X Corps (Pakistan)
Encyclopedia
The X Corps is an active military administrative corps of Pakistan Army
, currently assigned in Rawalpindi
, Punjab Province of Pakistan. Its one of two brigades are currently active in Kashmir. One of its brigades, the 111th Infantry Brigade in Rawalpindi, has been frequently involved in military coup d'etat
s since Pakistani independence.
. Headquartered in Rawalpindi
, it is responsible for operations in some areas of Kashmir
. 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.
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. Despite early setbacks, notably at Quaid Observation Post, the corps units were able to prevent a complete loss of the glacier, and were able to capture territory in at Chumik, and in Operation Qidaat.
a trooper of the corps would earn the Nishan-e-Haider
.
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
, currently assigned in Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
, Punjab Province of Pakistan. Its one of two brigades are currently active in Kashmir. One of its brigades, the 111th Infantry Brigade in Rawalpindi, has been frequently involved in military coup d'etat
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
s since Pakistani independence.
History
The X Corps was raised in 1974 by Lt. General Aftab Ahmad KhanAftab Ahmad Khan
Lieutenant-General Aftab Ahmad Khan was a retired Pakistan Army Infantry Officer, born in Batala, Gurdaspur District, British India on Oct. 22, 1923 to the illustrious family of Khan Bahadur Mian Altaf Hussain Khan and Mehndi Begum....
. Headquartered in Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
, it is responsible for operations in some areas of Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
. Before that all formations in Kashmir were controlled directly from GHQ.
As an ode to Lt. General Aftab Ahmad Khan
Aftab Ahmad Khan
Lieutenant-General Aftab Ahmad Khan was a retired Pakistan Army Infantry Officer, born in Batala, Gurdaspur District, British India on Oct. 22, 1923 to the illustrious family of Khan Bahadur Mian Altaf Hussain Khan and Mehndi Begum....
, 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 ArmyIndian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
in the northernmost part of the disputed region of Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
. Under the command of Lt Gen Zahid Ali Akbar Khan, the X Corps was put into action on the highest battlefield in the world. Despite early setbacks, notably at Quaid Observation Post, the corps units were able to prevent a complete loss of the glacier, and were able to capture territory in at Chumik, and in Operation Qidaat.
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 JanLalak Jan
Havaldar Lalak Jan Shaahed was born in Yasin, in the Ghizer District, of the Northern Areas of Pakistan...
a trooper of the corps would earn the Nishan-e-Haider
Nishan-e-Haider
Nishan-e-Haider or Nishan-e-Hyder is the highest military decoration given by Pakistan . It was established in 1957 after Pakistan became a Republic, however, it was instituted retrospectively from Independence in 1947...
.
List of commanders
- Lt Gen Aftab Ahmad KhanAftab Ahmad KhanLieutenant-General Aftab Ahmad Khan was a retired Pakistan Army Infantry Officer, born in Batala, Gurdaspur District, British India on Oct. 22, 1923 to the illustrious family of Khan Bahadur Mian Altaf Hussain Khan and Mehndi Begum....
, 1974 – March 1976 - Lt Gen Faiz Ali Chishti, March 1976 – March 1980
- Lt Gen Jahan Dad Khan, March 1980 – March 1984
- Lt Gen Zahid Ali Akbar Khan, March 1984 – May 1987
- Lt Gen Imran Ullah KhanImran Ullah KhanLieutenant General Imran Ullah Khan is a retired Pakistan Army general. He remained the Governor of Balochistan province in PPP-led government from May 1994 to May 1997.-Early life and education:...
, May 1987 – May 1991 - Lt Gen Ghulam Muhammad Malik, 1992 – 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 – November 1999
- Lt Gen Jamshed Gulzar KianiJamshed Gulzar KianiLieutenant-General Jamshed Gulzar Kiani , was a Pakistan Army intelligence officer and the former Colonel Commandant of the X Corps and Baloch Regiment...
, November 1999 – October 2001 - Lt Gen Syed Arif Hassan, October 2001 – September 2003
- Lt Gen Ashfaq Parvez KayaniAshfaq Parvez KayaniGeneral Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, NI, HI is a four-star general in the Pakistan Army, and the current Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army. He replaced General Pervez Musharraf as the Chief of Army Staff and the commandant of the army on November 29, 2007...
, September 2003 – October 2004 - Lt Gen Salahuddin Satti, October 2004 – October 2006
- Lt Gen Tariq MajidTariq MajidGeneral Tariq Majid, NI, afwc, fsc, psc, is a retired Pakistan Army's four-star general who served as the Supreme Commandant of the Pakistan Defense Forces as the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee from 2007 to 2010...
, October 2006 – October 2007 - Lt Gen Mohsin Kamal, October 2007 – October 2008
- Lt Gen Tahir Mahmood, October 2008 – April 2010
- Lt Gen Khalid Nawaz Khan, April 2010 – 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 (RawalpindiRawalpindiRawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
)- 12th Infantry Division - MurreeMurreeMurree city is a popular hill station and a summer resort, especially for the residents of Rawalpindi/Islamabad, and for the cities of the province of Punjab, Pakistan...
- 23rd Infantry Division - JhelumJhelumJhelum or Jehlum may refer to:* Jhelum, a city in Pakistan on the banks of the Jhelum River* Jhelum District, an administrative division in Punjab, Pakistan surrounding the city of Jhelum...
. One of the two divisions that conducted the First Battle of SwatFirst Battle of SwatThe Battle of Swat, Codename: Operation Rah-e-Haq, began on October 25, 2007 and involved the Pakistan Army and Taliban-led forces in a fight for control of the Swat district of Pakistan. Between October 25 and November 7, 2007 the militants quickly seized control of the region...
('Operation Rah-e-Haq') in upper Swat and Shangla districtsShangla DistrictShangla District ' is located in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.The district headquarters are located at Alpuri. It was previously a subdivision of Swat District, but was upgraded to the status of a district on July 10, 1995 by the then Chief Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao. The total...
from November 2007 to December 2008, but reverted back to original location in December 2008 after 2008 Mumbai attacks2008 Mumbai attacksThe 2008 Mumbai attacks were more than 10 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across Mumbai, India's largest city, by Islamist attackers who came from Pakistan...
. - 19th Infantry Division - ManglaManglaMangla town is located in Mirpur District, Azad Kashmir at the border with Jhelum district Punjab, with Jhelum river making the boundary. Mangla is an ancient town and is slated to be named after Mangla Devi. It is also the site of crossing of river Jhelum by Alexander forces facing Raja Porus...
- Force Command Northern Areas - GilgitGilgitGilgit is a city in northern PakistanGilgit may refer to other terms related with the area of the city:* Gilgit River* Gilgit Valley* Gilgit District* Gilgit Agency * Gilgit Airport...
- 111 Independent Infantry Brigade - RawalpindiRawalpindiRawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
. 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 MusharrafPervez MusharrafPervez Musharraf , is a retired four-star general who served as the 13th Chief of Army Staff and tenth President of Pakistan as well as tenth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. Musharraf headed and led an administrative military government from October 1999 till August 2007. He ruled...
deposed Nawaz SharifNawaz SharifMian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif is a Pakistani conservative politician and steel magnate who served as 12th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from November 1990 to July 1993, and from February 1997 to October 12, 1999...
.
- 12th Infantry Division - Murree
External links
- GlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.org, launched in 2000, is a public policy organization focusing on the fields of defense, space exploration, intelligence, weapons of mass destruction and homeland security...
, Global Security Page on X Corps - This shows the Formations Insignia
- A BBC documentary on Siachen and the LOC conflict in general. The troops are all from this corps
- A collection of pictures of X Corps soldiers in Kashmir