Syed Mohammad Ahsan: Difference between revisions

Syed Mohammad Ahsan
File:ARKhan.jpg Vice Admiral S.M. Ahsan, PN
Birth name	Syed Mohammad Ahsan
Nickname(s)	S.M. Ahsan
Buried	Karachi Military Graveyard
Allegiance	Pakistan
Service / branch	Pakistan Navy
Years of service	1940–1971
Rank	Vice-Admiral
Service number	PN No. 07
Unit	Naval Operation Branch
Commands	Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Eastern Military High Command Commander Logistics (COMLOG) Commander Pakistan Fleet (COMPAK) DG Naval Intelligence (DGNI) PNS Tariq Cadet College Petaro Aide-de-camp to Louis Mountbatten Military Advisor to the Government Martial Law Administrator East-Pakistan
Battles / wars	Second World War Battle of Britain Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Operation Dwarka Operation Barisal
Awards	Sitara-e-Pakistan Distinguished Service Order Hilal-e-Quaid-i-Azam
Other work	Statesman

Vice-Admiral Syed Mohammad Ahsan HQA, SPk, DSO, (Template:Lang-ur) (b. 1921 – d. 1989) was a senior 3 star rank admiral who was the 4th Chief of Naval Staff of Pakistan Navy from October 20, 1966 to August 31, 1969.^[1] A naval intelligence officer by profession, Vice-Admiral Ahsan was an integral to established and expand the capabilities of Naval Intelligence and the elite Naval Special Service Group, and took initiatives to modernize the navy.^[2][3] As director-general of Naval Intelligence, Vice-Admiral S.M. Ahsan participated actively in the war and led the Naval intelligence operations during Indo-Pak 1965 September war.^[4]

He was the most trusted companion of President and Chief Martial Law Administrator Field Marshal Ayub Khan and was presented in every meeting chaired by Khan.^[4] Vice-Admiral Syed Mohammad Ahsan rose to be country's second most influential and powerful man during the Ayub Khan's military dictatorship, with playing influential role in Ayub Khan's military and strategic policies in Pakistan.^[4] In 1969, after his tenure was completed as Chief of Naval Staff, Chief Martial Law Administrator General Yahya Khan led the appointment of Vice-Admiral Ahsan as the Martial Law Administrator of East Pakistan as he accepted the request from former President.^[4]

On 1st September of 1969, Vice-Admiral Ahsan presumed the command of East-Pakistan as Martial Law Administrator with given absolute and authoritative gubernatorial and political power and military power of the East-Pakistan.^[4] Admiral Syed Mohammad Ahsan was the unified commander of the Pakistan Combatant Forces in the Eastern contingent, and served as the Commander of the Pakistan Eastern Military High Command until his resignation, in protest, on 7th March of 1971.^[4]

Admiral Ahsan was born and bred in Hyderabad Deccan, India (that time the region was known as British Indian Empire), to an educated Urdu-speaking family. Ahsan was the the first cousin of Royal Indian Merchant Navy Captain Muhammad Syed.^[1] Together with his cousin, Ahsan graduated from Indian Naval Academy as he had gained B.S. in Military science.^[1] Later, he passed the entry university exam, and attended the Osmania University as Royal Navy funded his education. At there, he studied and graduate with B.Sc. in Statistics and physics in 1943.^[1] He joined the Royal Indian Navy in 1940 and began his active duty with Royal Indian Navy as he gained commissioned as Sub-Lieutenant (Lieutenant Junior Grade) in 1943.^[5] After his academic degree gained from Osmania University, Lieutenant Ahsan was drafted in Royal Navy's Naval Operations Branch, and traveled to United Kingdom.^[5] He initially worked as an Weapon Engineer Officer (WEO) at the Royal Naval Engineers.^[5] While in 1945, he roses up to the rank of a Lieutenant and actively participated in World War II, fighting shoulders-to-shoulders with Royal Navy against the Nazi Germany.^[5] As Lieutenant, he was Executive officer at the Royal Naval Engineers where he played a major role in strengthening the British Naval electrical and radar systems that were providing key information to Royal Navy against the German Navy operations in English channel.^[5] For his services to the Royal Navy, the George VI conferred him with Distinguished Service Order .^[5] He returned to British Indian Empire with continued his services with Royal Navy.^[5] Following his return in 1946, Lieutenant Ahsan was made ADC to Lord Mountbatten of Burma and assisted him in a meetings he would held to solve the crises in British Indian Empire as he was the Supreme Commander of the British Indian Armed Forces.^[6][7] At the time of independence of Pakistan in August 14th of 1947, Lieutenant Ahsan chose to join the Pakistan Navy and accepted the citizenship of Pakistan.^[5] He was subsequently promoted as Lieutenant-Commander and was assigned the position of military adviser to the founder and first Governor-General M.A. Jinnah.^[7][8] Lieutenant-Commander Ahsan was the first person at Jinnah Terminal to receive Mountabattens when they first arrived to Karachi to meet Jinnah.^[6]

On 30th September of 1949, the PNS Tippu Sultan was given commissioned under the command of Commander PS Evans. Lieutenant-Commander Ahsan was made Tippu Sultan's was assigned as its First Lieutenant.^[9] In 1950, he was promoted to Commander and commanded PNS Tariq and made first goodwill visit to Malta, along with Tippu Sultan, commanded by Commander Afzal Rahman Khan.^[9] Later in 1951, he also commanded HMS Tughril for a short time.^[9]

In 1952, he was promoted to Commander and was made the Deputy Director of the Naval Intelligence, and played an integral and major role in formulating the policies and instutitional set up of the Naval Intelligence and the directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).^[10] At the end of December of 1952, Major-General Robert Cawthome, Director-General of the Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI), sent a priority report to the Commander Ahsan, and asked for a detailed reactions of Pakistan Armed Forces personnel for the Basic principles for the ISI.^[10] During the meeting with the ISI officials, Ahsan concluded that East-Pakistan mustn't be ignored and should be given equal ranks as of West-Pakistan. Ahsan feared that such actions might triggered the war which would result in partitioning the East and West Pakistan.^[10] In 1958, he was made Captain, and was made staff officer and also served as the Principle military secretary to Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan, wife of former Prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan.^[11] In 1960, he was promoted to 1 star rank Commodore, and was situated in the Naval Combatant Headquarters (NHQ) in Karachi.^[5] Ahsan established the Logistics Command as Pakistan Navy had suffered logistics problems that were absent in East and West Pakistan.^[5] He established the Karachi Naval Logistic base, known as COMLOG, and served its first commander.^[5] In 1957, he was made Commander of Pakistan Fleet (COMPAK).^[5] As commander of COMLOG, he also supervised the navy-led projects and supervise the construction of Naval Operation Headquarters in Karachi. However in 1961, Ahsan was made Director-General of the Naval Intelligence and established the naval intelligence unit within the navy. In 1964, Ahsan was promoted to 2 star rank of Rear Admiral and was situated in Ayub Khan's Presidential office. He was the principal military secretary to Ayub Khan, Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan Army and President at the same.^[4] At short span of time, Rear-Admiral Ahsan gained influence on President Ayub Khan and advising him on important military issues.^[4] Ahsan was presented at every meeting chaired by President Ayub Khan and played an major role in Ayub Khan's decision on military affairs.^[4] Ahsan also played an influential role in the establishment of Pakistan's Eastern Military High Command.^[4] Ahsan was opposed of any military action against Bengalis of East-Pakistan, therefore, he kept preventing Khan from taking military actions in East Pakistan despite the calls were made.^[4]

Following the failure of airborne operation, codename Operation Gibraltar, in Kashmir, India attacked Pakistan and a second war was fought between India and Pakistan. As Director-General of Naval Intelligence, Ahsan planned the naval operation Operation Somnath at Dwarka and selected a combatant fleet to conduct the operation. The operation met with mixed results but it had prevented the Indian Air Force to conduct raids in Karachi.^[12] A series of naval operations were conducted under his command and passed intels to Pakistan Armed Forces stationed at the harbor, and prevented Indian Armed Forces to launch the naval operations in Pakistan's coastal areas.^[12] As director-general of Naval Intelligence, Ahsan gathered the successful intelligence reports on the Indian Navy's strategic western naval positions, and orchestrated naval operations against the Indian Navy.^[12] In 1965, after the war ended, Ayub Khan awarded him the highest hierarchy award Star of Pakistan, making him the only naval officer to win the award. He was promoted to the 3 star officer rank, a Vice-Admiral.^[13] After the war, Ayub Khan personally appointed him as the 4th Chief of Naval of Pakistan Navy on October 20, 1966, nearly a year after the war with India in September 1965.^[14]

As he assumed the command, his tenure saw the induction of Hangor in the Naval Submarine Service Branch (SSB).^[3] As Chief of Naval Staff, he modernized the Pakistan Navy and created an Intelligence circle in the Pakistan Navy. He also expanded the navy's operations throughout the country, and established a well-maintained Naval Intelligence Directorate, directly reporting to him. In 1966, he accepted the recommendation from United States Navy and established the Naval Special Service Group, an equivalent organization to that of U.S. Navy SEALs.^[2] He also established the Naval Academy in Karachi.^[15] As Chief of Naval Staff, he also served as the as Board of Governors of Cadet College Petaro from 1966–1968.^[16]

Vice-Admiral Ahsan is also credited for founding Port Qasim – Pakistan's second port after exploring the coast around Phitti Creek, when he was Chief of Naval Staff.^[17] He immediately met with then Energy Minister and Foreign Minister Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto where he had convincing Bhutto in 1972 to locate the port there.^[17] After convincing Bhutto, he had supervised the construction and establishment of the port where he had set up the main industries and machineries at the Port.^[17] The main channel of this port bears his name.^[17]

Upon his relieved as Chief of Naval Staff of Navy at the end of August 1969, Chief Martial Law Administrator and Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan Army General Yahya Khan appointed him to become the Governor and Martial Law Administrator of East-Pakistan on 1 September of 1969, as Ayub Khan had requested his brother for the appointment.^[18] The assignment was considered highly difficult for the Pakistan High Military Command, and many high command officers from Pakistan Armed Forces were highly cautious about their appointment in East-Pakistan.^[19] The crises in East Pakistan was at its peak and situation was deteriorated under the Military administration of Major-General Muzaffaruddin.^[20] Therefore, the Pakistan High Military Combatant Command handed over the control of the province to an active uniformed admiral Syed Mohammad Ahsan.^[20] As tradition, the Chiefs of their respected Armed services were expected to retired from their services once they had complete their tenure.^[21] However, the situation in East Pakistan was at critical point, and Military Government wanted an administrator with a good reputation in the province.^[21] Therefore, Vice-Admiral Syed Mohammad Ahsan was given extension and instead was given a command assignment that was considered very difficult.^[21] On 1 September of 1969, Admiral Ahsan arrived, in his uniform, to East Pakistan and assumed the control of the East contingent. He was the unified commander of the Pakistan Combatant Forces with both political and military powers in his hand.^[21] As military administrator of East Pakistan, Admiral S.M. Ahsan tried to led the solution for the East Pakistan crisis, continuously meeting General Yahya Khan, and the political leadership at both East and West Pakistan.^[21] During the time, he was made military administrator, the country had been in turmoil with riots and disturbances all over the country (East and West Pakistan) against the rule of former President Field Marshal Ayub Khan.^[21]

After returning to East-Pakistan, the Pakistan Armed Forces were already in mood of conducting and preparing a military operation to curb the movement.^[22] Admiral Ahsan learned that the Central Military government had decided to undertake an operation in East-Pakistan, despite what Admiral Ahsan had recommended in the meeting.^[22] When it became apparent and inevitable that an armed operation will take place, Admiral Ahsan resigned, in protest, from his position as Martial Law Administrator and Unified commander of Pakistan Armed Forces in East Pakistan on 7 March, 1971, less than three weeks before the military action.^[22] Admiral Ahsan did not waste a moment to stay in Eastern Military High Command's Headquarter in Dacca, and immediately flew to Karachi, West-Pakistan.^[22] Upon Ahsan's return to Karachi, he reported to Naval Combatant Headquarters, NHQ, in Karachi.^[22] Therefore, he received honorary retirement from the navy. He permanently settled in Karachi, and did not speak a word during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani Winter war.^[22]

It was in his charged atmosphere that parliamentary elections were held in the country in December 1970.^[23] Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s People's League was the clear victor having secured more than 39.2% of the seats in the Parliament.^[23] The outcomes were a shock to Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto who ended up with around 18.6% of the seats — all from West Pakistan.^[23] Therefore, Bhutto refused to accept a coalition government led by Prime minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman which led to the disastrous action by Pakistan Armed Forces in East Pakistan, and the eventual independence of Bangladesh after the Indian invasion in December 1971.^[23] Mujib pressed a subsequent pressured on Pakistan Armed Forces, and tapped a anti-Yahya Khan movement in both contingent.^[23] The high military commanders were pressing and advocating for an armed action in East Pakistan.^[23]

In February of 1971, Admiral Ahsan attended the high level government meeting chaired by Chief Martial Law Administrator General Yahya Khan.^[23] In a meeting, which Admiral Ahsan described "tense" and the atmosphere was highly "anti-bengali", with no representation from East Pakistan in the policy and decision making.^[23] Admiral Ahsan opposed any military armed action in East Pakistan, when he was asked on the situation. Admiral Ahsan was the only naval officer in the meeting which was full with Army and Air Force's generals.^[23] Because his continuous objection against the planned military plan, Admiral Ahsan became highly unpopular and his counter-parts and colleagues called him "difficult" at best and "sold to the Bengalis at worst".^[23] On February 22, 1971, Admiral Ahsan attended the last meeting over the issue of the East Pakistan.^[23] And, Chief Martial Law Administrator General Yahya Khan ordered his commanders in Pakistan Army, Air Force and Navy, to launch an extreme military action to curb the resistance, despite repeated calls made by Admiral Ahsan's to prevent any military operation.^[23] Disheartened and isolated by his colleagues, Admiral Ahsan returned to East Pakistan to pick up his personal belonging.^[23] On March 7, Admiral Ahsan resigned, in protest, from his position as Martial Law Administrator, and also resigned from his position as the Unified Commander of Pakistan Armed Forces in East Pakistan. He immediately returned to Karachi where he took honorary early retirement from Pakistan Navy, and permanently settled in Karachi.^[23] In an article titled A nation's shame published in the Newsline magazine of September 2000, the Admiral Ahsan concluded:

"But who was responsible for creating this hostile atmosphere and hatred among the people? The situation deteriorated further after General Yahya Khan postponed the first session of the newly elected constituent assembly. It became very clear immediately after the election results that the generals were not prepared to transfer power to the Awami League. First the delay in summoning the National Assembly session and later its postponement confirmed the Bengalis' worst fears, that the election results were not acceptable both to the generals and to the majority of West Pakistani politicians. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto publicly called for a boycott of the assembly session. Such a transgression was bound to further fuel public resentment".

After the disastrous war, Admiral Ahsan showed up in a Government Commission, headed by Chief Justice Hamoodur Rahman. There, Admiral Ahsan famously made a statement and aptly described the hostile mood of the military leadership when they decided to postpone the assembly session and launch a military operation in the eastern province.^[23] Admiral Ahsan publicly stated:

On arrival in Rawalpindi I was alarmed to notice the high tide of militarism flowing turbulently.... There was open talk of a military solution according to plan , maintained Admiral Ahsan. I was caught quite unaware in this atmosphere for I know of no military solution which could possibly solve whatever crisis was supposed to be impending in the minds of the authorities. It was evident from the statement that the decision to launch a military operation was taken without consulting the governor of East Pakistan who was the only sane voice in the government. Ahsan went on to describe the atmosphere at a crucial high-level meeting in Rawalpindi on February 22, 1971.^[23] The president presided over the meeting of the governors and martial law administrators attended as usual by the military and the civilian officers of the intelligence agencies. It is relevant to record that among the tribe of governors and MLAs I was the only non-army governor and the only active naval officer in the midst of active service men. I was the only person, though a non-Bengali, who had to represent the sentiments of seventy million Bengalis to a completely West Pakistani generalship. During the past 17 months, in meetings and conferences, my brief ran counter to the cut-and-dried solutions of West Pakistan representatives and civil servants. The president invariably gave decisions which accommodated East Pakistan's viewpoint, at least partially. This made me unpopular with my colleagues who probably thought I was 'difficult' at best and 'sold' to the Bengalis at worst.^[23]

After his retirement from Navy, Admiral Ahsan remained one of the notable Chief of Naval Staff of Pakistan Navy, with introducing more war programmes and educational programmes for the naval cadets. Because of his respected public image, Prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto made him the Chairman of the National Shipping Corporation in 1975 which he kept his position in 1976. During the military reign of Field Marshal Ayub Khan, Admiral Ahsan played a major and influential role in Ayub Khan's decision on both political and military affairs.^[10] Served as the ADC to Jinnah and Mountbatten, Admiral Ahsan strongly believed in state secularism, unity of cultures and race, non-discrimination policies, therefore, he advised Khan to promote his policies toward the secularism and progressive aspect.^[10] Admiral Ahsan rose to be country's second powerful man, with influencing Ayub Khan's major military decisions.^[10] Admiral Ahsan also played an influential and major role in Ayub Khan's policy that sidelined hardline Islamist, and diminished their political role in the public society.^[10]

However, Admiral Ahsan is most credited for founding Port Qasim - Pakistan's second port after exploring the coast around Phitti Creek in the 1966 and convincing Mr. Bhutto, President that time, in 1972 to locate the port there. Admiral Ahsan's years immediately preceding his death were quiet ones, and was put out of public eye during his last years. During his last years, Admiral Ahsan learned French and played bridge.^[24][25][26] On December 4, 1989, Admiral Ahsan peacefully died passed away in home during the midnight. He was given an honorary Guard of honor, and burial with Prime minister Benazir Bhutto, President Ghulam Ishaq Khan, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Admiral Iftikhar Ahmed Sirohey, and Chiefs of Staff of Army, Navy, and Air Force, and among others attended his funeral, and is buried at Karachi Military Graveyard.

For his services and honors, Pakistan Navy, in the honor and recognition of Vice-Admiral Syed Mohammad Ahsan, commissioned an intelligence and naval base on 30 October 1991, known as Ahsan Naval Base. The base was given commissioned by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Yastur-ul-Haq Malik. On 4 August 1989, the main channel of the Port Muhammad Bin Qasim bears his name, as it known as Ahsan Industrial Terminal. While inaugurating the channel, former Prime minister Benazir Bhutto acknowledged Admiral Ahsan's as the founder of Port Qasim at a speech on the occasion of the opening of a new terminal at Port Qasim on 4 August 1989.

• Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

• Admiral Syed Mohammad Ahsan

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