By Admiral Ravindra C. Wijegunaratne
TWA
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53 years ago, in 1971, Indian Army led by General (later Field Marshal) Sam Manekshaw walked in to them East Pakistan to stop refugees influx into India from its Eastern borders.
The Pakistan Navy War College, Lahore celebrated its 50th anniversary three years ago. I was fortunate enough to be part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations being an alumni of the College, on invitation then Chief of Navy Staff (Navy Commander) of Pakistan Navy.
I was a member of Course conducted by College in 1995/96. It was the last course conducted in Karachi before College was shifted to Lahore, the beautiful Garden City of Pakistan, and seat of Muslim Mogul Empire, almost 500 years ago- from Emperor Akbar to Emperor Aurangzeb.
The course is ten months long and with number of industrial visits, military exercises and a foreign tour. Approximately 70 students, majority from Pakistan Navy and two each from Pakistan Army and Air Force attend the course. Ten officers from friendly foreign Countries also invited to the course. I did the 24th course in 1995/96. At that time College was located at Karachi and was known as “Pakistan Navy Staff College “. Foreign officers were offered very comfortable housing for their families. I was with my young family. My son was only three years old and started going to Kindergarten in Karachi. Pakistan military personnel are very fond of Sri Lankan military personnel. They were always respectful towards us. They helped us in always. With the lucrative foreign allowances paid by our country, we had very comfortable lifestyle at Karachi and I worked very hard in my studies and took part in Inter- Staff College sports activities. At the end of the course,, I was able to secure BSc (Hons) (War Studies) degree from Karachi University, and also became first Sri Lankan Naval officer to do so. Above all it was the year (1996) Sri Lanka cricket team won World Cup at Gaddaffi stadium, Lahore.
(Vice Admiral Tasnim of Pakistan Navy)
Among the distinguished foreign alumni of the War College for last 53 years , eight officers commanded their respective Navies. They are Major General Rowland Leslie Makandu Tanzania Navy 1989, Staff Brigadier Khaflan Al Room UAE Navy 1996, Major General Said Shusan Omary Tanzania Navy 2006, Staff Major General M Al Muhammad Ahmed UAE Navy 2005, First Admiral Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Othman Bin Hj Suhaili Royal Brunei Navy 2005, Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi Islamic Republic of Iran Navy 2007 and Colonel Hishan Kharkiv Aljarrah Royal Jordanian Navy 2013.
I was the Commander of the Navy of Sri Lanka in 2015 and only foreign Alumni to become a Chief Of Defense Staff (CDS) of Armed Forces. Further, I was only recipient of Highest medal of Pakistan – Nishan-e-Imtiyaz (Military) medal (Order of Excellence) from Pakistan President at a special investiture Ceremony in February 2019 in Islamabad. (please google Nishantha-e-Imtiyaz for more details) So, I was specially invited for the celebrations and traveled as guest of Pakistan Navy Chief via Doha to this celebrations at Lahore, Pakistan.
Golden Jubilee celebrations started with Alumni dinner. Chief Guest was Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi, the Chief of Naval Staff, Pakistan. On head table next to me was tall, very smart and old gentleman who introduced him self as “Vice Admiral Tasnim retired from Pakistan Navy”. He mentioned in our short conversation at dinner table that he is 86 years old and he did his basic naval training at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC), Dartmouth, UK with “Midshipman Asoka Silva” in 1950 ! I immediately knew his class. Admiral Asoka Silva was our 9th Navy Commander from 1983 to 1986. His son , Sajith was one year senior to me in Royal College and we both were keen Scouts at that time. Vice Admiral Tasnim said he was in PN Staff College in Directing Staff and later became the Commandant of Pakistan Navy Staff College later.
That night with the intention of finding more details about this senior retired Pakistan Naval officer, I typed “Vice Admiral Tasnim of Pakistan Navy” on google.
(Award of Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) medal from Dr. Arif Alvi at President House in Islamabad on 13 February 2019.)
He was a War hero of 1971 India-Pakistan War which was lost by Pakistan and where new Nation Bangaladesh was created.
Exactly 53 years ago, in 1971, Indian Army led by General (later Field Marshal) Sam Manekshaw walked in to them East Pakistan to stop refugees influx into India from its Eastern borders. Indian action made in this 13-day War 3rd to 16th Dec 1971 made Pakistan to surrender . Indian troops were supported by freedom fighters of Bangaladesh, Mukthi Buhani. More than 93,000 Pakistan Army troops surrendered to Indian Army and India declared victorious.
They crated Bangaladesh, a newly Independent Nation led by Mukthi Buhani leader Shiek Mujebar Rahaman ( father of former Bangladesh PM Begam Shiek Hasina).
However Naval action out at sea some what different. Indian Admirals carrying out “out of the box” thinking, towed three OSA class missile boats by bigger War ships and targeted Karachi harbour and fuel tanks in harbour, which Brent for days.
However action of Pakistan Navy Submarine PNS Hangor (S- 131) ( nickname Shark) French made Daphne class to sink Indian Navy ASW Frigate (UK built type 14) on 9th Dec 1971 was the highlights of the Naval battle between two countries. This was first time after World War ll, a submarine has able to sink a war ship, until in 1982 Falklands War Argentinian Navy Battle Ship” General Beltrano” was sunk by Royal Navy Submarine in Antarctic Sea.
I was so impressed with this Pakistan Navy War hero, who was awarded with Medals Hillary-e-Imitiyaz medal, Sitar-e-Jurat medal twice, Sitar-e- Imitiyaz (Military) and Sitara-e- Basalat. That was the last time I met him three years ago. I lost contact with him. Being an Anti- Submarine Specialist trained in India, I was always fascinated and impressed with action by Submariners; specially against surface ships, who are determined to hunt them down. I recommend you to read International Best Seller book by Tom Clancy “ Hunt for Red October “ to understand hide- and-seek operations in deep seas Surface ships verses Submarines.
In 2023 December, I was appointed as Sri Lanka High Commissioner to Islamabad, Pakistan. My Pakistan friends, specially serving and retired Senior Military Officers and their families were extremely happy to see my family (Yamuna and son) and myself in Islamabad as High Commissioner, the only person in Sri Lanka who was awarded with highest National Honour of Pakistan, Nishan-e-Imitiyaz medal.
I decided to look for Vice Admiral (R) Ahamad Thasnim, the most bravest Submarine Commander of our time, who is 91 years old ! The Pakistan Navy able to help me in locating him, living only few Kilometres away from my official residence in Islamabad with his wife. Even at age of 91 years, he never missed his 5-kilometres walk every morning.
(Visit to Pakistan Navy War College, Lahore as High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Pakistan)
I was waiting for an good opportunity to invite him and his lady to have delicious Sri Lankan food (Ceylon food- which he liked when he visited Ceylon several times for JET Naval Exercises- where Indian Navy, Pakistan Navy, Royal Australian Navy and Royal Navy took part at Trincomalee most 60 years ago.)
The Sri Lanka Air Force Commander Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa visited Islamabad last month and it was the great of for me to invite Legendary Submariner and his wife to join us.
(Group photo with Sri Lankan Air Force Commander Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa and Pakistan Navy Vice Admiral Tasnim at my official residence in Islamabad. 2024)
It was a great experience to be with Vice Admiral and listen to his stories from his Britannia Royal Naval College time to sinking of Indian Navy Anti Submarine Frigate INS Kukri in 1971 India- Pakistan War !
He had only one wish , which he wrote down on my Visitors Book at High Commissioner’s Official Residence “ God be kind enough to get me an opportunity to visit Beautiful Harbour of Trincomalee again, before I die”.
Guest Auther:
Ravindra C Wijegunaratne
The writer of this article, Admiral Ravindra C. Wijegunaratne (retired from the Sri Lanka Navy and former Chief of Defence Staff), is also a Former High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Pakistan.
