X Corps (Pakistan)
| X Corps | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1974 – present |
| Country |
 |
| Allegiance |
 |
| Branch | Active Duty |
| Type | Army Corps |
| Role |
Combined arms formation Tactical headquarters element |
| Size | 87,500+ approximately (though this may vary as units are rotated) |
| Part of | Central Military Command of Pakistan Army |
| HQ/Command Control Headquarter | Rawalpindi, Punjab Province |
| Nickname(s) |
X Corps The Pindi Corps |
| Colors Identification |
Red, White and yellow |
| Engagements |
Siachen conflict Indo-Pakistani War of 1999 1999 Pakistani coup d'état |
| Decorations | Military Decorations of Pakistan Military |
| Commanders | |
| Corps Commander | Lt Gen Nadeem Raza |
| Notable commanders |
LTG Jahan Dad Khan GEN Ashfaq Parvez Kayani GEN Tariq Majid LTG Zahid Ali Akbar LTG Jamshed Gulzar Kiani LTG Mahmud Ahmed LTG Ali Kuli Khan Khattak LTG Ghulam Muhammad Malik LTG Aftab Ahmad Khan Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa |
The X Corps is a corps of the Pakistan Army, currently assigned in Rawalpindi, Punjab Province of Pakistan. It's one of two corps that are currently active in Kashmir. One of its most important brigades, the 111th Infantry Brigade in Rawalpindi, has been frequently involved in military coup d'etats since Pakistani independence, playing the front line role in taking over government offices and important buildings.
History
The X Corps was raised in 1974 by Lt. General Aftab Ahmad Khan. Headquartered in Rawalpindi, it is responsible for operations in some areas of Kashmir.[1] Before that, all formations in Kashmir were controlled directly from GHQ. As an ode to Lt. General Aftab Ahmad Khan, the insignia of the X Corps features a Rising Sun or Aftab (in Urdu) with 10 rays extruding from it.
Serving on the LOC
In 1974, as today, the Indian and Pakistani forces face each other across the LOC, and there are often exchanges of fire, and sometime full-scale battles. Since 1974, the formation's primary occupation has been to protect Pakistani interests on the LOC.
Siachen conflict
In 1984, the Pakistan Army was involved in a major skirmish with the Indian Army in the northernmost part of the disputed region of Kashmir. Under the command of Lt Gen Zahid Ali Akbar Khan, the X Corps was put into action on the highest battlefield in the world.
Kargil War
In 1999, under the command of Lt Gen Mahmud Ahmed, the conflict over Kargil saw the corps enter action, in Kargil itself, and all along the LOC. Over several weeks in June 1999, the entire corps was engaged for the first time in its history. During the fighting, Havildar Lalak Jan, a trooper of the corps would earn the Nishan-e-Haider.
List of commanders
- Lt Gen Aftab Ahmad Khan, March 1973 – March 1976
- Lt Gen Faiz Ali Chishti, March 1976 – March 1980
- Lt Gen Jahan Dad Khan, March 1980 – April 1984
- Lt Gen Zahid Ali Akbar Khan, April 1984 – May 1987
- Lt Gen Imran Ullah Khan, May 1987 – June 1991
- Lt Gen Ghulam Muhammad Malik, June 1991 – October 1995
- Lt Gen Ali Kuli Khan Khattak, October 1995 – May 1997
- Lt Gen Saleem Haider, May 1997 – October 1998
- Lt Gen Mahmud Ahmed, October 1998 – October 1999
- Lt Gen Jamshaid Gulzar, November 1999 – October 2001
- Lt Gen Syed Arif Hassan, October 2001 – October 2003
- Lt Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, October 2003 – October 2004
- Lt Gen Salahuddin Satti, October 2004 – November 2006
- Lt Gen Tariq Majid, November 2006 – October 2007
- Lt Gen Mohsin Kamal, October 2007 – October 2008
- Lt Gen Tahir Mahmood, October 2008 – May 2010
- Lt Gen Khalid Nawaz Khan, May 2010 – August 2013
- Lt Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, August 2013 – October 2015
- Lt Gen Malik Zafar Iqbal, October 2015 – December 2016
- Lt Gen Nadeem Raza, December 2016 – present
Order of battle
The Corps HQ is stationed in Rawalpindi, however its subordinate formations and units are mostly deployed in Kashmir.
- HQ X Corps (Rawalpindi)
- 12th Infantry Division - Murree
- 23rd Infantry Division - Jhelum. One of the two divisions that conducted the First Battle of Swat ('Operation Rah-e-Haq') in upper Swat and Shangla districts from November 2007 to December 2008, but reverted to original location in December 2008 after 2008 Mumbai attacks.
- 19th Infantry Division - Mangla
- Force Command Northern Areas - Gilgit
- Special Security Division - Chilas
- 111 Independent Infantry Brigade - Rawalpindi. The 111th Infantry Brigade has been used by the Army to launch coups and take over government institutions. The last time it was used was in 1999 when Pervez Musharraf deposed Nawaz Sharif.
References
Further reading
- Brain Cloughley, A History of Pakistan Army
