Shahid Karimullah

Admiral Shahid Karimullah Sitara-e-Jurat NI(M) HI(M) SJ SI(M) LoM LoH PGAT BJSN
Admiral Karimullah, center, presented with the Legion of Merit by U.S. CNO Admiral Vern Clark, ca. 2004
Pakistan Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
In office 29 January 2005 – 21 March 2009
Chief of Naval Staff
In office 3 October 2002 – 6 October 2005
Preceded by	Adm. Abdul Aziz Mirza
Succeeded by	Adm. Afzal Tahir
Personal details
Born	Shahid Karimullah (1948-02-14) 14 February 1948 (age 76) Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Citizenship	Pakistan
Alma mater	Naval War College National Defence University
Military service
Allegiance	Pakistan
Branch/service	Pakistan Navy
Years of service	1965–2005
Rank	Admiral (S/No. PN 1126)
Unit	Naval Operations Branch
Commands	Commander Pakistan Fleet 25th Destroyer Squadron DCNS (Operations) Chief Instructor at NDU Islamabad ACNS (Personnel)
Battles/wars	Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War 2001 Indo-Pakistani standoff War on Terror OEF-Afghanistan OEF-Horn of Africa
Awards	Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) Sitara-e-Jurat Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military) Order of King Abdulaziz Legion of Merit Turkish Legion of Merit Legion d'honneur Order of Military Service

Shahid Karimullah NI(M) HI(M) SJ SI(M) LoM LoH PGAT BJSN (Urdu:شاهد كريم الله; b. 14 February 1948) is a retired admiral of Pakistan Navy who served as the 16th Chief of Naval Staff from 2002 until 2005.

He subsequently also served as Pakistan's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 2005 until 2009.

Biography

Early life and naval career

Shahid Karimullah was born in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan on 14 February 1948 to an Urdu-speaking family who belongs to Hyderabad Deccan in India but migrated to Pakistan following partition of British India in 1947.^[1] He comes from a military family and his father, Lieutenant-Commander Muhammad Karimullah also served in the Royal Indian Navy and later the Pakistan Navy.^[2]

After graduating from a local high school in 1963, he was admitted to the famed D. J. Science College before joining the Pakistan Navy in October 1965.^[3] He was trained at the Pakistan Military Academy but later sent to United Kingdom to attend the Royal Navy's HMS Mercury where he graduated with communication courses and gained military commission as a Midshipman in the Navy in October 1968.^[4] His S/ No. was 1126, issued by the Defence Ministry. He was promoted as Sub-Lieutenant in the Navy in 1971.^[5][3]

In 1971, he was stationed in East Pakistan and participated in the violent civil war, followed by the war with India in the East.^[3] He was promoted as Lieutenant and served as commanding officer of gunboat, participating in various operations against the Indian Army and Mukti Bahini.^[3] After the surrender of Eastern Command was announced, he was subsequently taken prisoner and was seriously wounded.^[3] His gallant actions won him the Sitara-e-Jurat which was given to him in 1972, following his repatriation.^[3] It took him 2 years to fully recover from his injuries before resuming his military service.^[3]

After the war, he resumed his studies and went to Newport in Rhode Island, United States to attend the Naval War College.^[6] He graduated with a master's degree in War studies and later attended the National Defence University where he graduated with another master's degree in international relations.^[6]

Command and staff appointments

In the 1980s, he served as an aide-de-camp to Chairman Joint chiefs Admiral Mohammad Shariff and former Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karamat Rahman Niazi.^[2] In 1995–96, he was promoted as Commodore and took over the command of the 25th Destroyer Squadron as its Flag Officer Commanding (FOC).^[6] He also served as Directing Staff in the War studies faculty at the National Defence University in Islamabad.^[2]

In 1997, Commodore Karimullah was posted as Director Signals but later posted for a one-star staff assignment at the Navy NHQ in Islamabad.^{: xxi [7]}

Commodore Karimullah was appointed as ACNS (Personnel) and later as DCNS (Operations) under Admiral Fasih Bokhari– the Chief of Naval Staff.^{: xxi [7]} After Admiral Admiral Bokhari resigned, he was promoted as Rear-Admiral and continued to serve as DCNS (Operations) in 1999.^{: xxi [7][6]} In 2000–01, he was promoted as Vice-Admiral and assumed the command of Pakistan Fleet as its fleet commander.^[6]

Chief of Naval Staff

In 2002, Vice-Admiral Karimullah was appointed Chief of Naval Staff and was promoted to four-star admiral in the Navy before taking the post.^[6] Admiral Karimullah superseded two senior naval officers, Vice-Admiral Taj Khattak, the Vice Chief of Naval Staff (VCNS), and Vice-Admiral G.Z. Malik, the commander of Submarine fleet.^{: xxx [7]} During this time, he engaged in talks with the Chinese Navy for a technology transfer for building modern warships in Karachi.^[8]

As a response to the Agni-I missile test by India in 2002, Admiral Karimullah began advocating for acquiring the nuclear navy capability but denied deploying nuclear arsenals on the Agosta 90B submarines.^[9] Admiral Karimullah ambiguously left the option open and quoted to news media that Pakistan Navy would do so only if "forced to."^[9]

In 2003, Admiral Karimullah again secretly pushed the government for the second-strike capability but publicly reiterated that while no such immediate plans existed, Pakistan would not hesitate to take such steps if it felt so compelled.^[10] He remained concerned over the expansion of Indian Navy in the region and continued his secret push for acquiring modern weapon systems for the Navy.^[11]

In 2004, he successfully negotiated with the U.S. Navy to induct the Navy in the combined maritime force to provide cooperation in regional maritime and security affair.^[11] Admiral Karimullah was notably bypassed by President Pervez Musharraf for the chairmanship for the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee in October 2004.^[12] Admiral Karimullah was the most senior-most four-star rank officer in the Pakistani military and was controversially superseded by the junior-most army general, Lieutenant-General Ehsan ul Haq.^[12]

In 2005, he began pushing and vigorously lobbying in the government for the extension of Pakistan's seaborne border from 200 to 350 nautical miles for which the claim is to be submitted by May 2009 in accordance with provisions of UN Conventions on Laws of Seas of 1982.^[13] It was in 2015 when the borders were extended which pushed Pakistan's area of sea border to 50,000 square kilometres.^[14][15]

Admiral Karimullah retired from the Navy in 2005 and handed over the command of the Navy to Admiral Afzal Tahir who also superseded Vice-Admiral Mohammad Haroon by President Musharraf.^[7]

Ambassador to Saudi Arabia

Having by-passed as Chairman joint chiefs post, President Musharraf announced to appoint Admiral Karimullah for a diplomatic post and appointed him as Pakistan Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.^[16] In 2009, he left the post once completing his tenure and returned to Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.^[17]

Honors and post retirement

Admiral Karimullah is a recipient of Nishan-e-Imtiaz (military), Sitara-i-Imtiaz (military), and Hilal-i-Imtiaz (military)that were decorated to him during his military service.^[6]

He was also decorated with the Legion of Merit by the United States, presented to him by US Navy's CNO Admiral Vern Clark in 2004.^[18] In 2005, he was conferred with French Legion d'Honneur for promoting Pakistan-Franco naval collaboration in various fields at different posts he held during his service career, including induction of French submarines and aircraft in Pakistan Navy.^[19]

On 21 September 2005, Admiral Karimullah was awarded with the Honorary Malaysian Armed Forces Order for Valor award as a Gallant Commander in acknowledgment of his long meritorious services.^[20]

After retiring from the foreign service, he apparently joined the "Progress", a public service think tank, and serves on its advisory board.^[21] He also remained chairman of Karachi Council on Foreign Relations for some time.^[22]

About the Fall of Dhaka in 1971, Admiral Karimullah reportedly was of the view that: History is there to earn lessons from but unfortunately this did not happening in Pakistan".^[22] He also remained associate with the Bahria University in Karachi and reportedly maintained in favor of CPEC developmental projects in the country.^[23]

Awards and decorations

	Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Order of Excellence)	Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Crescent of Excellence)
Sitara-e-Jurat (Star of Courage) 1971	Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Star of Excellence)	Sitara-e-Harb 1971 War (War Star 1971)	Tamgha-e-Jang 1965 War (War Medal 1965)
Tamgha-e-Jang 1971 War (War Medal 1971)	Tamgha-e-Baqa (Nuclear Test Medal) 1998	Tamgha-e-Istaqlal Pakistan (Escalation with India Medal) 2002	10 Years Service Medal
20 Years Service Medal	30 Years Service Medal	35 Years Service Medal	40 Years Service Medal
Tamgha-e-Sad Saala Jashan-e- Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam (100th Birth Anniversary of Muhammad Ali Jinnah) 1976	Hijri Tamgha (Hijri Medal) 1979	Jamhuriat Tamgha (Democracy Medal) 1988	Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha (Resolution Day Golden Jubilee Medal) 1990
Tamgha-e-Salgirah Pakistan (Independence Day Golden Jubilee Medal) 1997	Abu Dhabi Defence Forces Service Medal (UAE) 1976	Order of King Abdul Aziz (Saudi Arabia)	The Legion of Merit[18] (Degree of Commander) (United States) 2004
Turkish Legion of Merit (Turkey)	Legion of Honour Grand Officer Class[19] (France) 2005	The Order of Military Service Courageous Commander[20] (Malaysia) 2005	Bintang Jalasena Utama (Indonesia)

Foreign Decorations

Foreign Awards
UAE	Abu Dhabi Defence Forces Service Medal
Saudi Arabia	Order of King Abdul Aziz (4th Class)
United States	The Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander)[18]
Turkey	Turkish Legion of Merit
France	The Legion of Honour (Grand Officer Class)[19]
Malaysia	The Order of Military Service (Courageous Commander)[20]
Indonesia	Bintang Jalasena Utama

See also

• Indian immigration to Pakistan
  • Urdu–speaking people
  • Hyderabadi culture in Pakistan
  • Hyderabadi Muslims
  • Golkonda
  • Hyderabad State
• India
• History of Hyderabad for a history of the city of Hyderabad.
• Hyderabad (India) for the city.

References

1. "Shahid Karimullah – Biographical Summaries of Notable People – MyHeritage". www.myheritage.com. Shahid Karimullah – Biographical Summaries of Notable People – MyHeritage. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
2. Obaid, CEO (4 October 2002). "Shahid Karimullah Appointed New Chief Of Navel Staff". www.pakistanidefence.com. No. 2. Pakistani defence, 2002. Pakistani defence. Archived from the original on 4 February 2003. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
3. Shahid Karimullah. "Shahid Karimullah". www.oldpublicans.com. Shahid Karimullah. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
4. "Foreign Affairs Pakistan". Pakistan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2006. 3 (1–2). Pakistan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 1 January 2006. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
5. "List of Gallantry Awardees – PN Officers/CPOs/Sailors « PakDef Military Consortium". pakdef.org. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
6. "New navy chief named". DAWN.COM. Islamabad, Pakistan: Dawn Newspapers, 2002. Dawn Newspapers. 4 October 2002. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
7. Anwar, PN, Commdore Dr. Muhammad (2005). Stolen Stripes and Broken Medals: Autobiography of a Senior Naval Officer. MD, U.S.: Author House. ISBN 9781467010566. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
8. "Pakistan to acquire Chinese battleships". Tribune India. No. 1`. Tribune India, 2002. Tribune India. 13 November 2002. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
9. "Pakistan Submarine Capabilities". www.nti.org. NTI Pakistan. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
10. Rehman, Iskander. "Murky Waters: Naval Nuclear Dynamics in the Indian Ocean". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
11. "Navy to join US-led coalition plan: Admiral Shahid". Dawn.com. Dawn Newspapers. 17 April 2004. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
12. "New JCSC chief, VCOAS appointed". Dawn.com. Dawn newspapers. 3 October 2004. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
13. "Navy seeks extension of continental shelf". Dawn.com. Dawn Newspapers. 2 August 2005. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
14. "Pakistan seabed territory grows by 50,000 square kilometres". DAWN.COM. 21 March 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
15. "Musharraf drags former Pakistani top guns into trial". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
16. "Karimullah Is Named New Pak Ambassador". Arab News. Arab News, 2006. Arab News. 29 January 2006. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
17. "Dogar may be named ambassador to Saudi Arabia". DAWN.COM. Dawn newspaper, 2009. Dawn newspaper, 2009. 21 March 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
18. Bivera, U. S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Johnny (21 July 2004), English: Washington, D.C. (July 21, 2004) - Adm. Shahid Karimullah, Chief of Naval Staff, Pakistan Navy is presented the Legion of Merit from Adm. Vern Clark, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), for his steadfast support of American-Pakistan cooperation in regional maritime and security affairs, and demonstrated superb resolve and unwavering dedication to the Global War on terrorism. Adm. Karimullah was given a full honors welcome ceremony at Luetze Park, Washington Navy Yard on behalf of his official visit to the United States. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Johnny Bivera. (RELEASED), retrieved 2 April 2022
19. "Navy, Air chiefs receive highest French award". Dawn.com. No. 1. Dawn Newspapers. 14 July 2005. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
20. "Shahid Karimullah conferred with Malaysian gallant commander award". Paktribune. Pakistan Tribune, 2005. Pakistan Tribune. 21 September 2005. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
21. "Advisory Council". www.progress.org.pk. Progress Secretariat. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
22. Khan, Amanullah (17 December 2016). "India played dirty in Bangladesh's creation". Pakistan Observer. Pakistan Observer, 2016. Pakistan Observer. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
23. "CPEC to have far-reaching implications for maritime trade". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 10 January 2017.

External links

• Admiral Shahid Karimullah takes over as Navy chief
• Profile of Shahid Karimullah
• Karimullah new Naval chief

Military offices
Preceded by Abdul Aziz Mirza	Chief of Naval Staff 2002–2005	Succeeded by Afzal Tahir