Noman Bashir
Encyclopedia
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. A distinguished and one of the most-decorated naval officer, Admiral Bashir was appointed to that post by President Asif Ali Zardari
on 5 October 2008, after his and the then Chief of Staff (COS) Vice Admiral Asaf Humayun's names were sent to the President by the Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar. As Humayun was senior to Bashir, the former was superseded. Later however, Vice Admiral Asaf Humayun was appointed as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff (VCNS) on 31 October 2008.
His brother, Salman Bashir
, is the current Foreign Secretary
at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
.
, Islamabad and Royal College of Defence Studies
, United Kingdom.
At RCDS, his paper "Afghanistan and the 'New Great Game'" was shortlisted in the Seaford House Papers 2000. In it he has claimed that the Afghan Taliban are "inward rather than outward looking" and "they have also signalled readiness to engage constructively with the international community." Moreover, he says that "keeping Afghanistan broken and destabilized suits those who do not want the Caspian/Central Asian oil and gas pipelines to take one of the shortest and economical outlets over Afghanistan and Pakistan to the Arabian Sea
."
as the General Manager (Operations).
Admiral Noman Bashir is the second high-ranking military officer in Pakistan Navy. Pakistan government
had sent the proposal to appoint General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani
as the additional office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee
. Pakistani media then reported since Admiral Bashir is the most senior officer, Admiral Bashir would likely to become the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. However, General Khalid Shameem Wynne
was the most-general in the Pakistan Armed Forces, as his chances to became Chief of Army Staff was diminished. On the advice of General Kayani, General Khalid Shameem Wynne was promoted to four-star rank and assumed the Chairmanship of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.
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"...
Noman Bashir, (NI(M), TI(MI, SI(M), HI(M), LM
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...
) was a 4-star
4 star rank
Four-star rank is a term used to describe a very senior commander in many of the armed services holding a rank described by the NATO OF-9 code. The term is also used by some armed forces which are not NATO members...
rank Admiral who served as the 18th 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...
, 7 October 2008 when Admiral Afzal Tahir
Afzal Tahir
Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir, NI, is the former Chief of Naval Staff 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...
retired from the navy, until 07 October 2011. A distinguished and one of the most-decorated naval officer, Admiral Bashir was appointed to that post by President Asif Ali Zardari
Asif Ali Zardari
Asif Ali Zardari is the 11th and current President of Pakistan and the Co-Chairman of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party . He is also the widower of Benazir Bhutto, who served two nonconsecutive terms as Prime Minister....
on 5 October 2008, after his and the then Chief of Staff (COS) Vice Admiral Asaf Humayun's names were sent to the President by the Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar. As Humayun was senior to Bashir, the former was superseded. Later however, Vice Admiral Asaf Humayun was appointed as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff (VCNS) on 31 October 2008.
His brother, Salman Bashir
Salman Bashir
Salman Bashir is a Pakistani diplomat and the current Foreign Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 26 April, 2008. Bashir did his masters in History and LLB before joining the Foreign Service of Pakistan in February 1976...
, is the current Foreign Secretary
Foreign Secretary of Pakistan
The Foreign Secretaries of Pakistan is the bureaucratic head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Secretary, as in all other ministries of Government of Pakistan, works under the Minister who is the member of National Assembly...
at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Pakistan)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also known as Foreign Ministry, is a Government of Pakistan's federal and executive Ministry which is responsible for international and Foreign Affairs. The ministry was created in 1947, and was one of the first ministries to be established...
.
Naval career
Noman Bashir was commissioned in operations branch of Pakistan Navy in June 1973. After completing sea training, he served on board various ships and then joined the aviation wing to be graduated as a helicopter pilot. He has commanded two aviation squadrons, two ships (frigate and corvette) and the Naval Aviation. He is a graduate of Joint Services Staff College, Chaklala, National Defence CollegeNational 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 and Royal College of Defence Studies
Royal College of Defence Studies
The Royal College of Defence Studies is an internationally-renowned institution and component of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom...
, United Kingdom.
At RCDS, his paper "Afghanistan and the 'New Great Game'" was shortlisted in the Seaford House Papers 2000. In it he has claimed that the Afghan Taliban are "inward rather than outward looking" and "they have also signalled readiness to engage constructively with the international community." Moreover, he says that "keeping Afghanistan broken and destabilized suits those who do not want the Caspian/Central Asian oil and gas pipelines to take one of the shortest and economical outlets over Afghanistan and Pakistan to the Arabian Sea
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...
."
Senior appointments
Noman Bashir has served on staff appointment at Naval Headquarters as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Operations), Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Training), Director Naval Intelligence and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Projects-II). He has also served as Commodore Training Ashore, Senior Pakistan Armed Forces Officer in the Sultanate of Oman and did a tenure in Karachi Port TrustKarachi Port Trust
Karachi Port Trust is a Pakistani federal government agency that oversees the operations of the Port of Karachi in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.-History:...
as the General Manager (Operations).
Chief of Naval Staff
Bashir was promoted to Rear-Admiral on 4 July 2003 when he was serving as the Commander of Naval Aviation. He was then promoted to Vice Admiral on 19 July 2007 while serving as the commander of the Pakistan fleet. He was later posted as the commander Karachi (COMKAR), from where he was elevated to the post of Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) on 5 October 2008.Admiral Noman Bashir is the second high-ranking military officer in Pakistan Navy. Pakistan government
Government of Pakistan
The Government of Pakistan is a federal parliamentary system, with an indirectly-elected President as the Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Pakistani Armed Forces, and an indirectly-elected Prime Minister as the Head of Government. The President’s appointment and term are...
had sent the proposal to appoint General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani
Ashfaq Parvez Kayani
General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, NI, HI is a four-star general in the Pakistan Army, and the current Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army. He replaced General Pervez Musharraf as the Chief of Army Staff and the commandant of the army on November 29, 2007...
as the additional office of the Chairman 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...
. Pakistani media then reported since Admiral Bashir is the most senior officer, Admiral Bashir would likely to become the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. However, General Khalid Shameem Wynne
Khalid Shameem Wynne
General Khalid Shameem Wynne, PA, NI, afwc, fsc, psc, , is a four-star general in the Pakistan Army and the current and 14th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. The official statement noted that "Gen...
was the most-general in the Pakistan Armed Forces, as his chances to became Chief of Army Staff was diminished. On the advice of General Kayani, General Khalid Shameem Wynne was promoted to four-star rank and assumed the Chairmanship of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.