Rear Admiral of the Pakistan Navy
Rear Admiral Rashid Ahmed (Urdu : رشيد احمد ; b. 1918–2005) SK TQA was a two-star rank admiral in the Pakistan Navy , who is known for serving as Chief of Staff under Commander in Chief Vice-Admiral Muzaffar Hassan and led the Navy during the fateful events in the war with India in 1971 .[1] [2]
Biography
Rashid Ahmed was born in British India and joined the Royal Indian Navy (RIN) in 1938 where he participated in the World War II in Burma' theatre . He was stationed in the Andaman and Nicobar Island , and served against the Imperial Japanese Navy in Burma in 1944–45 .[3] : 6–8
After the World War II , he was sent to attend the Britannia Royal Naval College in 1945–47, where he specialized in technical courses, and returned to India. At the time of his transfer to Pakistan Navy , he was serving in the Executive Branch with the rank of Lieutenant-Commander , with service number PN.12.[4] After the partition of India , he was sent to the United Kingdom to attend the Joint Service Defence College in 1949–51, and returned to take command assignment at the Navy NHQ in Karachi , at that time. In 1952–56, Lt.Cdr Ahmed served and later commanded the PNS Tariq and did a tour to Suez Canal before returning.[3] : 66
In 1960s, Captain Rashid Ahmed served was the DCNS (Operations) , and participated in the second war with India in 1965.[3] : 108 [5] In 1967–69, Commodore Ahmed briefly tenured as the managing-director of the National Shipping Corporation and subsequently left the post.[6] [7] In 1969, Rear-Admiral Rashid Ahmed was moved to Navy NHQ , and appointed as Chief of Staff under Commander in Chief Vice-Admiral Muzaffar Hassan .[8] In 1971, he visited China to hold talks in procuring defence equipments for the Navy, along with Lieutenant-General Gul Hassan Khan .[9]
As Chief of Staff, he led the Pakistan Navy during the fateful events in the against the Indian Navy , and after the signed surrender went into effect that marked the succession of East-Pakistan as Bangladesh , Rear-Admiral Ahmed was among the highest flag ranking officer, who were superseded by their juniors, for the command assignments.[10] In April 1972, Rear-Admiral Ahmed was forcefully retired from his service.[11] [12] [13] After his retirement, he worked for the National Shipping Corporation and the Pakistan State Oil as its managing-director in 1980s, and subsequently lived a quiet life in Islamabad , passing away in 2005.[14] [15]
References
^ Rai, Ranjit (1987). A Nation and Its Navy at War . Delhi, India: Lancer International. p. 52. ISBN 9788170620136 .
^ Jane, Frederick Thomas (1971). Jane's Fighting Ships . S. Low, Marston & Company. p. 249. Retrieved 14 August 2017 .
^ a b c Shah, Mian Zahir (2001). Bubbles of Water: Or, Anecdotes of the Pakistan Navy . Karachi, Pakistan: PN Book Club Publication. ISBN 9789698318031 . Retrieved 14 August 2017 .
^ Kazi, AGN (11 January 2011). "The first few executive officers transferred to the Pakistan Navy on Partition" . Flickr . Kazi. Retrieved 14 August 2017 .
^ Jane, Frederick Thomas; Prendergast, Maurice Brazil; Parkes, Oscar (1961). Jane's Fighting Ships . Jane's Publishing Company Limited. p. 177. Retrieved 14 August 2017 .
^ International Shipping & Shipbuilding Directory . Benn Brothers Limited. 1966. p. 261.
^ Port of Karachi Magazine . Labour Welfare Department, Karachi Port Trust. 1968. p. 39. Retrieved 14 August 2017 .
^ Anwar, PN, Commodore Dr Muhammad (2006). Stolen Stripes and Broken Medals: Autobiography of a Senior Naval Officer . Karachi, Pakistan: Author House. p. 1968. ISBN 9781467010566 . Retrieved 14 August 2017 .
^ Akhtar, Haq Nawaz (2007). If truth be told: an alternative history of Pakistan . Karachi, Pakistan: Sang-i Meel Publications. pp. 190–208. ISBN 9789693519518 . Retrieved 14 August 2017 .
^ Hussain, Syed Shabbir (2000). Ayub, Bhutto, and Zia: How They Fell Victim to Their Own Plans . Karachi: Sang-e-Meel Publications. p. 180. ISBN 9789693510805 . Retrieved 14 August 2017 .
^ Rizvi, H. (2000). "Civilian interlude" . Military, State and Society in Pakistan (1st ed.). Islamabad, Pakistan: Springer. p. 144. ISBN 9780230599048 . Retrieved 14 August 2017 .
^ Jafri, Maqsood (2008). The Ideals of Bhutto . p. 92.
^ InpaperMagazine, From (8 July 2012). "A leaf from history: Reshuffle in the armed forces" . Dawn . Pakistan. Retrieved 14 August 2017 .
^ Buch, Muhammad Yusuf; Jalal, Hamid (1977). Pakistan: Past & Present : a Comprehensive Study Published in Commemoration of the Centenary of the Birth of the Founder of Pakistan . Stacey. p. 7. ISBN 9780950330495 . Retrieved 14 August 2017 .
^ The Whole World Oil Directory . Whole World Publishing, Incorporated. 1986. p. 198.