II Corps (Pakistan)

Headquarters of the II Corps was formed in November 1968 in Lahore.[4] Later in 1969 it was transferred to Multan.[5]

During the 1965 war with India the army had only one corps headquarters, the I Corps in Kharian and the IV Corps was being raised in Multan which was later transferred to Lahore in 1969. The II corps was the 3rd newly created corps of the Pakistan Army as necessity of corps formations were being earnestly felt by the General Headquarters (GHQ), they wanted more decentralization of the army units, therefore intermediates between divisions and the GHQ were to be created and it were more corps headquarters.[6]

The Corps was commanded by Lt. Gen. Tikka Khan during the war. Controversially one of its divisions; the 18th Infantry Division,[7] was taken out of II Corp's command and sent on an ill-fated offensive towards Ramgarh; which led to the debacle at the Battle of Longewala, the fact it was under GHQ rather than II Corps, spared the corps of any blame, but was later deemed one of the causes of failure. A major Indian attack towards Umerkot would be defeated[1] by two of the corps divisions; the 18th after its return from Ramgarh and to II Corps command, and the 33rd Infantry Division, a task for which they were commended,[8] after the war. In the final analysis its performance in the war; while commended by many parties, would be controversial, since at no time was its most powerful formation, 1st Armoured Division, committed to action.[5]

As a heavy armoured and mechanized formation, it was unsuited for the mountain warfare that characterized the army's commitments over the next three decades in Kashmir, Siachen and Kargil, although it a few units did see action attached to other corps. As Pakistan's main strategic reserve, it was also not sent on overseas operations under the UN and with allies (such as Gulf War I and Somalia) which the army was ordered to undertake.

It would not be until 2008 when the elements of the corps would see action again. As the war in FATA heated up and militant activity increased to a hitherto unseen level, the government responded by launching a massive operation (code-named Operation Zalzala meaning earthquake) against the militant strongholds South Waziristan.[9] The operation would be spearheaded by 14th Infantry Division of II Corps, and would succeed in evicting the militants from their stronghold.[10] On December 26, 2008, elements of the 14th Infantry Division, were being redeployed to the Indian border.[11]

The Corps Order of Battle is:[4]

• Corps formation sign can be seen on Pak Army Flags page