Noel Israel Khokhar is a retired Major General of the Pakistani Army. He was one of the highest-ranking Christian serving officers in the Pakistan Army. As of 2020, he is currently serving as an Ambassador of Pakistan to Ukraine.[3]

Noel Israel Khokhar
Director General ISSRA
In office
27 November 2013 – 25 July 2016
Director General ISSRA
In office
16 June 2011 – 16 October 2011
General Officer Commanding 23rd Infantry Division Jhelum
In office
January 2010[1] – June 2011
Personal details
Born (1960-10-24) 24 October 1960 (age 63)
Lahore, Pakistan
Education
Awards Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military)
Military service
Years of service1976–2016
Rank Major General
Unit9th Medium Regiment Artillery Corps
Commands

Early life edit

He was born in Lahore and attended the St. Anthony's High School in Lahore and Forman Christian College. Khokhar joined the Pakistan Army and passed out from the 62nd PMA Living Course in 1976 and was commissioned in the 9th Medium Regiment of the Pakistan Army Artillery on 24 October 1980.[4]

Military career edit

He served in a variety of command and staff positions as well as with the United Nations. He has also been an instructor in Pakistan Military Academy, Pakistan Command and Staff College, and the National Defence University.[5] He is also a graduate from the Institute of Advanced Studies in National Defence and Royal College of Defence Studies in the United Kingdom. He also holds a master's degree from Quaid-i-Azam University and King's College London and a PhD in International Relations.

On 9 May 2009, the Army Promotion Board in Rawalpindi promoted Brigadier Khokhar to the rank of major general.[6]

According to an Inter Services Public Relations Press Release dated 6 September 2010 Khokhar was General Officer Commanding in 2010.[7]

In 2011 Major General Khokhar commanded the 23rd Division. Khokhar had also been Chief Instructor of the A-Division at the National Defence University, Islamabad. In 2011 the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari awarded Khokhar the Hilal-i-Imtiaz (M). He had also been serving as DG ISSRA, a think tank at the NDU.

In 2011 he was also on the editorial board of the National Defence University Journal, Islamabad. He is one of the only Christian officers who have made it to the rank of major general.[8]

He retired in August 2016 after serving for 36 years.[4]

Later life edit

He is currently serving as the Ambassador of Pakistan to Ukraine.

Effective dates of promotion edit

Insignia Rank Date
    Major General 9 May 2009
    Brigadier
  Colonel
  Lieutenant Colonel
  Major
  Captain
  Lieutenant
  Second Lieutenant

Awards and decorations edit

 
   
   
   
   
   
   
Hilal-i-Imtiaz

(Military)

(Crescent of Excellence)

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
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)

References edit

  1. ^ LinkedIn profile of Noel Khokhar [user-generated source]
  2. ^ "Institute for Strategic Studies, Research & Analysis (ISSRA) | National Defence University, Islamabad".
  3. ^ Desk, Central (12 December 2020). "New Ambassador of Pakistan in Kyiv Noel Israel Khokhar hands over his credentials to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy". Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Armed Services".
  5. ^ Dharkan Summer 2009[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "Daily Times - Latest Pakistan News, World, Business, Sports, Lifestyle". Daily Times. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  7. ^ "Inter Services Public Relations Press Release September 6, 2010". Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  8. ^ . He was awarded the Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military) in 2012. National Defence University Journal 2011