Asif Sandila
Encyclopedia
Admiral
Muhammad Asif Sandila, (Urdu: محمد ﺁصف سندیلہ; born: 1954, HI(M)
, L'honneur), is a 4-star
rank admiral who is the current and 19th Chief of Naval Staff
of Pakistan Navy
. Before appointing to this 4 star assignment, Sandila was serving at the 3 star assignment— the Chief of Staff in the Pakistan Navy which he assumed in 2010..
In 2011, President
Asif Ali Zardari
, on the request of Prime minister
Yousaf Raza Gillani
, promoted Sandila to 4 star rank and appointed him as the Chief of the Naval Staff on October 7th, 2011 upon retirement of current Naval Chief of Staff Admiral Noman Bashir.
, Sheikhupura
, Punjab Province where he completed his primary education from there. Thereafter, he studied in Cadet College Kohat
where he gained high school diploma from there. In 1971, shortly after the 1971 Winter war
, Sandila passed the university entrance exam and the officer exam from Sheikhupura. Sandila gained and received admission at the Pakistan Naval Academy
in 1972 and entered in Business Administration Department at the Naval Academy. Sandila also attended the Britannia Royal Naval College
at Dartmouth, United Kingdom
where he certified as a surface warfare officer. In 1975, Sandila gained B.B.A.
in Business Administration and again commissioned
in the Naval Operations Branch as a Sub-Lieutenant in the Navy. Asif Sandila is the first Kohatian to have gained the top naval rank and first four star officer from Kohat. Lieutenant-General (Retd) Sabahat Hussain and Maj Gen (Retd) Haroon Sikander Pasha are other prominent Kohatians who rose to the rank of three and two-star ranks.
Sandila also attended and graduated from Pakistan Naval War College where he completed M.Sc.
in Naval strategy
. Through the Naval College, Sandila went tto Indonesia
for one year deputation where he attended the Indonesian Navy
's Naval Command and Staff College, and completed a Naval Staff course. Sandila also attended and gained M.Sc.
in War studies
from National Defence University (NDU).
to former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and former Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Iftikhar Ahmed Sirohey
.
As Captain
, Sandila commanded the PNS Badr
, a guided-missile destroyer
. As 1-star
Commodore
, Sandila commanded the 25th Destroyer Squadron during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1999
.
In 2002, Sandila was promoted to 2-star
rank Rear-Admiral and served as the Chief of Staff
of Pakistan Coast Guard
, which he commanded until 2005. From 2006 till 2007, Rear-Admiral Sandila served as the Commander of Naval Logistics (COMLOG) and commanded all the logistic naval facilities of Pakistan Navy. In October 2008, Sandila commanded the Pakistan Naval Fleet. From 2008 till 2009, Sandila commanded the entire Pakistan's naval combatant fleet and entire naval combatant operations. In 2010, Sandila was promoted to 3-star
rank Vice-Admiral and was made Chief of Staff of Pakistan Navy, a second-in-command naval staff position in the navy.
. In 2001, he served as the Fleet Operations Officer to Commander Pakistan Fleet. At the Naval Combatant Headquarters (NHQ), he was assigned the duties of Flag Lieutenant to Chief of Staff, Director Project (Plans), Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Plans) and Principal Secretary to Chief of the Naval Staff. As Flag Officer, he has headed the Operations and Project Branches of Navy in the capacity of Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Operations) and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Projects) at Naval Headquarters Islamabad. In the field, he has been Chief of Staff of Pakistan Coast Guard Commander Pakistan Naval Fleet and Commander Logistics before taking over his present appointment as Chief of Staff (COS) at Naval Headquarters. He is recipient of the award of Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) and Chevalier de II order National Due Merit for rescue of French national in Maldives during Tsunami in December 2004.
began to surface the news about Sandila as the new Chief of Naval Staff. While as Chief of Staff, Sandila was promoted to 4 star rank by the President on the request of Prime minister. His 4 star promotion became the headline news in the country, and Media began to speculated about his possible 4 star assignment. On October 6, Presidential and Prime minister's spokeswoman Farahnaz Ispahani
confirmed the reports. On October 7th, Admiral Sandila took over the command of Pakistan Navy as Chief of Naval Staff. The change of command ceremony was held at Naval Headquarters, Rawalpindi. Admiral Sandila received the guard of honor prior to the assuming the the navy's command.
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Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Muhammad Asif Sandila, (Urdu: محمد ﺁصف سندیلہ; born: 1954, HI(M)
Hilal-i-Imtiaz
The Hilal-i-Imtiaz, English: Crescent of Excellence, Urdu: هلال ا متيا ز , is the second highest civilian award and honor given to both civilians and military officers of the State of Pakistan|Pakistan armed forces by the Government of Pakistan...
, L'honneur), is a 4-star
4 star rank
Four-star rank is a term used to describe a very senior commander in many of the armed services holding a rank described by the NATO OF-9 code. The term is also used by some armed forces which are not NATO members...
rank admiral who is the current and 19th Chief of Naval Staff
Chief of Naval Staff (Pakistan)
The Chief of the Naval Staff, abbreviated as CNS, is the highest ranking officer in the Pakistani Navy unless a 4-star naval officer is appointed as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. The current Chief of the Naval Staff is Admiral Asif Sandila who commands the Navy. The CNS reports...
of Pakistan Navy
Pakistan Navy
The Pakistan Navy is the naval warfare/service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. Pakistan's Navy is responsible for Pakistan's coastline along the Arabian Sea and the defense of important civilian harbors and military bases...
. Before appointing to this 4 star assignment, Sandila was serving at the 3 star assignment— the Chief of Staff in the Pakistan Navy which he assumed in 2010..
In 2011, President
President of Pakistan
The President of Pakistan is the head of state, as well as figurehead, of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Recently passed an XVIII Amendment , Pakistan has a parliamentary democratic system of government. According to the Constitution, the President is chosen by the Electoral College to serve a...
Asif Ali Zardari
Asif Ali Zardari
Asif Ali Zardari is the 11th and current President of Pakistan and the Co-Chairman of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party . He is also the widower of Benazir Bhutto, who served two nonconsecutive terms as Prime Minister....
, on the request of Prime minister
Prime Minister of Pakistan
The Prime Minister of Pakistan , is the Head of Government of Pakistan who is designated to exercise as the country's Chief Executive. By the Constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan has the parliamentary democratic system of government...
Yousaf Raza Gillani
Yousaf Raza Gillani
Yousuf Raza Gilani is the current prime minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. He was nominated as Prime Minister by the PPP, with the support of its coalition partners, Pakistan Muslim League , Awami National Party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and Muttahida Qaumi Movement, on 22 March 2008...
, promoted Sandila to 4 star rank and appointed him as the Chief of the Naval Staff on October 7th, 2011 upon retirement of current Naval Chief of Staff Admiral Noman Bashir.
Biography
Sandila hails from Sangla HillsSangla Hill
Sangla Hill is a tehsil located in Nankana Sahib District in the Punjab Province of Pakistan.- Introduction :Sangla hill is a tehsil under district Nankana Sahib...
, Sheikhupura
Sheikhupura
Sheikhupura or Shekhupur , formerly Kot Dayal Das or Singhpuria or Virkgarh , is an industrial city in the province of Punjab slightly northwest to Lahore in Pakistan. It is known for its historical places, and is commonly known locally as Qila Shaikhupura, because of the fort in the city,...
, Punjab Province where he completed his primary education from there. Thereafter, he studied in Cadet College Kohat
Cadet College Kohat
Cadet College Kohat is a military high school for boys grades eight through twelve. The high school is located in the outskirts of Kohat, Pakistan.-History:...
where he gained high school diploma from there. In 1971, shortly after the 1971 Winter war
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military conflict between India and Pakistan. Indian, Bangladeshi and international sources consider the beginning of the war to be Operation Chengiz Khan, Pakistan's December 3, 1971 pre-emptive strike on 11 Indian airbases...
, Sandila passed the university entrance exam and the officer exam from Sheikhupura. Sandila gained and received admission at the Pakistan Naval Academy
Pakistan Naval Academy
The Pakistan Naval Academy The Pakistan Naval Academy The Pakistan Naval Academy (formerly known as Pakistan Naval Station Rahbar (PNS Rahbar) is a four-year coeducational federal military academy located in Manora Island, Sindh Province, Pakistan...
in 1972 and entered in Business Administration Department at the Naval Academy. Sandila also attended the Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College is the initial officer training establishment of the Royal Navy, located on a hill overlooking Dartmouth, Devon, England. While Royal Naval officer training has taken place in the town since 1863, the buildings which are seen today were only finished in 1905, and...
at Dartmouth, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
where he certified as a surface warfare officer. In 1975, Sandila gained B.B.A.
Bachelor of Business Administration
The Bachelor of Business Administration is a bachelor's degree in Commerce and business administration. In most universities, the degree is conferred upon a student after four years of full-time study in one or more areas of business concentrations; see below...
in Business Administration and again commissioned
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
in the Naval Operations Branch as a Sub-Lieutenant in the Navy. Asif Sandila is the first Kohatian to have gained the top naval rank and first four star officer from Kohat. Lieutenant-General (Retd) Sabahat Hussain and Maj Gen (Retd) Haroon Sikander Pasha are other prominent Kohatians who rose to the rank of three and two-star ranks.
Sandila also attended and graduated from Pakistan Naval War College where he completed M.Sc.
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in Naval strategy
Naval strategy
Naval strategy is the planning and conduct of war at sea, the naval equivalent of military strategy on land.Naval strategy, and the related concept of maritime strategy, concerns the overall strategy for achieving victory at sea, including the planning and conduct of campaigns, the movement and...
. Through the Naval College, Sandila went tto Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
for one year deputation where he attended the Indonesian Navy
Indonesian Navy
The role of the Indonesian Navy is to patrol of Indonesia's immense coastline, to ensure safeguard the territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone , to protect Indonesia's maritime strategic interests, to protect the islands surrounded Indonesia and to defend against seaborne threats. The TNI...
's Naval Command and Staff College, and completed a Naval Staff course. Sandila also attended and gained M.Sc.
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in War studies
War studies
War studies is the multi-disciplinary study of war. It is distinct from military history in that it encompasses a variety of fields:*Laws of war*Philosophy of war**Ethics of war***Just War Theory**Deterrence theory*Psychology of war...
from National Defence University (NDU).
Naval career
Asif Sandila joined Pakistan Navy in 1972 as a non-commissioned officer and gainedcommissioned in the Naval Operations Branch in June 1975, prior to his undergraduate degree. He specialized as Principal Warfare Officer from United Kingdom. Throughout his naval career, Sandila has held challenging naval command and staff appointments. From 1980s till 1990s, Sandil served as the ADCAide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and former Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Iftikhar Ahmed Sirohey
Iftikhar Ahmed Sirohey
Admiral Iftikhar Ahmed Sirohey, NI, SBt, HI, , is a now-retired and senior four-star admiral who was the 10th Chief of Naval Staff of Pakistan Navy from 1986 to 1988...
.
As Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
, Sandila commanded the PNS Badr
HMS Alacrity (F174)
HMS Alacrity was a Type 21 frigate of the Royal Navy. Built by Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland, she was completed with Exocet launchers in "B" position....
, a guided-missile destroyer
Guided missile destroyer
A guided missile destroyer is a destroyer designed to launch guided missiles. Many are also equipped to carry out anti-submarine, anti-air, and anti-surface operations. In the U.S...
. As 1-star
1 star rank
An officer of one-star rank is a senior commander in many of the armed services holding a rank described by the NATO code of OF-6. The term is also used by some armed forces which are not NATO members...
Commodore
Commodore (rank)
Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
, Sandila commanded the 25th Destroyer Squadron during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1999
Kargil War
The Kargil War ,, also known as the Kargil conflict, was an armed conflict between India and Pakistan that took place between May and July 1999 in the Kargil district of Kashmir and elsewhere along the Line of Control...
.
In 2002, Sandila was promoted to 2-star
2 star rank
An officer of two-star rank is a senior commander in many of the armed services holding a rank described by the NATO code of OF-7. The term is also used by some armed forces which are not NATO members...
rank Rear-Admiral and served as the Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
of Pakistan Coast Guard
Pakistan Coast Guard
The Pakistan Coast Guards is an important branch of the Pakistan Civil Armed Forces and one of the six paramilitary services operating under the administrative control of Minisrty of Interior, Government of Pakistan. Pakistan Coast Guards, headquartered in Karachi, is unique in that it has...
, which he commanded until 2005. From 2006 till 2007, Rear-Admiral Sandila served as the Commander of Naval Logistics (COMLOG) and commanded all the logistic naval facilities of Pakistan Navy. In October 2008, Sandila commanded the Pakistan Naval Fleet. From 2008 till 2009, Sandila commanded the entire Pakistan's naval combatant fleet and entire naval combatant operations. In 2010, Sandila was promoted to 3-star
3 star rank
An officer of three-star rank is a very senior commander in many of the armed services holding a rank described by the NATO code of OF-8. The term is also used by some armed forces which are not NATO members...
rank Vice-Admiral and was made Chief of Staff of Pakistan Navy, a second-in-command naval staff position in the navy.
Staff Appointments
Sandila held and had been appointed to the important staff positions. He has served as Divisional Officer and Training Commander at the Pakistan Naval AcademyPakistan Naval Academy
The Pakistan Naval Academy The Pakistan Naval Academy The Pakistan Naval Academy (formerly known as Pakistan Naval Station Rahbar (PNS Rahbar) is a four-year coeducational federal military academy located in Manora Island, Sindh Province, Pakistan...
. In 2001, he served as the Fleet Operations Officer to Commander Pakistan Fleet. At the Naval Combatant Headquarters (NHQ), he was assigned the duties of Flag Lieutenant to Chief of Staff, Director Project (Plans), Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Plans) and Principal Secretary to Chief of the Naval Staff. As Flag Officer, he has headed the Operations and Project Branches of Navy in the capacity of Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Operations) and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Projects) at Naval Headquarters Islamabad. In the field, he has been Chief of Staff of Pakistan Coast Guard Commander Pakistan Naval Fleet and Commander Logistics before taking over his present appointment as Chief of Staff (COS) at Naval Headquarters. He is recipient of the award of Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) and Chevalier de II order National Due Merit for rescue of French national in Maldives during Tsunami in December 2004.
Chief of Naval Staff
On October 5th, 2011, Pakistan MediaMedia of Pakistan
Media in Pakistan provides information on television, radio, cinema, newspapers, and magazines in Pakistan.-Regulation:The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority was formed in 2002 to "facilitate and promote a free, fair and independent electronic media", including opening the broadcasting...
began to surface the news about Sandila as the new Chief of Naval Staff. While as Chief of Staff, Sandila was promoted to 4 star rank by the President on the request of Prime minister. His 4 star promotion became the headline news in the country, and Media began to speculated about his possible 4 star assignment. On October 6, Presidential and Prime minister's spokeswoman Farahnaz Ispahani
Farahnaz Ispahani
Farahnaz Ispahani is currently serving as a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan and as a spokesperson for the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari. She is married to Husain Haqqani, the current Pakistan Ambassador to the United States, and is the granddaughter of Pakistan's first...
confirmed the reports. On October 7th, Admiral Sandila took over the command of Pakistan Navy as Chief of Naval Staff. The change of command ceremony was held at Naval Headquarters, Rawalpindi. Admiral Sandila received the guard of honor prior to the assuming the the navy's command.
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