Afzal Rahman Khan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vice Admiral
Afzal Rahman Khan
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Vice-Admiral Afzal Rahman Khan Vardak (1921–1983)
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| Minister of Defense | |
| In office 12 October 1966 – 5 April 1969 |
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| President | Ayub Khan |
| Preceded by | Ayub Khan |
| Succeeded by | General Yahya Khan |
| Minister of Interior | |
| In office 5 December 1966 – 25 March 1969 |
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| Preceded by | Chaudhry Ali Akbar Khan |
| Succeeded by | Lt.Gen. A. H. Khan |
| Navy Commander in Chief | |
| In office 1 March 1959 – 20 October 1966 |
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| Preceded by | VAdm H.M.S Chaudhrie |
| Succeeded by | VAdm Syed Mohammad Ahsan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Afzal Akram Rahman Khan
1921 Gurdaspur district, Punjab Province, British India (now in Punjab, India) |
| Died | 1983 (aged 61–62) Islamabad, Pakistan |
| Citizenship |  British India Pakistan |
| Nationality | British Indian (1921–1947) Pakistani (1947–1983) |
| Political party | Independent |
| Alma mater | Rashtriya Indian Military College Command and Staff College |
| Civilian awards |  Hilal-i-Quaid-e-Azam Hilal-e-Pakistan |
| Nickname | Gunnery |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  Royal Indian Navy (1935–1947) Pakistan Navy (1947–66) |
| Years of service | 1939–69 |
| Rank |   Vice-Admiral |
| Unit | Naval Executive Branch |
| Commands | Commander Pakistan Fleet Commander Logistics CO PNS Tariq and PNS Tippu Sultan |
| Battles/wars | World War II Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
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| Military awards |  Hilal-e-Jurat |
Vice-Admiral Afzal Akram Rahman Khan (born 1921— died 1983), often known as Admiral A. R. Khan, was a very important Pakistani Navy officer and politician. He served as the Commander in Chief of the Pakistan Navy from 1959 to 1966 under President Ayub Khan. He was the longest-serving navy chief and played a key role in starting Pakistan's submarine program.
Later, he also worked as the Interior Minister and Defence Minister at the same time in President Ayub Khan's government. He left these roles in 1969 when General Yahya Khan took over and declared martial law.
Khan first joined the Royal Indian Navy in 1938. He didn't fight in the 1947 war between India and Pakistan. However, he became famous for leading the Pakistan Navy during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.
Contents
Afzal Akram Rahman Khan was born in 1921 in British India. Not much is known about his very early life. Like many officers of his time, he studied at the Rashtriya Indian Military College in Dehradun. In 1938, he became a Midshipman in the Royal Indian Navy. A midshipman is a junior officer in training.
He also trained as a naval artillery expert in the United Kingdom. During World War II, he served for Great Britain. After the war, he continued his studies at the Pakistan Command and Staff College in 1945. He finished his staff course in 1946.
When British India was divided in 1947, Khan chose to join Pakistan. He was serving on a ship called HMS Duke of York at the time. He didn't fight in the first war with India in 1947. Instead, he commanded a destroyer ship. His job was to help move Indian people who were moving to Pakistan.
He was one of the first 20 naval officers to join the new Royal Pakistan Navy. He started as a Lieutenant. He was one of the most senior lieutenants in the new navy.
Rising Through the Ranks
In 1949, Afzal Rahman Khan was promoted to Lieutenant-Commander. He became the commanding officer of the PNS Tariq. This was Pakistan's first destroyer ship. In 1950, he was promoted again to Commander. He then commanded the PNS Tippu Sultan. He sailed this ship on a friendly visit to the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
In 1951, he took part in a large naval exercise called Task Force 91. This exercise happened in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, with the British, Indian, and Sri Lankan navies. His career continued to grow. He helped set up the Naval Intelligence (NI) department. He also helped create the Karachi Naval Dockyard, which is a place where navy ships are built and repaired.
In 1959, Afzal Rahman Khan was chosen to be the Commander in Chief of the Pakistan Navy. This is the top leader of the navy. Before this, he was a Rear-Admiral, a two-star rank. He had also led the Pakistan Fleet and Logistics commands in Karachi.
As Commander in Chief, he brought submarines into the navy in the 1960s. Because of this, many people call him the "father of the submarine force" for the Pakistan Navy.
Role in the 1965 War
He became well-known to the public during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. He led the Pakistan Navy during this war. He helped plan and carry out a naval attack called Operation Dwarka against the Indian Navy. This operation brought him great respect in the country.
After the war, President Ayub Khan honored him with the Hilal-i-Jurat award. He served as navy chief for a long time because his term was extended multiple times. This made him the longest-serving navy chief in Pakistan's history.
Political Career and Retirement
Afzal Rahman Khan was close to President Ayub Khan. In 1966, while still an active admiral, President Ayub Khan appointed him as the Defence Minister and Interior Minister.
In 1969, there were protests and riots in East Pakistan. Vice-Admiral Rahman told reporters that the country was in chaos. He said the police were not strong enough to handle the situation. He served as a minister until 1969. That year, President Ayub Khan resigned. General Yahya Khan took over and declared martial law, which meant the military took control.
As a protest against the martial law, Vice-Admiral A.R. Khan resigned from his government roles on March 25, 1969. After his resignation, he left politics. He moved to Islamabad in 1969 and lived a quiet, private life. He did not comment on the war with India in 1971.
In 1987, the Pakistan Navy honored him by naming a naval base after him. This base, called PNS Akram, is an important operating base for the navy.
Afzal Rahman Khan avoided the media and lived on a military pension. He passed away in Islamabad in 1983. His death was not widely reported, and he was buried quietly in Islamabad with only close family present.
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Vice-Admiral Afzal Rahman Khan
