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Rashid Ahmed

Rear Admiral

Rashid Ahmed
Born1918 (1918)
British India
Died2005 (aged 86–87)
Allegiance Pakistan
Service / branch Royal Indian Navy
(1941–47)
Pakistan Navy
(1947–72)
Years of service1938–1972
Rank Rear Admiral
Service numberPN. 12
UnitExecutive Branch
CommandsChief of Staff, Pakistan Navy
National Shipping Corporation
DCNS (Operations)
Battles / warsWorld War II
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Awards Sitara-i-Khidmat
Tamgha-e-Pakistan

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

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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

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  1. ^ Rai, Ranjit (1987). A Nation and Its Navy at War. Delhi, India: Lancer International. p. 52. ISBN 9788170620136.
  2. ^ Jane, Frederick Thomas (1971). Jane's Fighting Ships. S. Low, Marston & Company. p. 249. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Kazi, AGN (11 January 2011). "The first few executive officers transferred to the Pakistan Navy on Partition". Flickr. Kazi. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  5. ^ Jane, Frederick Thomas; Prendergast, Maurice Brazil; Parkes, Oscar (1961). Jane's Fighting Ships. Jane's Publishing Company Limited. p. 177. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  6. ^ International Shipping & Shipbuilding Directory. Benn Brothers Limited. 1966. p. 261.
  7. ^ Port of Karachi Magazine. Labour Welfare Department, Karachi Port Trust. 1968. p. 39. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Rizvi, H. (2000). "Civilian interlude". Military, State and Society in Pakistan (1st ed.). Islamabad, Pakistan: Springer. p. 144. ISBN 9780230599048. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  12. ^ Jafri, Maqsood (2008). The Ideals of Bhutto. p. 92.
  13. ^ InpaperMagazine, From (8 July 2012). "A leaf from history: Reshuffle in the armed forces". Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ The Whole World Oil Directory. Whole World Publishing, Incorporated. 1986. p. 198.