Afzal Tahir

Muhammad Afzal Tahir ( ; b. 4 January 1949 ) was a Pakistan Navy admiral, writer, and the military historian currently serving in the faculty at the Naval War College of Pakistan Navy.

Admiral Tahir tenured as the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) of Pakistan Navy from 7 October 2005 until retiring from his military service on 7 October 2008. Upon the announcement to the four-star appointment in 2005, he superseded Vice-Admiral Mohammad Haroon who continued to serve under him as Vice-Chief of Naval Staff and was succeeded by newly appointed Admiral Noman Bashir in October 2008.

Biography Family background and naval career

Muhammad Afzal Tahir was born on 4 January 1949 in Lyallpur (now Faisalabad), Punjab, Pakistan to a Punjabi family who belonged to the Arain tribe. His father was a civil servant in the British Indian government who worked as an administrative officer in the Kapurthala State before the partition of India in 1947. He is the graduate in the class of 40th PMA Long Course and promoted as sub-lieutenant upon his graduation. He did his sea training at the Pakistan Naval Academy in Karachi prior to being promoted as lieutenant in the Navy and inducted in Operations Branch. Together with Admiral Shahid Karimullah, he lobbied for notably acquiring the second-strike nuclear capability and reportedly marked: Pakistan navy would soon have "a qualitative edge over a numerically superior enemy" meaning archrival India."

In 2002, Rear-Admiral Tahir was later moved as DCNS (Projects) but later assumed the command of the fleet vessel as Commander Pakistan Fleet (COMPAK), also the same year. In 2003, he was promoted to three-star rank, Vice-Admiral, and moved to the Navy NHQ as DCNS (Personnel).

Admiral Tahir superseded Vice-Admiral Mohammad Haroon who was serving as chief of staff under Admiral Karimullah and was senior to Admiral Tahir. In October 2005, Admiral Tahir assumed the command of the Navy and had Vice-Admiral Haroon to serve on his capacity until retiring from his service.

Personal life Tahir is a keen sportsman and single-handicap golfer. He belongs to an Arain agriculturalist family of Punjab. He has married twice, and has three daughters and two sons.

Awards and decorations

Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military)

(Order of Excellence)Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military)

(Crescent of Excellence)Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military)

(Star of Excellence)Sitara-e-Harb 1971 War (War Star 1971)Tamgha-e-Jang 1971 War (War Medal 1971)Tamgha-e-Baqa

(Nuclear Test Medal)

1998Tamgha-e-Istaqlal Pakistan (Escalation with India Medal)

Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam

(100th Birth Anniversary of

Muhammad Ali Jinnah)

1976Hijri Tamgha (Hijri Medal)

1979Jamhuriat Tamgha (Democracy Medal)

1988Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha (Resolution Day

Golden Jubilee Medal)

1990Tamgha-e-Salgirah Pakistan (Independence Day

Golden Jubilee Medal)

1997The Legion of Merit

(Degree of Commander)

(United States)Order of King Abdul Aziz (1st Class)

(Saudi Arabia)Turkish

Legion of Merit' (Turkey)'

Foreign Decorations Foreign AwardsThe Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander)Order of King Abdul Aziz (1st Class)Turkish Legion of Merit