Asif Sandila
{{Use Pakistani English|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = Admiral
| name = Asif Sandila
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| honorific_suffix = {{small|NI(M) HI(M) SI(M) LoM OM BJSN BYD}}
| image = Pakistani Navy Chief of Naval Staff Adm. M. Asif Sandila, center, U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Daryl Caudle, left, and U.S. Navy Capt. Andrew J. Loiselle, the commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W 130918-N-MU440-014.jpg
| image_size = 290px
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| caption = Adm. Asif boarded on George H.W. Bush, an aircraft carrier, in 2013.
| order = Chief of Naval Staff
| office =
| term_start = 3 October 2011
| term_end = 3 October 2014
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| predecessor = Adm. Noman Bashir
| successor = Adm. Muhammad Zakaullah
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| pronunciation =
| birth_name = Mohammad Asif Sandila
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1954}}
| birth_place = Sangla Hill in Sheikhupura, Punjab, Pakistan
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| alma_mater = Pakistan Naval Academy
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| allegiance = {{PAK}}
| branch = {{Flagicon image|Naval Jack of Pakistan.svg}} Pakistan Navy
| serviceyears = 1972–2014
| rank = 20px Admiral
{{small|(PN No. 1795)}}{{rp|331}}{{cite book |title=The Gazette of Pakistan |date=1978 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LtJPAQAAMAAJ&q=Captain+Asif+Sandila |access-date=6 August 2018 |author1=Pakistan }}
| unit = Naval Operations Branch
| commands = Vice Chief of Naval Staff
Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (Pakistan) at the Navy NHQ
DCNS (Projects) at the Navy NHQ
Commander Pakistan Fleet
Commander Logistics
DG Pakistan Maritime Security Agency
Pakistan Naval Observatory
OTC of 25th Destroyer Squadron
| battles = Indian Ocean earthquake in 2004
Indo-Pakistani standoff in 2008
| mawards = 60px{{small|Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military)}}
60px{{small|Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military)}}
60px{{small|Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military)}}
60px{{small|National Order of Merit}}
60px{{small|Order of King Abdulaziz}}
60px{{small|Turkish Legion of Merit}}
60px{{small|Nishan Sharafge}}
60px{{small|Legion of Merit}}
60px{{small|Bintang Jalasena Utama}}
60px{{small|Yudha Dharma Utama}}
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Mohammad Asif Sandila {{small|NI(M) HI(M) SI(M) LoM OM BJSN BYD}} (Urdu: {{Nq|محمد ﺁصف سندیلہ}}; born: 1954), is a retired four-star admiral in the Pakistan Navy who was the 19th Chief of Naval Staff of the Pakistan Navy.{{Cite web
| title =Admiral Asif Sandila assumes command of Pakistan Navy
| url =http://www.aaj.tv/2011/10/admiral-asif-sandila-assumes-command-of-pakistan-navy/
| date =7 October 2011
| access-date =7 October 2011
| archive-date =30 September 2018
| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20180930023800/http://aaj.tv/2011/10/admiral-asif-sandila-assumes-command-of-pakistan-navy/
| url-status =dead
}} Prior to this command appointment, Sandila briefly tenured as the Vice Chief Naval Staff in the Pakistan Navy which he assumed in 2010.{{Cite news
|last = Islamabad Desk
|title = Sandila made Chief of Staff
|newspaper = The Nation
|pages = 1
|publisher = Nawa-i-Waqt Group
|date = 12 August 2010
|url = https://www.nation.com.pk/12-Aug-2010/sandila-made-cos
|access-date = 12 August 2010
| last =News Headlines
| title =Rear-Admiral Asif Sandila Promoted to Vice Admiral
| work =Aaj TV
| publisher =Business Recorder Group
| date =2 August 2010
| url =http://www.aaj.tv/2010/01/rear-admiral-asif-sandila-promoted-to-vice-admiral/
| access-date =23 June 2011
| archive-date =30 September 2018
| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20180930023819/http://aaj.tv/2010/01/rear-admiral-asif-sandila-promoted-to-vice-admiral/
| url-status =dead
}}
In 2011, President Asif Ali Zardari, on the request of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani, promoted Sandila to four-star admiral and appointed him as the Chief of the Naval Staff on 7 October 2011 upon retirement of the then Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Noman Bashir.{{Cite news
| last =Islamabad News Desk Report
| title =New Naval Chief Calls on President
| newspaper =Dawn Newspapers
| location =Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory
| pages =1
| publisher =Dawn Media Group
| date = 5 October 2011
| url =http://www.dawn.com/2011/10/05/new-naval-chief-calls-on-president-zardari.html
| access-date =5 October 2011 }}
Biography
=Early life and education=
Asif Sandila was born into a Punjabi Jat family in a village at the Sangla Hill located in Sheikhupura District, Punjab in Pakistan in 1954.{{Cite web
|last=Islamabad Desk
|title=Admiral Sandila takes charge as new naval chief
|publisher=Online News
|date=9 October 2011
|url=http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=184318
|access-date=8 October 2011
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415054841/http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=184318
|archive-date=15 April 2012
}}{{cite news |title=Admiral Sandila appointed naval chief |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/617116-admiral-sandila-appointed-naval-chief |access-date=6 August 2018 |newspaper=News International |date=6 October 2011 }}{{cite news |last1=Butt |first1=Omar Khalid |title=Sky is the Limit: Interview of Admiral M. Asif Sandila (Retd), Former Chief of the Naval Staff |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWXOmXMzces |access-date=6 August 2018 |agency=Pakistan Television News |publisher=Pakistan Television News |date=7 March 2018 |location=Islamabad |language=en-pak |format=youtube.tv}}
After his matriculation from a local high school in 1967, Sandila went to attend Cadet College Kohat where he secured his FSc, and went to join the Pakistan Navy in 1972.{{cite news |title=Rear Admiral Mohammad Asif Sandila SI(M) promoted to rank of Vice Admiral. - Free Online Library |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Rear+Admiral+Mohammad+Asif+Sandila+SI(M)+promoted+to+rank+of+Vice...-a0216299862 |access-date=7 August 2018 |work=thefreelibrary.com |agency=free library |publisher=free library |date=1 January 2010}} He was selected to attend the Pakistan Naval Academy, initially focusing on mathematics, and was directed to attend the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth in the United Kingdom in 1974.{{cite news |last1=Shaheen |first1=Sikander |title=Asif Sandila appointed new Naval Chief |url=https://nation.com.pk/06-Oct-2011/asif-sandila-appointed-new-naval-chief |access-date=6 August 2018 |work=The Nation |agency=The Nation |publisher=The Nation, 2011 |date=6 October 2011}} In England, he was trained in navigation and qualified as a surface warfare officer in 1975.
Upon returning to Pakistan in 1975, he was gained commissioned as S-Lt. in the Naval Operations Branch, and was trained in anti-submarine operations on PNS Jehangir in 1976–77. S-Lt. Sandila was further trained in torpedo operations and navigation at the PNS Badr in 1977–79. He served on various surface warships as principle warfare officers throughout his career in the Navy.
He later attended, and is a graduate of the Naval War College in Lahore, and attended the staff course in Indonesian Navy's Naval Staff College.{{cite news |title=Sandila made COS |url=https://nation.com.pk/12-Aug-2010/sandila-made-cos |access-date=6 August 2018 |work=The Nation |date=12 August 2010}} He later went to attend the National Defence University where he graduated with MSc in War studies.
Career in the military
=War and command appointments in the Pakistan Navy=
After joining the Pakistan Navy as Midshipman in 1972, he served on the PNS Jahangir and PNS Badr as navigation and torpedo officer from 1977 until 1980. In 1985–88, Lt-Cdr. Sandila was affiliated with the Institute of Strategic Studies of the Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad, where he instruct courses on Strategic studies.{{rp|102}}{{cite book |title=Strategic Studies |date=1985 |publisher=Institute of Strategic Studies |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ICvfAAAAMAAJ&q=lt+cdr+asif+sandila |access-date=6 August 2018 }} He was later posted at the Pakistan Naval Academy in Karachi where he instruct courses on military navigation.
In 1988–91, Cdr. Sandila was taken to be serve as aide-de-camp to Adm. Iftikhar Ahmed Sirohey, the Chairman joint chiefs.{{cite news |title=Admiral Sandila takes charge as new naval chief. - Free Online Library |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Admiral+Sandila+takes+charge+as+new+naval+chief.-a0269288141 |access-date=6 August 2018 |work=thefreelibrary.com |publisher=free library |date=6 October 2011}} In 1990s, Capt. Sandila later commanded {{ship|PNS|Badr|D-184|2}}, a guided-missile destroyer, and did a tour of duty when he visited Middle East and the Europe.
In 2003–04, Cdre. Sandila took over the command of the 25th Destroyer Squadron as its officer in tactical command, and was leading the task force for overseeing the rescue operations from Maldives, where he was credited of rescuing more than 370 European tourists affected by the deadly underwater earthquake and tsunami in Indian Ocean in 2004.{{cite news |last1=Staff writer |title=Navy assisting in tsunami relief |url=http://www.irinnews.org/news/2004/12/29/navy-assisting-tsunami-relief |access-date=6 August 2018 |publisher=IRIN |agency=IRIN |date=29 December 2004 }}
In 2005, Cdre. Sandila commanded the mission through the Moawin and {{ship|PNS|Tippu Sultan|D-185|2}} visiting on a bilateral missions in Mediterranean countries (Tunisia), Europe (France and the Britain), and later ending his voyage in United States (New York).{{cite news |title=Two Pakistan Navy ships visit Tunisian port |url=http://fp.brecorder.com/2005/05/20050510250343/ |access-date=8 August 2018 |agency=Business Recorder |publisher=business recorder |date=10 May 2005}} In April 2005, Cdre. Sandila took participation in Mine hunter exercises with the French Navy, Royal Navy, and the U.S. Navy before reporting back to Pakistan.{{cite news |title=Naval exercise with France planned |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/138632/naval-exercise-with-france-planned |access-date=8 August 2018 |work=Dawn.com |publisher=Dawn Newspapers |date=10 May 2005}}
In 2005, Cdre. Sandila was eventually promoted to two-star rank in the Navy, first serving as the Director-General of the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) until 2007, during which, he also served as the command of the Naval Observatory located in Jinnah Naval Base.{{cite web |last1=PMSA |first1=staff |title=Former DGs of the MSA |url=http://www.pmsa.gov.pk/previous-dg.php |website=pmsa.gov.pk |publisher=Pakistan Maritime Security Agency |access-date=8 August 2018}}
In 2007, R-Adm. Sandila was posted in the Navy NHQ in Islamabad as DCNS (Projects) and later as DCNS (Operations), for a brief time until being posted as senior fleet commander as Commander Pakistan Fleet (COMPAK) in 2008. During this time, R-Adm. Sandila was involved in operational deployment of navy's combatant commands at the Arabian Sea to deter any Indian Navy's attack on Pakistan, resulting during the military standoff in 2008. In 2009, R-Adm. Sandila was later posted in Navy NHQ in Islamabad as DCNS (Operations), for a brief time.
In 2009, R-Adm. Sandila was posted as Commander Logistics (COMLOG), where he was responsible for Navy's military logistics and engineering.{{cite news |title=Navy officers promoted |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/208870-navy-officers-promoted |access-date=8 August 2018 |publisher=News International |date=28 November 2009 }}
Chief of Naval Staff
On 1 January 2010, R-Adm. Sandila was promoted to the three-star rank in the Navy while serving on the command assignment.{{cite news |title=PN officers promoted |url=https://nation.com.pk/01-Jan-2010/pn-officers-promoted |access-date=8 August 2018 |work=The Nation |date=1 January 2010}} In 2011, Vice-Admiral Sandila was later appointed as Vice-Chief of Naval Staff (VNCS) under Adm. Noman Bashir.{{Cite web
|last=Pakistan Observer.
|title=Admiral Asif Sandila to be CNS
|work=pakobserver.net
|date=5 October 2011
|url=http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=118125
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424035337/http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=118125
|archive-date=24 April 2012
}}
At the time of the promotion to the four-star appointment in 2011, V-Adm. Sandila was in a race along with four senior admirals in the Navy, though V-Adm. Sandila was the most senior among all:
- Vice-Admiral Asif Sandila., Vice-Chief of Naval Staff (VCNS) at the Navy NHQ in Islamabad.
- Vice-Admiral Tanveer Faiz.{{cite news |title=Asif Sandila made Naval Chief |url=https://fp.brecorder.com/2011/10/201110061238576/ |access-date=5 August 2018 |publisher=Business Recorder |date=6 October 2011}} DCNS (Projects) at the Navy NHQ in Islamabad.
- Vice-Admiral Abbas Raza. Senior commander in Karachi coast as Commander Karachi (COMKAR)
- Vice-Admiral T. A. Dogar. Senior commander in Karachi as commander Naval Air Defence Command
On 6 October 2011, Farahnaz Ispahani, the presidential spokesperson, confirmed that the President Zardari has approved the promotion paper and promoted V-Adm. Sandila as four-star admiral in the Navy, taking the command of the Navy from Adm. Numan as its Chief of Naval Staff on 8 October 2011.{{cite news |title=Admiral Muhammad Asif Sandila has been appointed as Chief of Naval staff |url=http://www.southpunjabnews.com/2011/10/admiral-muhammad-asif-sandila-has-been.html |access-date=8 August 2018 |work=southpunjabnews.com}} His 4 star promotion became headline news in the country with much media speculation on the nature of his assignment.{{Cite web
|title=Asif Sandila confirmed as Navy chief
|url=http://www.pakistantimes.net/pt/detail.php?newsId=25604
|date=7 October 2011
|access-date=7 October 2011
|url-status=usurped
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509072547/http://www.pakistantimes.net/pt/detail.php?newsId=25604
|archive-date=9 May 2013
}} The change of command ceremony was held at Naval Headquarters, Islamabad.{{Cite web
| last =GEO TV: Nation News
| title =Admiral Sandila takes charge as new naval chief
| publisher =GEO TV
| date =5 October 2011
| url =http://www.geo.tv/10-7-2011/87238.htm
| access-date =7 October 2011 }} Admiral Sandila received the guard of honor prior to the assuming the navy's command. Under his command, the Navy focused towards the seaborne operations involved with the CTF-150 and the CTF-151.{{cite news |last1=Imadduin |first1=Imad |title=Pak Navy fully capable to defend Maritime Frontiers: Asif Sandila – Business Recorder |url=https://www.brecorder.com/2014/06/23/180507/pak-navy-fully-capable-to-defend-maritime-frontiers-asif-sandila/ |access-date=8 August 2018 |agency=business recorder |date=23 January 2014}}
In 2014, the Government of Pakistan confirmed his retirement from the 42-year military service, and after retiring from the Navy after, Adm. Sandila went to established the Moawin Foundation, an organization focused toward promoting the literacy and building schools all over the country.{{cite web |title=Mission and Objectives |url=http://moawinfoundation.org.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Cocept-Paper-MF.docx |website=moawinfoundation.org.pk |access-date=8 August 2018}}{{dead link|date=February 2024|bot=medic}}
Upon his retirement, he handed over the command of the Navy to Admiral Muhammed Zakaullah.{{Cite news
| last = Staff Report
| title =Admiral Asif Sandila sworn in as Chief of Naval Staff
| newspaper =Daily Times
| location= Rawalpindi, The Naval Combatant Headquarter (NHQ)
| pages =1
| year =2011
| url =http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011%5C10%5C08%5Cstory_8-10-2011_pg7_13
| access-date =3 October 2011 }}
Awards and decorations
| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |
| |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Nishan-e-Imtiaz.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Hilal-e-Imtiaz.png|width=130}} | |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Sitara-e-Imtiaz.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Baqa (1998).png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Istaqlal (2002).png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=10 years Service Medal.png|width=130}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=20 years Service Medal.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=30 years Service Medal.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=35 years Service Medal.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=40 years Service Medal.png|width=130}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Sad Saala Jashan-e-Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Hijri Tamgha.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Jamhuriat Tamgha 1988.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha Pakistan.svg|width=130}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Independence Day Golden Jubilee Medal, 2006.svg|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ordre national du Merite Chevalier ribbon.svg|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Order of King Abdulaziz, 1st Class (Saudi Arabia).png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Merit.png|width=130}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Nishaan Muleege Sharafge Izzaiy (Maldives).png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=US Legion of Merit Commander ribbon.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Bintang Jalasena Utama rib.svg|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Bintang Yudha Dharma Utama (Indonesia).png|width=130}} |
= Foreign Decorations =
| class="wikitable"
! colspan="3" style="background:#006400; color:#FFFFFF; text-align:center" |Foreign Awards |
| {{flag|France}}
|National Order of Merit - Knight (Chevalier) |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ordre national du Merite Chevalier ribbon.svg|width=130}} |
|---|
| {{flag|Saudi Arabia}}
|Order of King Abdul Aziz (1st Class) |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Order of King Abdulaziz, 1st Class (Saudi Arabia).png|width=130}} |
| {{flag|Turkey}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Merit.png|width=130}} |
| {{flag|Maldives}}
|Nishaan Muleege Sharafge Izzaiy |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Nishaan Muleege Sharafge Izzaiy (Maldives).png|width=130}} |
| {{flag|USA}}
|The Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander) |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=US Legion of Merit Commander ribbon.png|width=130}} |
| {{flag|Indonesia}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Bintang Jalasena Utama rib.svg|width=130}} |
| {{flag|Indonesia}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Bintang Yudha Dharma Utama (Indonesia).png|width=130}} |
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Asif Sandila}}
- [http://www.paknavy.gov.pk/ Pakistan Navy]
{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=ADM Noman Bashir}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chief of Naval Staff |years=7 October 2011 – 1 October 2014}}
{{s-aft|after=ADM Muhammad Zakaullah}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=VADM Shahid Iqbal}}
{{s-ttl|title=Vice Chief of the Naval Staff |years=10 August 2010 – 6 October 2011}}
{{s-aft|after=VADM Tayyab Ali Dogar
}}
{{end}}
{{Pakistan Navy Staff Chief}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sandila, Asif}}
Category:People from Sheikhupura District
Category:Knights of the Legion of Honour
Category:Recipients of Hilal-i-Imtiaz
Category:Chiefs of Naval Staff (Pakistan)
Category:People of the insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa