Iftikhar Ahmed Sirohey
Encyclopedia
Admiral
Iftikhar Ahmed Sirohey, NI(M), SBt
, HI, (born 1934), is a now-retired and senior four-star admiral
who was the 10th Chief of Naval Staff (CNS)
of Pakistan Navy
from 1986 to 1988. He was later invited by the former Prime minister
Benazir Bhutto
to take over as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee
after the death of General Akhtar Abdur Rahman
in the 17 August 1988 air crash.
A senior military officer in the Pakistan Defense Forces, Admiral Sirohey was the Supreme Commander of Pakistani Armed Forces, and also served as military advisor to the Prime minister from 1988 to 1991. He was the second four-star admiral to stay in this post to date after Admiral Mohammad Shariff
. Eight years later, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Fasih Bokhari
sought early retirement as he was denied the Chairmanship of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Pakistan
by the Prime minister
Nawaz Sharif
in 1999.
in 1934. The family moved to West-Pakistan
after the Indian Partition
in 1947. In 1952, Sirohey passed the university entrance test and enrolled in Karachi University's Department of Physics. In 1956, Sirohey graduate and gained B.Sc.
in Physics
with a Minor
in Mathematics
. While in University, Sirohey joined the Pakistan Navy
in 1955, and continued his studies until his graduation. Upon his graduation, Sirohey gained commissioned in the Navy as Midshipman
(Ensign
) in the Naval Weapon Engineering Branch (WEB). In 1959, Sirohey gained M.Sc.
in War Studies
from Naval War College
. In 1962, Sirohey went on to attend the Army
Command and Staff College
where he gained another M.Sc.
in Strategic studies
in 1964.
, Ahmad actively participated in Indo-Pakistan September war
. Ahmad was the Radar engineer officer of the PNS Babur
that took participation in Operation Somnath
. After the war, Sirohey was promoted to Lieutenant-Commander and served as the ADC to Commander of Pakistan Navy Syed Mohammad Ahsan and later served as ADC to Muzaffar Hassan
. Sirohey would later go on to participated actively in Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
and the 1971 Indo-Pakistan Winter War
. After the 1971 war, Sirohey was made Commander
and served as Military staff member at the Naval Headquarter. In 1976, Sirohey was made principal staff officer at the Joint Chiefs of Staff Secretariat. In 1977, Sirohey was promoted to Captain
and commanded the Ahsan Naval Base
. Captain Sirohey overseeing the ending of the Balochistan military operation
. As base commander, Sirohey was the main planner of the naval blockade of the Balochistan and the fallout of the conflict. In 1979, Sirohey was promoted to two-star, rear-admiral, and was shifted at the Northern Areas
where he served as the Commander of Northern Naval Command. In 1983, Sirohey was promoted to three-star rank, vice-admiral, and was made Commander of the Naval Engineering Branch. While he was serving as the Commander of Engineering Branch, Sirohey selected the team of Naval engineers to be submerged with Special Works Development, a special unit involved with nuclear development
. Sirohey played a major role in the nuclear development and provided his Branch's full support to SDW. On March 11, 1983, Vice-Admiral Sirohey was one of the few invitees to Kirana Test Site where he witnessed and observed the successful detonation of the nuclear device, codename Kirana-I, as part of Government Observant (GO). In 1984, Sirohey was made Commander of Southern Naval Command, or Commander Karachi (COMKAR). In 1985, he was appointed as Chief of Staff of Naval Operations (COS). As COS of the Navy, Admiral Sirohey had played an active role in Soviet War in Afghanistan
, and one of the main proponent of supplying and and shipping foreign weapons to Anti-Soviet Resistance. He also had prepared and established the clandestine units in SSG(N)
to participate in conflict, though their involvement still remains classified. He was the first to established the special covert operation unit which is now known as Pakistan Navy Seals, tasked with the supervising and participating in the covert military operations.
. His tenure saw the enhancement of Navy in terms of both manpower and military upgrades. As of seniority, Admiral Sirohey was the most-senior military officer in the Pakistan Defense Forces, and he was the second naval officer, after Admiral Mohammad Shariff
, who was given the Command of Pakistan Armed Forces.
In 1988, he was made Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee
in 1988 by the Prime minister
Benazir Bhutto
. As chairman, Admiral Sirohey was the Supreme Commandant of the Pakistan Armed Forces, and also served as the military advisor to the Prime minister till his retirement in 1991.
in 1992. He later affiliated himself with The Institute of Strategic Studies in 1995 which he currently works there. He also founded the Foundation for the Advancement of Engineering Sciences and Advanced Technologies where he is its Chief Executive. He is also the author of his autobiography, Truth Never Retires (1996) Jang Publishers, Lahore.
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"...
Iftikhar Ahmed Sirohey, NI(M), SBt
Awards and decorations of the Pakistan military
The awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces recognize a service member's service and personal accomplishments while a member of the Pakistan armed forces...
, HI, (born 1934), is a now-retired and senior four-star admiral
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"...
who was the 10th Chief of Naval Staff (CNS)
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...
from 1986 to 1988. He was later invited by the former 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...
Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto was a democratic socialist who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996....
to take over as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee
Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Pakistan
The Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee , is a military administrative body of high-ranking and senior uniformed military leaders and officers in the Pakistan Defense Forces who advises the civilian Government of Pakistan, National Security Council, and Defence Minister on important military matters...
after the death of General Akhtar Abdur Rahman
Akhtar Abdur Rahman
General Akhtar Abdur Rahman Khan , born in Rampur, was a 4-star general in the Pakistan Army. He served as Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee from 1987–1988 and as Director-General Inter-Services Intelligence from 1980-1987...
in the 17 August 1988 air crash.
A senior military officer in the Pakistan Defense Forces, Admiral Sirohey was the Supreme Commander of Pakistani Armed Forces, and also served as military advisor to the Prime minister from 1988 to 1991. He was the second four-star admiral to stay in this post to date after Admiral Mohammad Shariff
Mohammad Shariff
Admiral Mohammad Shariff, , , is a retired four-star naval officer and a career war veteran. Admiral Mohammad Shariff took over the command of Pakistan Navy on 21 March, 1979, when a three-star vice-admiral, Hasan Hafeez Ahmed, died in office...
. Eight years later, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Fasih Bokhari
Fasih Bokhari
Admiral Fasih Bokhari, , is a retired four-star admiral and who served as the 14th Chief of Naval Staff of Pakistan Navy from 1997 to 1999....
sought early retirement as he was denied the Chairmanship of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Pakistan
Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Pakistan
The Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee , is a military administrative body of high-ranking and senior uniformed military leaders and officers in the Pakistan Defense Forces who advises the civilian Government of Pakistan, National Security Council, and Defence Minister on important military matters...
by the 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...
Nawaz Sharif
Nawaz Sharif
Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif is a Pakistani conservative politician and steel magnate who served as 12th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from November 1990 to July 1993, and from February 1997 to October 12, 1999...
in 1999.
Education
Sirohey was born in Karachi, British Indian Empire to a respected Urdu-speaking family of LucknowLucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
in 1934. The family moved to West-Pakistan
West Pakistan
West Pakistan , common name West-Pakistan , in the period between its establishment on 22 November 1955 to disintegration on December 16, 1971. This period, during which, Pakistan was divided, ended when East-Pakistan was disintegrated and succeeded to become which is now what is known as Bangladesh...
after the Indian Partition
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
in 1947. In 1952, Sirohey passed the university entrance test and enrolled in Karachi University's Department of Physics. In 1956, Sirohey graduate and gained B.Sc.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
with a Minor
Minor
Minor means "not important", and in Latin "smaller". It may also refer to:* an underage child, see Minor * Academic minor, a secondary focus of a Bachelor's degree, the primary focus being an academic major-Mathematics:...
in Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
. While in University, Sirohey joined the 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...
in 1955, and continued his studies until his graduation. Upon his graduation, Sirohey gained commissioned in the Navy as Midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
(Ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
) in the Naval Weapon Engineering Branch (WEB). In 1959, Sirohey 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 Naval War College
Pakistan Naval War College
The Naval War College is the Pakistan Navy academic establishment providing training and education primarily to the mid-career officers of Pakistan Navy as well as to a limited number of officers from Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Army and various Allied forces...
. In 1962, Sirohey went on to attend the Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
Command and Staff College
Command and Staff College
The Command and Staff College was established in 1907 at Quetta, Balochistan, British Raj, now in Pakistan, and is the oldest and the most prestigious institution of the Pakistan Army. It was established in 1905 in Deolali and moved to its present location at Quetta in 1907 under the name of Quetta...
where he gained another 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 Strategic studies
Strategic studies
Strategic studies is an interdisciplinary academic field devoted to topics concerning the relationship between politics, geography and natural resources, economics, and military power, such as the role of intelligence, diplomacy and threats in the preparation and use of force...
in 1964.
Naval career
After completing his education, Sirohey was appointed as Staff officer at the Naval Combatant Headquarter, the NHQ. As LieutenantLieutenant (naval)
LieutenantThe pronunciation of lieutenant is generally split between or , generally in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Commonwealth countries, and or , generally associated with the United States. See lieutenant. is a commissioned officer rank in many nations' navies...
, Ahmad actively participated in Indo-Pakistan September war
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 was a culmination of skirmishes that took place between April 1965 and September 1965 between Pakistan and India. This conflict became known as the Second Kashmir War fought by India and Pakistan over the disputed region of Kashmir, the first having been fought in 1947...
. Ahmad was the Radar engineer officer of the PNS Babur
HMS Diadem (84)
HMS Diadem was a Dido-class light cruiser of the Bellona subgroup of the Royal Navy. She was a modified Dido design with only four turrets but improved AA armament - aka Dido Group 2. She was built by R. and W. Hawthorn, Leslie and Company, Limited , UK), with the keel being laid down on 15...
that took participation in Operation Somnath
Operation Dwarka
Operation Dwarka, also known as "Operation Somnath", was a naval operation commenced by the Pakistan Navy to attack the Indian coastal town of Dwarka on 7 September 1965. This was the first use of Pakistan Navy in any of the Indo-Pakistan Wars...
. After the war, Sirohey was promoted to Lieutenant-Commander and served as the ADC to Commander of Pakistan Navy Syed Mohammad Ahsan and later served as ADC to Muzaffar Hassan
Muzaffar Hassan
Vice Admiral Muzaffar Hassan, HQA, SPk, was the last Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Navy from 1969 to 1972, and led the Pakistan Navy during the Indo-Pakistan Naval Operations of the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War...
. Sirohey would later go on to participated actively in Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 was a culmination of skirmishes that took place between April 1965 and September 1965 between Pakistan and India. This conflict became known as the Second Kashmir War fought by India and Pakistan over the disputed region of Kashmir, the first having been fought in 1947...
and the 1971 Indo-Pakistan 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...
. After the 1971 war, Sirohey was made Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
and served as Military staff member at the Naval Headquarter. In 1976, Sirohey was made principal staff officer at the Joint Chiefs of Staff Secretariat. In 1977, Sirohey was promoted to 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....
and commanded the Ahsan Naval Base
PNS Ahsan
The Pakistan Naval Station Ahsan, known as PNS Ahsan, is a Logistics-Intelligence Naval base located in Makran, Balochistan Province. The base is named after legendary naval intelligence officer and former Chief of Naval Staff Vice-Admiral Syed Mohammad Ahsan...
. Captain Sirohey overseeing the ending of the Balochistan military operation
Baloch Insurgency and Rahimuddin's Stabilization
The 1970s military operation in Balochistan was a a five-year conflict in which a separatist movement in Balochistan, the largest province of Pakistan, engaged with the Pakistan Army after then-Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto ordered a military operation in the region in 1973...
. As base commander, Sirohey was the main planner of the naval blockade of the Balochistan and the fallout of the conflict. In 1979, Sirohey was promoted to two-star, rear-admiral, and was shifted at the Northern Areas
Northern Areas
Gilgit-Baltistan , is the northernmost political entity within Pakistan. It borders Pakistan's Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province to the west, Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor to the north, China to the east and northeast, Azad Kashmir to the southwest, and Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir to the...
where he served as the Commander of Northern Naval Command. In 1983, Sirohey was promoted to three-star rank, vice-admiral, and was made Commander of the Naval Engineering Branch. While he was serving as the Commander of Engineering Branch, Sirohey selected the team of Naval engineers to be submerged with Special Works Development, a special unit involved with nuclear development
Project-706
Project-706, also known as Project-726 or as the Kahuta Project, was a science effort codename of a project conducted during the Cold War and Russo-Afghan War whose objective was to develop Pakistan' first atomic weapon. The mainstream goal of the project was the development of an atomic bomb using...
. Sirohey played a major role in the nuclear development and provided his Branch's full support to SDW. On March 11, 1983, Vice-Admiral Sirohey was one of the few invitees to Kirana Test Site where he witnessed and observed the successful detonation of the nuclear device, codename Kirana-I, as part of Government Observant (GO). In 1984, Sirohey was made Commander of Southern Naval Command, or Commander Karachi (COMKAR). In 1985, he was appointed as Chief of Staff of Naval Operations (COS). As COS of the Navy, Admiral Sirohey had played an active role in Soviet War in Afghanistan
Soviet war in Afghanistan
The Soviet war in Afghanistan was a nine-year conflict involving the Soviet Union, supporting the Marxist-Leninist government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan against the Afghan Mujahideen and foreign "Arab–Afghan" volunteers...
, and one of the main proponent of supplying and and shipping foreign weapons to Anti-Soviet Resistance. He also had prepared and established the clandestine units in SSG(N)
Special Service Group Navy
The Special Service Group Navy, codename SSG, are the Pakistan Navy's elite principal special operations naval force component. Together with the PAF 312th SS Wing, Special Service Group, Pakistan Marines, and Rangers, they form Pakistan Special Operations Command under the joint administrative...
to participate in conflict, though their involvement still remains classified. He was the first to established the special covert operation unit which is now known as Pakistan Navy Seals, tasked with the supervising and participating in the covert military operations.
Chief of Naval Staff
On 14 August 1986, Admiral Sirohey was promoted to four-star admiral in the Pakistan Navy, and was given the command of the Navy as he was made Chief of Naval StaffChief 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...
. His tenure saw the enhancement of Navy in terms of both manpower and military upgrades. As of seniority, Admiral Sirohey was the most-senior military officer in the Pakistan Defense Forces, and he was the second naval officer, after Admiral Mohammad Shariff
Mohammad Shariff
Admiral Mohammad Shariff, , , is a retired four-star naval officer and a career war veteran. Admiral Mohammad Shariff took over the command of Pakistan Navy on 21 March, 1979, when a three-star vice-admiral, Hasan Hafeez Ahmed, died in office...
, who was given the Command of Pakistan Armed Forces.
In 1988, he was made Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee
Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Pakistan
The Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee , is a military administrative body of high-ranking and senior uniformed military leaders and officers in the Pakistan Defense Forces who advises the civilian Government of Pakistan, National Security Council, and Defence Minister on important military matters...
in 1988 by the 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...
Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto was a democratic socialist who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996....
. As chairman, Admiral Sirohey was the Supreme Commandant of the Pakistan Armed Forces, and also served as the military advisor to the Prime minister till his retirement in 1991.
After military retirement
After his retirement, Admiral Sirohey joined Sustainable Development Policy InstituteSustainable Development Policy Institute
The Sustainable Development Policy Institute provides the global sustainable development community with representation from Pakistan as well as South Asia as a whole. The Institute's mission is: "To catalyse the transition towards sustainable development, defined as the enhancement of peace,...
in 1992. He later affiliated himself with The Institute of Strategic Studies in 1995 which he currently works there. He also founded the Foundation for the Advancement of Engineering Sciences and Advanced Technologies where he is its Chief Executive. He is also the author of his autobiography, Truth Never Retires (1996) Jang Publishers, Lahore.