Taj Muhammad Khattal
Chairman of the Port Qasim Authority
In office
26 November 2002 – 4 November 2005
Preceded byRAdm S.V. Naqvi
Succeeded byRAdm Saleem Ahmed Mennai
Personal details
Born
Taj Muhammad Khattak

(1948-02-20) 20 February 1948
Montgomery, Punjab, Pakistan
(Now in Sahiwal)
Citizenship Pakistan
Alma materNational Defence University
NicknameTM Khattak
Military service
Allegiance Pakistan
Branch/service Pakistan Navy
Years of service1965-2005
Rank Vice-Admiral
(S/No. PN 1128)[1]
UnitNaval Operations Branch
CommandsVice Chief of Naval Staff
Commander Pakistan Fleet
DCNS (Personnel/Materials)
Flag Officer Sea Training
Battles/warsIndo-Pakistani War of 1965
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Bangladesh Liberation War
Indo-Pakistani Standoff 2001
Awards Hilal-e-Imtiaz
Sitara-e-Imtiaz
Tamgha-e-Imtiaz
Sitara-i-Jurat
Sword of Honour

Vice-Admiral Taj Muhammad Khattak (Urdu:تاج محمد خٹک; b. 20 February 1948), HI(M). SI(M), SJ, is a retired three-star rank admiral in the Pakistan Navy and a defence analyst, writing columns in the political correspondent, News International.[2]

In addition, he also served as chairman of the Port Qasim Authority from 2002 until 2005, while serving in active duty with the Navy.[3]

Biography

Taj Muhammad Khattak was born in Montgomery, now Sahiwal, Punjab in Pakistan into a Punjabi-Pathan family on 20 February 1948.: 881 [4] After his matriculation, he attended the Cadet College in Hasan Abdal and joined the Pakistan Navy in 1965 as Sub-Lieutenant.[5]

He participated well in the second war with India in 1965, and went to train with the Royal Navy to complete his military training, specializing in navigation.: 881 [4] In 1969, the Military Academy in Kakul awarded him the Sword of Honour for the best graduates of the academy.: 881 [4]

In 1969–70, Lt Khattak was posted in East-Pakistan, joining the crew of PNS Jessor, a gunboat, and served in the Naaf River that located in the East Pakistan–Burma border.[6] He participated in the military operation in Barisal, and notably securing the Biharis who were loyal to Pakistan.[6]

In 1971, Lt. Khattak became the commanding officer of the PNS Jessor, the gunboat, serving and fighting in the Khulna-Mangla-Barisal sector during the civil war in East Pakistan.[6] After the surrendering of the Eastern Command in 1971, Lt. Khattak was taken war prisoner by the Indian Army and held in India for two years.[6] His efforts and action of valor won him the praise from the government, and was honoured with Sitara-i-Jurat in 1971 in his absence.[1] Cdr Khattak served as a commanding officer in the surface warship command, commanding various warships during his career in 1970s.: 135 [7]

Upon his repatriated to Pakistan in 1973, and was directed to attend the National Defence University in Islamabad where he attained MSc. in Strategic studies.: 881 [4]

In 1990, Commodore Khattak was appointed Naval Secretary at the Navy NHQ, working under Chief of Naval Staff Admiral SM Khan.: 145 [7]

His staff appointments included his appointment at the Ministry of Ports and Shipping as an additional secretary, as well as director-general at the Ministry of Communications in 1990s.: 881 [4] In 1997, he was promoted as two-star rank admiral, subsequently moved in the Navy NHQ, to be appointed as DCNS (Projects), and later DCNS (Materials) in 1998–99.: 881 [4]

In 1999, Rear-Admiral Khattak was appointed as Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) in the Navy and later elevated as a senior fleet commander in 2000–2001.: 226–228 [7] In 2002, he was promoted to three-star rank, Vice-Admiral, while serving as the senior fleet commander, Commander Pakistan Fleet (COMPAK).[8]

On 26 June 2002, Vice-Admiral Khattak was appointed as Vice Chief of Naval Staff with an immediate effect.[9] Shortly, after his appointment, the Government of Pakistan announced to promote Vice-Admiral Shahid Karimullah as a four-star admiral in the Navy, subsequently appointing him as Chief of Naval Staff on 3 October 2002.[10] The promotion was controversial since Vice-Admiral Khattak was senior to Admiral Karim.ee.[9] Following the news, Vice-Admiral Khattak was then moved as secondment and took over the chairmanship of Port Qasim Authority, which he served until he seek retirement in 2005.[11][3]

After retiring, he became a defence columnist, writing on country's major political correspondents and currently authoring articles on defence magazines.[2][12]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Shabbir, Usman (June 2003). "List of Gallantry Awardees – PN Officers/CPOs/Sailors". pakdef.org. Karachi, Pk: « PakDef Military Consortium. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Taj M Khattak:Writer - The News International: Latest News Breaking, Pakistan News". www.thenews.com.pk. News International, Khattak. News International. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Port Qasim Authority's Chairmen". pqa.gov.pk. PQA press. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Publications, Europa (2003). The International Who's Who 2004. Psychology Press. ISBN 9781857432176. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  5. ↑ "Prominent Abdalians in Armed Forces". www.cch.edu.pk. Cadet College Hasan Abdal Alumni. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Khalid, Maria (December 2015). "1971 War - the Veterans' Account". www.hilal.gov.pk. Islamabad, Pakistan: ISPR Hilal Magazine. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 Anwar, Commodre Muhammad (2006). "Sea Commands" (google books). Stolen Stripes and Broken Medals: Autobiography of a Senior Naval Officer (1st ed.). London, Uk: AuthorHouse. p. 267. ISBN 9781425900205. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  8. ↑ "Abdalian promoted as Vice Admiral". /www.abdalian.net.pk/. Abdialian. 2002. Archived from the original on 2017-08-18. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  9. 1 2 News Correspondents (26 June 2002). "Taj Khattak new VCNS". DAWN.COM. Dawn Newspapers, 2002. Dawn Newspapers. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  10. ↑ Anwar, Dr Muhammad (2006). Stolen Stripes and Broken Medals: Autobiography of a Senior Naval Officer. Author House. ISBN 9781467010566.
  11. ↑ Iqbal, Nasir (3 October 2003). "1,027 civilian posts occupied by servicemen". DAWN.COM. Dawn Newspaper, 2003. Dawn Newspaper. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  12. ↑ "ISPR Hilal Magazine - List". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
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