Afzal Rahman Khan

Afzal Rahman Khan (20 March 1921 – 27 June 1983) better known as A. R. Khan, was a Pakistani former three-star rank naval officer who served as the third Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Navy from 1959 until 1966. He is noted for being the longest serving chief and was responsible for launching the submarine program in the navy.

After his service in the navy, he served in President Ayub Khan's administration simultaneously as Interior Minister and Defence Minister. He left office shortly after General Yahya Khan succeeded Ayub Khan as President.

Commissioned in the Royal Indian Navy in 1940, Khan earned notability and prestige when he commanded the Pakistan Navy against Indian Navy during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.

Early life and education Afzal Rahman Khan was born into a Pashtun family of agriculturalists in the village of Kala Afgana in the Gurdaspur District on 21 March 1921. His parents were Abdur Rahman Khan and Aziz Bibi Khan.

He received his early education in his village and was later educated at Baring High School, Batala, and Government College, Lahore. He was also trained in naval artillery at HMS EXCELLENT in the United Kingdom

He studied at the Staff College, Quetta from December 1945 to April 1946 and graduated with a staff course degree. During this time, he was contemporary to Gopal Gurunath Bewoor , Iqbal Khan and Abdul Hamid Khan– all became generals in Indian and Pakistan Army. He was the third most senior Lieutenant in the navy in terms of seniority list provided by the Royal Indian Navy to the Ministry of Defense (MoD) in 1947. In 1950, he was promoted as Commander and commanded the Tippu Sultan and sailed on a goodwill mission to Middle East and Eastern Europe; he visited Jeddah, Malta, Venice, Athens, Istanbul, İzmir and Crete. Rear Admiral A. R. Khan took command of the navy on 1 March 1959 and was promoted to Vice Admiral on 26 December 1961. He oversaw the planning of and execution of the naval operation to attack the Indian Navy which earned him the prestige in the country.

In August 1965, Admiral A. R. Khan succeeded Air Marshal Asghar Khan as Pakistan's Military Adviser to SEATO. He served in ministerial post until 1969 when President Ayub Khan resigned and handed over the presidency to his Army Commander-in-Chief General Yahya Khan who suspended the Constitution.

After his resignation, Khan moved to Islamabad and lived a quiet life.