Navy
in 1952, and was accepted to Britannia Royal Naval College
in Great Britain
. After graduation he was commissioned in the Pakistan Navy as Midshipman
in 1956, after Pakistan became a republic. At first he served in the Naval Operations Branch of the Pakistan Navy. He progressed through the ranks and, in 1964, he was promoted to the rank of Commander
. On 1 June 1964, when PNS Ghazi
was commissioned into the Pakistan Navy, Niazi was the first Commanding officer of the first submarine of the Pakistan Navy. He was then inducted into a newly created squadron of the Pakistan Navy, the Submarine Service Branch.
, in which PNS Ghazi had to provide escort duties to the Pakistan Naval Fleet. After Operation Dwarka, PNS Ghazi continued to patrol off the Kutch area. It tracked passive sonar contacts and identified warships.
The contacts were picked up from Bombay proceeding up the Kutch Coast. Despite pressure from his crew, Cdr. Niaz chose not to launch attacks on light warships as he was under orders only to attack heavy vessels. On September 22, at 19:11 hours, Crdr. Niazi ordered the PNS Ghazi's torpedo crew to attach an ASW
frigate of the Indian Navy. PNS Ghazi descended to 200 feet and rigged for deep submergence. At 20:30 hours, PNS Ghazi fired its first torpedo which was followed by a loud explosion, followed five seconds later by another torpedo.
On 22 September 1965, PNS Ghazi cleared the Pakistan Navy's controlled area, and without any engagement with Indian Navy, PNS Ghazi safely returned to its base on 23 September.
In 1965, Commander K.R. Niazi received the third highest award
Sitara-e-Jurat
, which was awarded to him after 1965 Indo-Pakistan War when he commanded the submarine Ghazi
during the successful Operation Dwarka
, for which his crew won 10 gallantry awards including 2 SJs and 2 TJs. He was also promoted to Captain
in the Navy and was shifted in the Naval Headquarters as a staff officer.
Niazi was sent to the Karachi Naval Base (known as COMKAR) as a staff officer, but he was given promotion and made Commodore
. During the 1971 Winter War
, he was made Rear-Admiral, in emergence, and was made the Officer-in-Command of the Submarine Service Branch of Pakistan Navy. Later, he was stationed at the COMWEST (Commander WEST) where he commanded the Ormara Naval Base as Rear-Admiral.
(Military), which is awarded to all the services chiefs upon taking over their respective commands.
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"...
Karamat Rahman Niazi, NI(M), SJ
Sitara-e-Jurat
Sitara-e-Jurat is the third highest military award of Pakistan. It was established in 1957 after Pakistan became a Republic; however, it was instituted retrospectively back to 1947...
, HI(M), (usually shortened to K.R. Niazi) is a retired senior four-star naval officer who served as a 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 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...
from 1979 to 1983. A submariner by profession, Admiral Niazi took over the command 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...
on March 22, 1979 from another four-star Admiral Mohammad Shariff
Mohammad Shariff
Admiral Mohammad Shariff, , , is a retired four-star naval officer and a career war veteran. Admiral Mohammad Shariff took over the command of Pakistan Navy on 21 March, 1979, when a three-star vice-admiral, Hasan Hafeez Ahmed, died in office...
, after Admiral Mohammad Shariff became Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee
Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Pakistan
The Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee , is a military administrative body of high-ranking and senior uniformed military leaders and officers in the Pakistan Defense Forces who advises the civilian Government of Pakistan, National Security Council, and Defence Minister on important military matters...
(JCSC).
Naval career
Niazi is an ethnic PashtunPashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
who was born in Karachi, British Indian Empire. 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...
in 1952, and was accepted to Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College is the initial officer training establishment of the Royal Navy, located on a hill overlooking Dartmouth, Devon, England. While Royal Naval officer training has taken place in the town since 1863, the buildings which are seen today were only finished in 1905, and...
in 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...
. After graduation he was commissioned in the Pakistan Navy 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 1956, after Pakistan became a republic. At first he served in the Naval Operations Branch of the Pakistan Navy. He progressed through the ranks and, in 1964, 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...
. On 1 June 1964, when PNS Ghazi
PNS Ghazi
PNS Ghazi was Pakistan Navy 's first ever submarine, leased from United States in 1963. It saw action in the 1965 and 1971 wars between India and Pakistan. The submarine could be armed with up to 28 torpedoes and, in later years, was re-fitted in Turkey for mine-laying capability...
was commissioned into the Pakistan Navy, Niazi was the first Commanding officer of the first submarine of the Pakistan Navy. He was then inducted into a newly created squadron of the Pakistan Navy, the Submarine Service Branch.
Operation Dwarka
On 2 September, 1965, PNS Ghazi was deployed off Bombay, India, under the command of Commander Niazi. Having Pakistan's only submarine, Commander Niazi was ordered to remain off Bombay and to attack the heavy units of the Indian Navy who were close to Karachi port. On September 5, PNS Ghazi was in position to attack Indian vessels. However, no further engagements between the Pakistani and Indian Navies occurred. On September 7, 1965, the Pakistan Navy launched Operation DwarkaOperation Dwarka
Operation Dwarka, also known as "Operation Somnath", was a naval operation commenced by the Pakistan Navy to attack the Indian coastal town of Dwarka on 7 September 1965. This was the first use of Pakistan Navy in any of the Indo-Pakistan Wars...
, in which PNS Ghazi had to provide escort duties to the Pakistan Naval Fleet. After Operation Dwarka, PNS Ghazi continued to patrol off the Kutch area. It tracked passive sonar contacts and identified warships.
The contacts were picked up from Bombay proceeding up the Kutch Coast. Despite pressure from his crew, Cdr. Niaz chose not to launch attacks on light warships as he was under orders only to attack heavy vessels. On September 22, at 19:11 hours, Crdr. Niazi ordered the PNS Ghazi's torpedo crew to attach an ASW
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
frigate of the Indian Navy. PNS Ghazi descended to 200 feet and rigged for deep submergence. At 20:30 hours, PNS Ghazi fired its first torpedo which was followed by a loud explosion, followed five seconds later by another torpedo.
On 22 September 1965, PNS Ghazi cleared the Pakistan Navy's controlled area, and without any engagement with Indian Navy, PNS Ghazi safely returned to its base on 23 September.
In 1965, Commander K.R. Niazi received the third highest award
Awards and decorations of the Pakistan military
The awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces recognize a service member's service and personal accomplishments while a member of the Pakistan armed forces...
Sitara-e-Jurat
Sitara-e-Jurat
Sitara-e-Jurat is the third highest military award of Pakistan. It was established in 1957 after Pakistan became a Republic; however, it was instituted retrospectively back to 1947...
, which was awarded to him after 1965 Indo-Pakistan War when he commanded the submarine Ghazi
PNS Ghazi
PNS Ghazi was Pakistan Navy 's first ever submarine, leased from United States in 1963. It saw action in the 1965 and 1971 wars between India and Pakistan. The submarine could be armed with up to 28 torpedoes and, in later years, was re-fitted in Turkey for mine-laying capability...
during the successful Operation Dwarka
Operation Dwarka
Operation Dwarka, also known as "Operation Somnath", was a naval operation commenced by the Pakistan Navy to attack the Indian coastal town of Dwarka on 7 September 1965. This was the first use of Pakistan Navy in any of the Indo-Pakistan Wars...
, for which his crew won 10 gallantry awards including 2 SJs and 2 TJs. He was also promoted 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 the Navy and was shifted in the Naval Headquarters as a staff officer.
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
After the war, CaptainCaptain (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....
Niazi was sent to the Karachi Naval Base (known as COMKAR) as a staff officer, but he was given promotion and made 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...
. During the 1971 Winter War
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...
, he was made Rear-Admiral, in emergence, and was made the Officer-in-Command of the Submarine Service Branch of Pakistan Navy. Later, he was stationed at the COMWEST (Commander WEST) where he commanded the Ormara Naval Base as Rear-Admiral.
Chief of Naval Staff
After the war, he quickly rose through the ranks and was promoted to three-star vice-admiral and made Vice Chief of Naval Staff. In 1979, he was promoted to four-star rank and appointed as Chief of Naval Staff. He commanded Pthe akistan Navy from 22 March 1979 until 23 March 1983. In 1978, he was awarded Nishan-i-ImtiazNishan-i-Imtiaz
The Nishan-i-Imtiaz is one of the state organized civil decorations of State of Pakistan. It is the highest honor — along with comparable to optimum award Nishan-e-Pakistan — given to any civilian in Pakistan based on their achievements that caused the world recognition for Pakistan or/ done a...
(Military), which is awarded to all the services chiefs upon taking over their respective commands.