Shahid Karimullah: Difference between revisions

{{Use Pakistani English|date=January 2022}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}

Shahid Karimullah was born in [[Karachi]], [[Sindh]], Pakistan on 14 February 1948 to an [[Urdu speaking|Urdu-speaking]] family who belongs to [[Hyderabad Deccan]] in [[India]] but migrated to Pakistan following [[Partition of India|partition]] of British Indian in 1947.<ref name="Shahid Karimullah -  Biographical Summaries of Notable People - MyHeritage">{{cite web|title=Shahid Karimullah – Biographical Summaries of Notable People – MyHeritage|url=https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10182-633329/shahid-karimullah-in-biographical-summaries-of-notable-people|website=www.myheritage.com|publisher=Shahid Karimullah – Biographical Summaries of Notable People – MyHeritage|access-date=10 January 2022}}</ref> He comes from a [[military brat|military family]] and his father, [[Lieutenant-Commander]] Muhammad Karimullah also served in the [[Royal Indian Navy]] and later the [[Pakistan Navy]].<ref name="Pakistani defence, 2002">{{cite news|last1=Obaid|first1=CEO|title=Shahid Karimullah Appointed New Chief Of Navel Staff|url=http://www.pakistanidefence.com/news/MonthlyNewsArchive/2002/October2002.htm|access-date=10 January 2017|work=www.pakistanidefence.com|agency=Pakistani defence|issue=2|publisher=Pakistani defence, 2002|date=4 October 2022}}</ref>

After graduating from a local high school in 1963, he was admitted and studied at the famed [[D. J. Sindh Government Science College|D. J. Science College]] before joining the [[Pakistan Navy]] in October 1965.<ref name="Shahid Karimullah">{{cite web|last1=Shahid Karimullah|title=Shahid Karimullah|url=http://www.oldpublicans.com/old_publicans/1963/shahid_karimullah.html|website=www.oldpublicans.com|publisher=Shahid Karimullah|access-date=10 January 2022}}</ref> He was trained at the [[Pakistan Military Academy]] but later sent to [[United Kingdom]] to attend the [[Royal Navy]]'s [[HMS Mercury (shore establishment)|HMS Mercury]] where he graduated with a communication courses and gained [[Commissioned officer|military commission]] as a [[Midshipman]] in the Navy in October 1968.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Foreign Affairs Pakistan|journal=Pakistan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2006|date=1 January 2006|volume=3|issue=1–2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YONtAAAAMAAJ&q=shahid+karimullah+long+course|access-date=10 January 2017|publisher=Pakistan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs|language=en}}</ref> His [[Service number|S/ No.]] was 1126 issued by the [[Ministry of Defence (Pakistan)|Defence ministry]] and later promoted as [[Sub-Lieutenant]] in the Navy in 1971.<ref>{{cite web|title=List of Gallantry Awardees – PN Officers/CPOs/Sailors « PakDef Military Consortium|url=http://pakdef.org/list-of-gallantry-awardees-pn-officerscpossailors/|website=pakdef.org|access-date=25 January 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810172213/http://pakdef.org/list-of-gallantry-awardees-pn-officerscpossailors/|archive-date=10 August 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Shahid Karimullah"/>

In 2002, Vice-Admiral Karimullah was appointed [[Chief of Naval Staff (Pakistan)|Chief of Naval Staff]] and was promoted to [[Four-star rank|four-star]] admiral in the Navy before taking the post.<ref name="Dawn Newspapers, 2002" /> Admiral Karimullah superseded two senior naval officers, Vice-Admiral [[Taj Muhammad Khattak|Taj Khattak]], the [[Chief of Staff of the Pakistan Navy|Vice Chief of Naval Staff (VCNS)]], and Vice-Admiral [[Gul Zaman Malik|G.Z. Malik]], the commander of Submarine fleet– both officers were much senior to him.{{rp|xxx}}<ref name="Author House, Anwar"/> During this time, he engaged in talks with the [[People's Liberation Army Navy|Chinese Navy]] for a technology transfer of building the modern [[F-22P Zulfiquar-class frigate|warships]] in Karachi.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Staff writer|first1=Reporters|title=Pakistan to acquire Chinese battleships|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20021114/world.htm|access-date=10 January 2017|work=Tribune India|agency=Tribune India|issue=1`|publisher=Tribune India, 2002|date=13 November 2022}}</ref>

As a response to the [[Agni-I]] missile test in 2002, Admiral Karimullah began advocating for acquiring the [[nuclear navy]] capability but denied of deploying [[nuclear weapons|nuclear arsenals]] on the [[Agosta 90B class submarine|Agosta 90B submarines]].<ref name="NTI Pakistan">{{cite web|last1=NTI Pakistan|first1=NTI Pakistan|title=Pakistan Submarine Capabilities|url=http://www.nti.org/analysis/articles/pakistan-submarine-capabilities/|website=www.nti.org|publisher=NTI Pakistan|access-date=10 January 2022}}</ref> Admiral Karimullah ambiguously left the option open and quoted to [[News channels in Pakistan|news media]] that it would do so only if "forced to."<ref name="NTI Pakistan"/>

In 2003, Admiral Karimullah again secretly pushed for the [[second strike capability]] in the government but publicly reiterated on the issue of nuclear weapons and announced that while no such immediate plans really existed, but he did stressed on the fact Pakistan would not hesitate to take such steps if it felt so compelled.<ref name="Carnegie Endowment for International Peace">{{cite web|last1=Rehman|first1=Iskander|title=Murky Waters: Naval Nuclear Dynamics in the Indian Ocean|url=http://carnegieendowment.org/2015/03/09/murky-waters-naval-nuclear-dynamics-in-indian-ocean-pub-59279|website=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace|publisher=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace|access-date=10 January 2022}}</ref> He remained concerns of expansion of [[Indian Navy]] in the region and continued his secret push for acquiring of the modern weapon systems for the Navy.<ref name="Dawn Newspapers, 2004"/>

In 2004, he successfully negotiated with the [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] to induct the Navy in the [[Combined Maritime Forces|combined maritime force]] to provide cooperation in regional maritime and security affair.<ref name="Dawn Newspapers, 2004">{{cite news |title=Navy to join US-led coalition plan: Admiral Shahid|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/393443|access-date=10 January 2017|work=Dawn.com |publisher=Dawn Newspapers |date=17 April 2022}}</ref> Admiral Shahid Karimullah was notably bypassed by [[President of Pakistan|President]] [[Pervez Musharraf]] for the [[Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee|chairmanship]] for the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee]] in October 2004.<ref name="Dawn newspapers, Staff 2004"/> Admiral Karimullah was the most senior-most four-star rank officer in the [[Pakistan Armed Forces|Pakistani military]] and was controversially superseded by the junior-most [[Pakistan Army|army general]], [[Lieutenant-General]] [[Ehsan ul Haq]].<ref name="Dawn newspapers, Staff 2004">{{cite news |title=New JCSC chief, VCOAS appointed|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/397048|access-date=10 January 2017|work=Dawn.com |publisher=Dawn newspapers |date=3 October 2022}}</ref>

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 [[United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea|UN Conventions on Laws of Seas]] of 1982.<ref name="Dawn newspapers, 2005">{{cite news |display-authors=etal |author=War Correspondents|title=Navy seeks extension of continental shelf|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/150439/karachi-navy-seeks-extension-of-continental-shelf|access-date=10 January 2017|work=Dawn.com |publisher=Dawn Newspapers |date=2 August 2022}}</ref> It was in 2015 when the borders were extended which pushed Pakistan's area of sea border to 50,000 square kilometres.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pakistan seabed territory grows by 50,000 square kilometres|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1170986|access-date=10 January 2017|work=DAWN.COM|date=21 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Musharraf drags former Pakistani top guns into trial|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/392437/archives.php|access-date=10 January 2017|work=Deccan Herald}}</ref>

Having by-passed as [[Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee|Chairman joint chiefs]] post, President Musharraf announced to appoint Admiral Karimullah for a diplomatic post and appointed him as Pakistan Ambassador to [[Saudi Arabia]].<ref name="Arab News, 2006">{{cite news|last1=staff writer|first1=etl.al|title=Karimullah Is Named New Pak Ambassador|url=http://www.arabnews.com/node/279597|access-date=10 January 2017|work=Arab News|agency=Arab News|publisher=Arab News, 2006|date=29 January 2022}}</ref> In 2009, he left the post once completing his tenure and returned to [[Karachi]], [[Sindh]], Pakistan.<ref name="Dawn newspaper, 2009">{{cite news|title=Dogar may be named ambassador to Saudi Arabia|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/957492/dogar-may-be-named-ambassador-to-saudi-arabia|access-date=10 January 2017|work=DAWN.COM|agency=Dawn newspaper, 2009|publisher=Dawn newspaper, 2009|date=21 March 2022}}</ref>

He was also decorated with the [[Legion of Merit]] by the [[United States]], presented to him by [[United States Navy|US Navy]]'s [[Chief of Naval Operations|CNO]] Admiral [[Admiral Vern Clark|Vern Clark]] in 2004.<ref name=":0">{{Citation |last=Bivera |first=U. S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Johnny |title=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) |date=2004-07-21 |url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_040721-N-2383B-066_Adm._Shahid_Karimullah,_Chief_of_Naval_Staff,_Pakistan_Navy_is_presented_the_Legion_of_Merit_from_Adm._Vern_Clark,_Chief_of_Naval_Operations_(CNO).jpg |access-date=2022-04-02}}</ref> In 2005, he was conferred with [[France|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.<ref name="dawn newspapers, July 2005">{{cite news |title=Navy, Air chiefs receive highest French award|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/147807|access-date=10 January 2017|work=Dawn.com |issue=1|publisher=Dawn Newspapers |date=14 July 2022}}</ref>

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.<ref name="Pakistan Tribune, 2005">{{cite news|title=Shahid Karimullah conferred with Malaysian gallant commander award|url=http://paktribune.com/news/Shahid-Karimullah-conferred-with-Malaysian-gallant-commander-award-119918.html|access-date=10 January 2017|work=Paktribune|agency=Pakistan Tribune|publisher=Pakistan Tribune, 2005|date=21 September 2022}}</ref>

After retiring from the [[Foreign Service of Pakistan|foreign service]], he apparently joined the "Progress", a public service [[think tank]], and serves on its advisory board.<ref name="Progress Secretariat">{{cite web|title=Advisory Council|url=http://www.progress.org.pk/advisory-council/|website=www.progress.org.pk|publisher=Progress Secretariat|access-date=10 January 2022}}</ref> He also remained chairman of Karachi Council on Foreign Relations for some time.<ref name="Pakistan Observer, 2016">{{cite news|last1=Khan|first1=Amanullah|title=India played dirty in Bangladesh's creation|url=http://pakobserver.net/india-played-dirty-in-bangladeshs-creation/|access-date=10 January 2017|work=Pakistan Observer|agency=Pakistan Observer|publisher=Pakistan Observer, 2016|date=17 December 2022}}</ref>

{{s-ttl|title=[[Chief of Naval Staff (Pakistan)|Chief of Naval Staff]]|years=2002–2022}}