Shahid Karimullah
Encyclopedia
Admiral
Shahid Karimullah, TI(M), SI(M), HI(M), NI(M), SJ, L'd'H
LM
, is the former four-star naval officer who, as Chief of Naval Staff (CNS)
, 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 Arabia
from October 2005 to May 2009. On both the occasions, Karimullah was preceded by Admiral Abdul Aziz Mirza
.
Mohammed Karimullah. He was commissioned in Pakistan Navy
's operations branch in 1968 after undergoing training as a communication specialist. Admiral Shahid Karimullah is a graduate of the United States Naval War College
, and Pakistan National Defence College
.
Karimullah was selected for the Special Service Group Navy
and had commanded a small team of SSGN in the conflict. He fought the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 while commanding a gunboat in erstwhile East Pakistan
where he was seriously wounded in action and awarded Sitara-i-Jurat for exceptional gallantry.
His major staff appointments include Additional Secretary at Ministry of Defence, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Operations) and Director Signals at the Naval Headquarters. He has also served as Chief Staff Officer to the Commander Pakistan Fleet and Directing Staff at the National Defence College. He was promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral while holding the appointment of Commander Pakistan Fleet (COMPAK).
Afzal Tahir
as the naval chief when he was due to retire in 2005. Karimullah himself replaced the former naval chief Admiral Abdul Aziz Mirza
when he took over as Pakistani ambassador to Saudi Arabia in 2005. He vacated the ambassadorship in May 2009.
Besides, Sitara-i-Jurat, Karimullah is a recipient of Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military), Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military), and Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military). In addition, he was decorated with French Légion d'honneur
(Legion of Honour) on 13 July 2005 "for promoting Pakistan-French naval collaboration in various fields at different posts he held during his service career, including induction of French submarines and aircraft in Pakistan Navy."
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"...
Shahid Karimullah, TI(M), SI(M), HI(M), NI(M), SJ, L'd'H
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
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...
, is the former four-star naval officer who, as 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...
, commanded 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 2002 to 2005. He is one of the most decorated military officer of the Pakistan Defense Forces who later served as Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
's ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
from October 2005 to May 2009. On both the occasions, Karimullah was preceded by Admiral Abdul Aziz Mirza
Abdul Aziz Mirza
Admiral Abdul Aziz Mirza is a now-retired 4-star rank naval officer who was the 15th Chief of Naval Staff of Pakistan Navy from 1999 to 2002, and is served as Pakistan's ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 2002 to 2005. Admiral Mirza is one of the Pakistan Defense Force's Naval officer who...
.
Naval career
Admiral Karimullah's family belongs to Hyderabad Deccan and he is a son of (late) Lieutenant CommanderLieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
Mohammed Karimullah. He was commissioned in 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...
's operations branch in 1968 after undergoing training as a communication specialist. Admiral Shahid Karimullah is a graduate of the United States Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
, and Pakistan 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...
.
Command and staff appointments
Admiral Karimullah commanded two destroyers, the 25th Destroyer Squadron and the Pakistan Fleet. LieutenantLieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
Karimullah was selected for 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...
and had commanded a small team of SSGN in the conflict. He fought the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 while commanding a gunboat in erstwhile 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...
where he was seriously wounded in action and awarded Sitara-i-Jurat for exceptional gallantry.
His major staff appointments include Additional Secretary at Ministry of Defence, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Operations) and Director Signals at the Naval Headquarters. He has also served as Chief Staff Officer to the Commander Pakistan Fleet and Directing Staff at the National Defence College. He was promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral while holding the appointment of Commander Pakistan Fleet (COMPAK).
Chief of Naval Staff
Upon ascension to Chief of Naval Staff in 2002, Karimullah superseded at least one senior officer Vice Admiral Taj Muhammad Khattak who was the Vice Chief of Naval Staff (VCNS). He was replaced by AdmiralAdmiral
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"...
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...
as the naval chief when he was due to retire in 2005. Karimullah himself replaced the former naval chief Admiral Abdul Aziz Mirza
Abdul Aziz Mirza
Admiral Abdul Aziz Mirza is a now-retired 4-star rank naval officer who was the 15th Chief of Naval Staff of Pakistan Navy from 1999 to 2002, and is served as Pakistan's ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 2002 to 2005. Admiral Mirza is one of the Pakistan Defense Force's Naval officer who...
when he took over as Pakistani ambassador to Saudi Arabia in 2005. He vacated the ambassadorship in May 2009.
Besides, Sitara-i-Jurat, Karimullah is a recipient of Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military), Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military), and Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military). In addition, he was decorated with French Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
(Legion of Honour) on 13 July 2005 "for promoting Pakistan-French naval collaboration in various fields at different posts he held during his service career, including induction of French submarines and aircraft in Pakistan Navy."