Vice Admiral Mohammad Haroon HI(M) SI(M) TBt (Urdu: محمد ہارون) is a retired three-star rank admiral in the Pakistan Navy and a defence analyst, writing in the Express Tribune.[1]


Mohammad Haroon

Vice-Admiral M. Haroon
BornLahore, Punjab
Allegiance Pakistan
Service/branch Pakistan Navy
Years of service1967–2007
Rank Vice Admiral
Service numberPN No. 1241
UnitSubmarine Service Branch
Commands heldVice Chief of Naval Staff
Naval Attaché, High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi
Commander Submarine Service (COMSUBS)
Commander Pakistan Fleet
Battles/warsIndo-Pakistani War of 1971
Indo-Pakistani War of 1999
Indo-Pakistani standoff 2002
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami
War On Terror
Awards Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military)
Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military)
Tamgha-e-Basalat

In 2005, Admiral Haroon was notably superseded by Vice-Admiral Afzal Tahir to the appointment of Chief of Naval Staff as a four-star admiral but continued his service until he reached his set retirement date.[2]

Biography edit

Mohammad Haroon was born in Lahore, Punjab, initially belonging a village, Alowal, located in District Toba Tek Singh, into a military family; his father served in the Pakistan Army, retiring as major. After his matriculation, he joined the Pakistan Navy in Sub-Lieutenant in 1967, and went to attend the Britannia Naval College where he graduated as underwater specialist in 1970, gaining commission as Lieutenant in the Navy.[3]

Lt. Haroon participated well in the western front of the third war with India in 1971, serving in the PNS Mangro.[4] Before participating, Lt. Haroon did a brief duty in East Pakistan's coastal areas in 1969–70.[5] After the war, his career in the Navy progressed well, eventually Cdr. Haroon commanding a submarine squadron.[3]

He was educated, and graduated in the war studies degree from the National Defence University in Islamabad in the 1970s. He also went to the United States to attend, and graduated from the Naval War College in Rhode Island, United States.[3] Upon returning to Pakistan, he briefly served in the Navy NHQ as Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Plans).[3] As Captain in the Navy, he commanded a destroyer and three Hangor-class submarine as his command assignments.[5]

In 1987-90s, Captain Haroon was selected by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for a diplomatic assignment, and briefly served as naval attaché at the High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi, India.[6]

In 1996, Cdre Haroon served in the Joint Staff HQ in Rawalpindi as directing staff of war wing, and later served as director joint training.: contents [7]

In 2000–01, Cdre Haroon was promoted to two-star rank, and Rear-Admiral Haroon took over as the commander of the Submarine Command (COMSUBS), actively participating in deploying the submarines during the military standoff with India in 2001.[7] In 2002, Rear-Admiral Haroon was appointed as commander of Karachi (COMKAR), having received the German Navy warship in Karachi coast which paid the farewell visit to Pakistan Navy.[8] In 2003, Rear-Admiral Haroon was promoted to three-star assignment in the Navy.

In 2004–05, Vice-Admiral Haroon was appointed as a senior fleet commander of Pakistan Navy's Fleet (COMPAK).[9] On 7 November 2005, Vice-Admiral Haroon was appointed as Vice Chief of Naval Staff.[3][10]

In 2005, Vice-Admiral Haroon was notably superseded by Vice-Admiral Afzal Tahir to the four-star rank appointment and as the four-star admiral in the Navy.[2] This promotion for Admiral Afzal Tahir marked with controversy that Admiral Tahir had to clarify his working relationship with Vice-Admiral Haroon, stressing "no differences with Admiral Haroon and had family terms with him."[2] Vice-Admiral Haroon served to complete his tenureship under Admiral Tahir, Chief of Naval Staff, and was eventually retired in 2007.[2]

After retiring from the Navy, Admiral Haroon was invited to be appointed as Rector of the Bahria University in Karachi, and is a regular columnist for country's political correspondents on national security and defence analysis.[11][1][12][13]

Awards and decorations edit

 
 
 
       
       
       
       
Pakistan Navy Operations Branch Badge
Command at Sea insignia
Hilal-e-Imtiaz

(Military)

(Crescent of Excellence)

Sitara-e-Imtiaz

(Military)

(Star of Excellence)

Tamgha-e-Basalat

(Medal of Good Conduct)

Sitara-e-Harb 1971 War

(War Star 1971)

Tamgha-e-Jang 1971 War

(War Medal 1971)

Tamgha-e-Baqa

(Nuclear Test Medal)

1998

Tamgha-e-Istaqlal Pakistan

(Escalation with India Medal)

2002

10 Years Service Medal 20 Years Service Medal
30 Years Service Medal 35 Years Service Medal 40 Years Service Medal Tamgha-e-Sad Saala Jashan-e-

Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam

(100th Birth Anniversary of

Muhammad Ali Jinnah)

1976

Hijri Tamgha

(Hijri Medal)

1979

Jamhuriat Tamgha

(Democracy Medal)

1988

Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha

(Resolution Day

Golden Jubilee Medal)

1990

Tamgha-e-Salgirah Pakistan

(Independence Day

Golden Jubilee Medal)

1997

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b "vice.admiral.r.mohammad.haroon, Author at The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d Staff writer (8 October 2005). "Admiral Tahir assumes command of Pakistan Navy". DAWN.COM. Islamabad: Dawn Newspapers, 2005. Dawn Newspaper. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e From the Newspapers (8 November 2005). "Admiral Haroon appointed Vice Chief of Naval Staff". DAWN.COM. Islamabad: Dawn Newspapers. Dawn Newspaper. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  4. ^ "Selections from Regional Press". Institute of Regional Studies. 2006. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Vice Admiral Mohammad Haroon appointed vice chief of Naval staff". archive.is. Pakistan Tribune. 2005. Pakistan Tribune. 5 September 2012. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2017.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. ^ Anwar, Dr Muhammad (2006). "career appointments". Stolen Stripes and Broken Medals: Autobiography of a Senior Naval Officer. Author House. ISBN 9781467010566. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  7. ^ a b Anwar, Dr Muhammad (2006). Stolen Stripes and Broken Medals: Autobiography of a Senior Naval Officer. Author House. ISBN 9781467010566. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  8. ^ Kuna (4 May 2002). "TWO GERMAN FRIGATES IN KARACHI PART OF COALITION 04/05/2002". www.kuna.net.kw. Islamabad. Kuna.net. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  9. ^ "Passing out ceremony of SSGN". Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  10. ^ "Vice Admiral Mohammad Haroon Appointed Vice Chief of Naval Staff." Pakistan News Service - PakTribune. Pakistan Tribune, 07 Nov. 2005. Web. 22 Dec. 2011. <http://www.paktribune.com/news/print.php?id=124655 Archived 5 September 2012 at archive.today>
  11. ^ "Introduction". Bahria University press. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  12. ^ "ISIS fighters in Tora Bora pose threat to Pakistan". Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  13. ^ "Contact Us: Rector Bahria University." Bahria University. Bahria University, 04 Feb. 2009. Web. 22 Dec. 2011. <http://www.bahria.edu.pk/newSite/home2.php?catId=396 Archived 2012-01-03 at the Wayback Machine>.

External links edit

Military offices
Preceded by Vice Chief of Naval Staff of Pakistan Navy
7 Nov 2005 – ?
Succeeded by