Ahmed Tasnim

Ahmad Tasnim (; born 1935) is a retired three-star rank admiral of the Pakistan Navy who is known for his command of Hangor, a submarine that sank INS Khukri on 8 December 1971 during Indo-Pakistani war of 1971, off the coast of Diu, India.

The sinking of INS Khukri was the first submarine kill since World War II, and the only one until a Royal Navy Conqueror sank an Argentinian cruiser (General Belgrano) during the Falklands War of the 1980s. In the 1990s, he was appointed chairman of the Karachi Port Trust and the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation while serving in the Navy until he retired in 1994.

Biography Early life and career in the Navy Tasnim was born to a Punjabi Muslim Arain family in the village of Mianwal, Jullunder, Punjab in British India, in 1935. In an interview, he stated that his ancestors "most likely came from Iran" and "took up agriculture as their livelihood" after settling in the "area".

Ghazi, under command of Cdr. KR Niazi, escorted the combined task group under Cdre. S.M. Anwar, the OTC, to where they would successfully raid a radar facility in Dwarka, India. The Indian squadron under Captain Mahendra Nath Mulla identified Hangor circa 3 December, and came forward to attack the submarine that was operating in shallow waters. Khukri sank before Hangor could make an attempt to save the survivors, resulting in 250 men (all on board) losing their lives including Cpt. Mahendra Nath Mulla.

In 1991, Vice-Admiral Tasnim was appointed Chairman of the National Shipping Corporation which he stayed in until 1992,

Retirement and defence analyst

In 2001, Admiral Tasnim refuted the Indian Navy's claim that they sunk Ghazi, stating that "the sub was lost due to an operational accident and Indians have never claimed it as such." Talking to Dawn, Tasnim was of the opinion that "the submarine had come for intelligence gathering purposes. Intelligence gathering is a common practice, but the skill is in not getting caught – like we did in our times." He is portrayed by Shahid Latif in the 2026 Indian film Border 2 which is based on different theatres of the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971, while the captain of INS Khukri is portrayed by Ahan Shetty.

Awards and decorations

Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military)

(Crescent of Excellence)Sitara-e-Jurat & Bar (Star of Courage)

1. 1965 War

2. 1971 WarSitara-e-Imtiaz (Military)

(Star of Excellence)Sitara-e-Basalat (Star of Good Conduct)Tamgha-e-Diffa (General Service Medal)

1. 1965 War Clasp

2. 1971 War ClaspSitara-e-Harb 1965 War (War Star 1965)Sitara-e-Harb 1971 War (War Star 1971)Tamgha-e-Jang 1965 War (War Medal 1965)Tamgha-e-Jang 1971 War Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam

(100th Birth Anniversary of

Muhammad Ali Jinnah)

1976Tamgha-e-Jamhuria (Republic Commemoration Medal)

1956Hijri Tamgha (Hijri Medal)

1979Jamhuriat Tamgha (Democracy Medal)

1988Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha (Resolution Day

Golden Jubilee Medal)

1990