XII Corps (Pakistan)
Encyclopedia
The XII Corps is an active and military administrative corps of Pakistan Army currently stationed in Quetta
, Balochistan Province. The XII Corps is a major part of Southern Military Command of Pakistan Defence Forces. It is commanded by Lieutenant-General Alam Khattak
who also commands the Southern Military Command simultaneously.
in Peshawar, and the XII Corps, with the responsibility of guarding the Bolan Pass
. The formation spent, the first few years of its history guarding again Soviet expansionism. The end of the cold war and the ending of the Soviet threat, led the formation into a new era. It would lose divisions, and brigades to the western border. Notably 40 infantry division would be moved to Okara
, and for a time it would have only one division.
and Taliban operatives, although it has not been involved to such an extent as the XI Corps. The operations continue to this day.
restarted. The formation was involved in putting down the insurrection in collaboration with local security forces, and by 2006, with the killing of Akbar Bugti, the rebellion was more or less suppressed.
Quetta
is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
, Balochistan Province. The XII Corps is a major part of Southern Military Command of Pakistan Defence Forces. It is commanded by Lieutenant-General Alam Khattak
Alam Khattak
Lieutenant General Muhammad Alam Khattak, HI, TBt, is a Pakistan Army general who is the presently the Commander Southern Command based at Quetta...
who also commands the Southern Military Command simultaneously.
History
The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 created for Pakistan a real security threat on the western borders for the first time it its history. As a result two new corps were raised to guard the western borders. These were the XI CorpsXI Corps (Pakistan)
The XI Corps is an active administrative corp of Pakistan Army. The XI Corps is the only one corps that is assigned in the North-West Frontier Province . It is currently stationed in Peshawar, Khyber-Pakhtaunkhuwa. The Corps was established and quickly raised in 1975 to support administrative...
in Peshawar, and the XII Corps, with the responsibility of guarding the Bolan Pass
Bolan Pass
The Bolan Pass is a mountain pass through the Toba Kakar Range of Balochistan province in western Pakistan, 120 kilometres from the Afghanistan border....
. The formation spent, the first few years of its history guarding again Soviet expansionism. The end of the cold war and the ending of the Soviet threat, led the formation into a new era. It would lose divisions, and brigades to the western border. Notably 40 infantry division would be moved to Okara
Okara, Pakistan
Okara is the capital city of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The name Okara is derived from Okaan, a name of a tree, the city is located south-west to the city of Lahore and is famous for its agriculture-based economy and cotton mills...
, and for a time it would have only one division.
War on Terrorism
The war on terror began and once again the corps began to undertake duty on the western borders, catching and neutralising Al-QaedaAl-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
and Taliban operatives, although it has not been involved to such an extent as the XI Corps. The operations continue to this day.
2001-2002 Standoff
The formation would in early 2002 be moved to the eastern border for the first time in its history as the threat of war with India loomed. The corps purpose was to provide reinforcement to V Corps in the Thar desert. It would return to Quetta in 2004 just in time to face a new challenge.Baloch Rebellion
In 2004, the Balochistan conflictBalochistan conflict
The Balochistan conflict is an ongoing conflict between Baloch nationalists and the Government of Pakistan over Balochistan, the country's largest province...
restarted. The formation was involved in putting down the insurrection in collaboration with local security forces, and by 2006, with the killing of Akbar Bugti, the rebellion was more or less suppressed.
List of commanders
- Lt Gen Khushdil Khan Afridi, 1985 – May 1987
- Lt Gen Syed Zakir Ali Zaidi, May 1987 – August 1989
- Lt Gen Abdul Waheed Kakar, August 1989 – January 1993
- Lt Gen Zia Ullah Khan, January 1993–1995
- Lt Gen Saranjam Khan, 1995 – May 1997
- Lt Gen Tariq Pervaiz, May 1997 – October 1999
- Lt Gen Mushtaq Hussain, October 1999 – October 2001
- Lt Gen Abdul Qadir Baloch, October 2001 – September 2003
- Lt Gen Shahid Hamid, September 2003 – October 2004
- Lt Gen Hamid Rab Nawaz, October 2004 – April 2007
- Lt Gen Khalid Shameem WynneKhalid Shameem WynneGeneral Khalid Shameem Wynne, PA, NI, afwc, fsc, psc, , is a four-star general in the Pakistan Army and the current and 14th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. The official statement noted that "Gen...
, April 2007 – April 2010 - Lt Gen Javed Zia, April 2010 – October 2011
- Lt Gen Alam KhattakAlam KhattakLieutenant General Muhammad Alam Khattak, HI, TBt, is a Pakistan Army general who is the presently the Commander Southern Command based at Quetta...
, October 2011 – present
ORBAT
The formations composition has changed on several occasions in the past, and like all formations on the western border it has received reinforcements for the war on terror, however its present composition iss thought to be.- HQ XII Corps (Quetta)
- 33rd Infantry Division (Quetta)
- 41st Infantry Division (Quetta)
- Infantry Brigade (Turbat)
- Armoured Brigade (Khuzdar)