Pakistan Army

Operational Concept 

Of Pakistan's nine corps HQ, six are sited close to the indian border. Those in Peshawar (II Corps) and Quetta (XII Corps) are heavily involved in internal security and counter insurgency operations in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Balochistan. X Corps HQ, Rawalpindi commands formations along the Line of Control (LOC).

In Karachi, V Corps (with some elements at present involved in internal security operations in Sindh and Balochistan Provinces), has the role of countering a thrust by India intended to cut the main Karach-Lahore road. This important road is being complemented by the new indus highway leading up the center of the country, an initiative prompted by economic and strategic considerations. the corps is also responsible for countering possible landings by indian marines or special forces.

The three heavy infantry formations, IV, XXX, and XXXI Corps are tasked with countering indian thrusts in their immediate areas.

Both I Corps (Mangla) and II Corps (Multan) are armour heavy "strike" corps, which would implement the doctrine of the riposte.

Army Strategic Forces Command is regarded as a corps and commanded by a lieutenant general with his HQ in Rawalpindi. it is responsible for training, deployment and activation of nuclear missile assets.

Order of Battle
The Pakistan Army does not make its Order of Battle public. the table below is based on a number of sources.

Corps and Sub-ordinate Formations with Locations.

Strategic Forces Command, Rawalpindi.
2 Missile Group, Probably Sargodha.
? Missile Group, n/a.

I Corps, Mangla
6 Armoured Division, Kharian.
17 Mechanized Infantry Division, Kharian
37 Mechanized Infantry Division, Gujranwala.

II Corps, Multan
1 Armoured Division, Multan
14 Infantry Division, Okara (deployed to South Waziristan Agency 2007)
40 Infantry Division, Okara

IV Corps, Lahore
10 Infantry Division, Lahore
11 Infantry Division, Lahore
3 Independent Armoured Brigade
212 Independent Infantry Brigade

V Corps, Karachi
16 Infantry Division, Hyderabad
18 Infantry Division, Hyderabad
Three Independent Armoured Brigades, Malir (?), Pano Aqil (?), Hyderabad (?)

X Corps, Rawalpindi
Force Command Northern Area, Gilget (equivalent of a division, possibly five infantry divisions)
12 Infantry Division, Murree
19 Infantry Division, Jhelum
23 Infantry Division, Gujrat
111 Independent Infantry Brigade, Rawalpindi

XI Corps, Peshawar
7 Infantry Division, Mardan
9 Infantry Division, Kohat

XII Corps, Quetta
41 Infantry Division, Quetta
33 Infantry Division, Quetta

XXX Corps, Gujranwala
8 Infantry Division, Sialkot
15 Infantry Division, Sialkot

XXXI Corps, Bahawalpur
35 Infantry Division, Bahawalpur
34 Infantry Division, Pano Aqil
105 Independent Brigade Group, Bahawalpur(?)

Special Forces 
The Special Services Group (SSG) is headquartered at Cherat and has a base at Attock. it is also responsible for the Airborne School at Peshawar. it consists of three battalions each of four companies.

Other SSG elements include:

Akbar Company (Combat Diver Unit)
Zarrar Company (Counter-terrorism)
Iqbal Company (Communications Unit)

Army Aviation Order of Battle

Unit, Base, Type and Role

1 Sqdn, Dhamial, JetRanger II/III, Liaison/Training

2 Sqdn, Lahore, UH-IH Iroquois, Mushshak, Liaison

3 Composite Sqdn, Multan, Mushshak, Liaison

4 Sqdn, Quetta, Mi-17, Support
Detachment of 4 Sqdn, Rahwali, Mi-17, Support

5 Sqdn, Dhamial, Alouette III, Observation/Liaison

6 Sqdn, Dhamial, Bell 412, Mi-17, Support
Emergency Relief Cell, Dhamial, AB-205A-1, Disaster Relief

7 Composite Sqdn, Faisal, O-1 Bird Dog, Mushshak, Liaison

8 Sqdn, Dhamial, SA-315B Lama, Observation/Liaison
Detachment 8 Sqdn, Skardu, Mushshak, Alouette III, Bell 412, Support

9 Composite Sqdn, Peshawar, Mushshak, Alouette III, Miscellaneous

13 Sqdn, Dhamial, Cessna 412, Commander 680/840, Y-12, VIP Transport

21 Sqdn, Multan, SA 330J Puma, UH-IH Iroquois, Support

24 Sqdn, Multan, SA 330J Puma, Support

25 Sqdn, Dhamial, SA 330J Puma, Helicopter Support
Detachment, Gilget, SA 330J Puma, Helicopter Support

31 Sqdn, Multan, AH-1F HueyCobra, Jet Ranger III, Attack/Liaison (deployed to FATA)

32 Sqdn, Multan, AH-1F HueyCobra, Jet Ranger III, Attack/Liaison (deployed to FATA)

Aviation School, Rahwali, Mushshak, Schweizer 300C, Alouette III, Bell 47G/OH-13S, JetRanger II/III.


Paramilitary Forces
Pakistan's paramilitary forces - in the main subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior in peacetime (but to GHQ in war) - number some 100,000 and free the army and navy from most of the responsibilities of policing borders and economic zones. their officers are provided by the regular forces. the army's already severe shortage of junior officers is exacerbated by this requirement and consideration should be given to creating an officer corps solely for paramilitary elements such as the Pakistan Rangers (who police the border with India) and the Frontier Corps (responsible for the western border with Afghanistan and Iran). In war, some of the higher calibre units would provide reinforcement for the army, as formed body of troops of company or even battalion size.

The Frontier Corps consists of 14 units based in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and 13 units based in Baluchistan, with HQ based in Peshawar and Quetta.

The Pakistan Rangers HQ is in Sialkot with subordinate HQ in Sialkot, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan. The Rangers are responsible for low level border security but can be deployed elsewhere as required by the internal security situation.

Reserves
There is an army reserve of 500,000 whose members have a triennial attendance obligation to the age of 45. Refresher training is as adequate as can be expected of a three week period, but reserve service seems popular. The 180,000 strong National Guard would be useful in guarding vulnerable points. It consists of the Mujahid Force of 60,000, organized in battalions, some with light air defence capability. the Janbaz Force of 100,000, whose members are intended to serve close to their homes; and the National Cadet Corps in universities and colleges. these elements have some value in providing poorly trained but enthusiastic reinforcements for rear area units.