Taj Muhammad Khattak

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]

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
Military service
Nickname(s)TM Khattak
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

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. 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. "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. "Port Qasim Authority's Chairmen". pqa.gov.pk. PQA press. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  4. Publications, Europa (2003). The International Who's Who 2004. Psychology Press. ISBN 9781857432176. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  5. User, Super. "Prominent Abdalians in Armed Forces". www.cch.edu.pk. Cadet College Hasan Abdal Alumni. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  6. Khalid, Maria (December 2015). "1971 War - the Veterans' Account". www.hilal.gov.pk. Islamabad, Pakistan: ISPR Hilal Magazine. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  7. Anwar, Commodre Muhammad (2006). "Sea Commands". Stolen Stripes and Broken Medals: Autobiography of a Senior Naval Officer (google books) (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. 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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