by Ravi Rikhye
1st Commando Yilduram Bn
Ayub Company
Liaqat Company
Kamal Company
Mitha Company
2nd Commando Rahbar Bn
Ghazi Company
Tipu Company
Quaid Company
Bilal Company
3rd Commando Pwoindha Bn
Hamza Company
Ibrahim Company
Zakria Company
Easa Company
4th Commando Yalghar Bn
Shaheen Company
Jungju Company
Yaqub Company
Yusuf Company
5th Commando Zilzaal Bn
6th Commando AL Samsaam Bn
7th Commando Babrum Bn
8th Commando Bn (Multan)
There may be two more battalions, if so, presumably they will be 9th and 10th.
Independent Companies
Zarrar Company CT
Musa Company Amphibious
Karrar Company
Special Service Group (Navy)
12th Battalion
From open sources, for example, Wikipedia,[159] not independently verified
Special Service Wing (previously 312th Special Operations Wing)
1st SO Squadron
2nd SO Squadron (Clandestine missions)
3rd SO Squadron (Hostage rescue)
4th SO Squadron (VIP protection)
5th SO Training Squadron (airborne)
10th SO Reconnaissance Flying Squadron
Paramilitary Special Forces
Frontier Corps
3 commando companies
5 commando companies more under raising
Khyber-Paktunwala Special Combat Unit (1050 police commandos in 12 detachments)
7.8 Army Aviation
Army Aviation
Army Aviation has undergone an expansion in recent years. It operates in four groups for administrative purposes. A Major-General commands Army Aviation. Brigadiers command groups. Each group has an EME battalion.
101st Army Aviation Group (Rawalpindi?)
202nd Army Aviation Group (Quetta)
303rd Army Aviation Group (Rahwali)
404th Army Aviation Group (Multan)
5 Maintenance Battalions 101-105 Usually 1 per aviation group
503 Workshop for major maintenance
Summary Of Squadrons[160]
Courtesy of Scramble Netherlands
3 attack helicopter squadrons
2 AH-1 (to be replaced by T-129 Turkey)
1 AH-1W forming, replacing one AH-1 squadron, 1000 Hellfire ATGM
1 VIP/ utility aircraft/helicopter squadron
10 squadrons FAC, liaison (MFI-17, helicopters)
8 assault helicopter squadrons (6 Mil-17, 2 SA330)
1 VIP squadron
Schools units
Several squadrons operate with their flights assigned to different formations.
Aviation School Mushshak, SA-316, Bell 206B
No.1 Squadron Mushshak, SA-316 Alouette (Mangla)
No.2 Squadron MFI-17, Mushshak (Lahore)
No.3 Squadron Mushshak, SA-315 Lama (Multan)
No.4 Squadron Bell 412EP, Mi-17 (Quetta) Detachment Gilgit
No.5 Squadron SA-350, Mi-171V, ABS350/550 (Skardu)
No.6 Squadron Bell 412 EP, AW139 (Rawalpindi)
No.7 Squadron Mushshak (Karachi)
No.8 Squadron AS-350, Mushshak (Karachi)
No.9 Squadron Mushshak, SA-315 Lama, SA-316 Alouette (Peshawar)
No.10 Squadron Mushshak, SA-315 Lama
No.11 Squadron Mushshak, SA-315 Lama (Rahawali)
No.12 Squadron Mushshak, UH-1H (Mangla)
No.13 Squadron Y-12, RC690C, RC840, Ce421, Beech 200, Cessna Citation II and V, AS-350, Puma, Mushshak, Mi-17, UH-1H
No.21 Squadron Mi-17, UH-1
No.24 Squadron SA-330 (Rawalpindi)
No.25 Squadron Bell 412EP, Mi-17 (Multan) Detachment Gilgit
No.27 Squadron Mi-17V
No. 28 Squadron (Puma)
No.31 Squadron 10 AH-1S, 2 Bell 206
No.32 Squadron 10 AH-1S, 2 Bell 206
No.33 Squadron 10 AH-1F
ISI Detachment Hughes 500, Mi-17
(The attack helicopter squadrons are also given as No. 31, 33, and 35)
503rd Aviation Base Workshop performs complete overhauls of helicopters.
Aircraft inventory
Aérospatiale SA-315B Lama x 15 (phasing out)
Aérospatiale SA-316B Alouette 3 x 15 (phasing out)
Aérospatiale SA-330J Puma x 45 (probably less)
Bell 206B Jet Ranger x 19 (including 9 training)
Bell AH-1F/S Cobra x 32, plus other for spares, to phase out
Bell AH-1Z x 12 on order with 1000 Hellfire, 3 options
Mi-35 x 4
Bell 407 (Canada)
Turkish T129 x 30 (entering service)
H125 x 10
Cessna 421 Golden Eagle x 1
Mil Mi-17/171 'Hip' x ~50+
PAC MFI-17 Mushshak x 115
(3 Z-10 returned to China; perhaps order for 20 is canceled)
Attack helicopter squadrons consist of 10 x AH-1s and fly in pairs with a pair of armed Bell-412s as scouts. 2 x 206s per squadron are used for liaison and training.
7.9 Pakistan Border Forces
Most groups are of 4 wings, each of 5 service and 1 reserve companies. Some groups commanded by Deputy Director General who is a brigadier; some have colonels
Please note that in this orbat we limit ourselves to wings that we have identified. There are likely some 130 wings of Frontier Corps and Rangers. In 2016 and 2017 about 59 more wings (battalions) were authorized, so do not regard the below as definitive.
CPEC:
Four security brigades (Army manned), at Gilgit (1), Gwadar (2) and Karachi (1)
6 wings paramilitary
Frontier Corps North West Frontier Province (~40,000)
HQ Peshawar
Commanded by a Major General with the title of Inspector General Frontier Corps (NWFP)
Spl Ops Wing (400, trained/equipped by US/UK)
Tank Regiment
Aviation Squadron
Tbe force has expanded; the number of wings in each group are not necessarily correct. Six wings have been raised for the CPEC.
Bajaur Scouts
Bhittani Rifles
Dir Scouts
Kalat Scouts
Khattak Scouts
Khyber Rifles
Kurram Militia
Mahsud Scouts
Mohmand Rifles
Nushki Militia
Orakzai Scouts1 wing (group HQ at Kalaya)
Shawal Rifles2 wings
South Waziristan Scouts
Swat Scouts1 wing
Thal Scouts4 wings
Tochi Scouts4 wings
Frontier Corps Balochistan (30,000)
HQ Quetta
Awarran Militia1 wing
Bambore Rifles3 wings
Bolan Scouts1 wing
Chaghai Militia1 wing
Chaman Scouts1 wing
Dalbindan Rifles1 wing
Ghazaband Scouts1 wing
Kalat Scouts2 wings
Kharan Rifles1 wing
Loralai Scouts3 wings
Maiwind Rifles4 wings
Makran Militia2 wings
Mohmand Rifles1 wing
Panjgur Scouts1 wing (could be Panjgur Rifles)
Pishin Scouts1 wing
Sibi Scouts4 wings
Sui Rifles1 wing
Taftan Scouts
Zhob Militia4 wings
Tribal Police
Frontier Constabulary (7000)
Northwest Frontier Province Khassadars (lightly armed tribal area police)
N. Waziristan 3305
S. Waziristan 3500
Khyber 2800
Kurram, 900
Baluchistan Constabulary (8,500)
While 33,000 total strength has been given, that applies to the Consta
bulary plus regular police.
Ministry of the Interior Air Surveillance Wing Quetta
50th Squadron
3 fixed-wing Cessna Caravan
15 Huey II helicopters (14+5 delivered, there have been losses)
The aircraft/helicopters have FLIR, GPS, and equipment for night missions including Night Vision Goggles and can also be used for command and control.
Northern Area Scouts
4 Wings at Gilgit, Skardu, Piun, and an unidentified location
Chitral Scouts (7 wings)
Azad Kashmir Rangers
Estimated 3 wings; no other details
Pakistan Rangers Punjab (HQ Lahore)
Commanded by a Major General
Each group is commanded by a colonel and consists of several wings commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel. Most officers are from the Pakistan Army.
Chenab RangersSialkot
AOR Sialkot-Narowal 6 wings
Sutluj Rangers Lahore
AOR Wagah-Kaganpur6 wings
Desert Rangers Bahawalpur
AOR Suliemanke-Bahawalpur)6 wings
Panjnad Rangers
Southern end of Bhawalpur District5 wings
Cholistan RangersRahim Yar Khan
AOR Khanpur-Sadiqabad)4 wings
Pakistan Rangers Sindh (40,000) (5 zones)
While the Pakistan Rangers Sindh perform traditional border duties such as border security, border policing, and intelligence collection, their primary role today is internal security in the Sindh. They act as reserve police, thus ensuring the Pakistan Army is not drawn into the law-and-order role, patrol federal highways, and conduct counter-terrorism and asset protection duties.
AOR: 912 kilometers of Indo-Pakistan border, including the Rann of Kutch.
Karachi (3 zones)
Sachal Rangers (4 wings)
Bhittai Rangers (3 wings)
Abdullah Shah Ghazi Rangers (3 wings)
Umme Amara Rangers (1 wing) (women only)
Hyderabad
Qasim Rangers, Hyderabad (4 wings)
Thar Rangers, Hyderabad (4 wings)
Sukkar
Indus Rangers, Nawabshah (3 wings)
Shahbaz Rangers, Sukkur (6 wings)
A paramilitary type organization, with several Mujahid and Janbaz Force battalions, which are locally recruited militia. Mujahids are infantry battalions and include reserve battalions to be embodied at need. Most of the Janbaz units are air defense, but there are some infantry battalions. Total strength is ~160,000, a reduction since the Mujahid battalions in Kashmir are now being regularized. Some Mujahid battalions are permanently activated and attached to regular army brigades.
7.10 Miscellaneous
Marines
21st Marine Air Defense Battalion (Ormara)
(Detachments Karachi and Jiwani Naval bases)
Mistral
Unidentified SAM
6 or 12 twin-35mm, German or Chinese[161]
Skyguard radar
Marines (allegedly 12,000 planned)
1st Marine Battalion (???)
2nd Marine Battalion Karachi
3rd Marine Battalion Gwadar
TF-88 for defense of Gwadar
133rd Expeditionary Marine Battalion (might this be the 1st Battalion with a different number for an exercise?)
Creeks Battalion (defense of Karachi)
Coast Guard Battalions x 10
Pakistan Regiments
Infantry
Punjab ~65 battalions
Frontier Force ~65 battalions
Baloch (was spelled Baluch) ~58 battalions
Azad Kashmir (Free Kashmir) ~45 battalions
Sind (also spelled Sindh) ~30 battalions
Northern Light Infantry ~18 battalions
Mujahid Force Regiment ~20 battalions
New, regularization of Mujahid paramilitary
battalions
Special Service Group (SF battalions, function in
companies)
Pakistan has just six infantry regiments; accordingly, numbers of battalions grouped under each regimental center is enormous: The first three regiments have as many as 58-65 battalions each so that each center handles more battalions than exist in all but the largest armies today. The first 5 regiments reflect the main ethnic groups in Pakistan, and as such no compelling case exists for more regimental centers, Pakistan – unlike India – has chosen not to create national regiments (in India: Parachute, Guards, Grenadiers, Mechanized Infantry). There are higher battalion numbers than 60 in the Punjab and Baloch Regiments because 21 new battalions of these two regiments went to the Sind Regiment when it was formed in 1980; as far as we know, these battalions were not reraised. Several battalions are Light Anti-Tank.
2 Cavalry
4 Cavalry
5 Horse (Probyn's)
6 Lancers (DCO)
7 Lancers
8 Cavalry
9 Horse
10 Cavalry (Guide's)
11 Cavalry (PAVO)
12 Cavalry
13 Lancers
14 Lancers
15 Lancers
16 Horse
18 Horse
19 Lancers
20 Lancers
21 Cavalry
22 Cavalry
23 Cavalry
24 Cavalry
25 Cavalry
26 Cavalry
27 Cavalry
28 Cavalry
29 Cavalry
30 Cavalry
31 Cavalry
32 Cavalry
33 Cavalry
34 Cavalry
35 Cavalry
36 Cavalry
37 Cavalry
38 Cavalry
39 Cavalry
40 Horse
41 Horse
42 Lancers
43 Cav 2016
44 Cav 2016
51 Lancers
52 Cavalry
53 Cavalry
54 Cavalry
55 Cavalry
56 Cavalry
57 Cavalry
58 Cavalry
Pakistan Reserve Battalion System
Pakistan has a significant number of troops in its Reserves/National Service pool. The usual figure if 500,000 tells us nothing. Nonetheless, Pakistan has, in the past, demonstrated the ability to quickly create new infantry battalions and tank regiments, using reserve manpower. Their combat efficiency is another matter. We know from historical accounts of the Pakistan army that the new tank regiments did not function well. That was because of inadequately trained tank and maintenance crews, and insufficient unit training. This is not a probably factor for the infantry. Below is an example of capabilities in this area.
1965 War (formal war period September 6 - 23)
16 FF September 12
17 FF September 12
18 FF September 19
19 FF September 26
20 FF October 1
21 FF October 1
22 FF October 23
23 FF October 25
24 FF November 22
25 FF December 19
26 FF November 22
16,17 and 18 FF seem to even have seen a little action in the war, despite their raising just days before the cease-fire. One possibility for this strange situation is that the battalions might have been incomplete units under raising and filled out with troops from the regimental center.
Nonetheless, to add 11 battalions within 13 weeks on a base of 15 battalions is impressive.
1971 War (formal war period December 3-17)
40 FF November 24
41 FF December 6
42 FF December 7
43 FF December 9
Seven other battalions were raised in 1971 prior to the above 4. The raisings in 1971 were at a more deliberate pace, with 11 battalions on a 39-battalion base raised within 9 months. (1966-70 only five battalions were raised, a realistic pace.) In 1971, some infantry battalions were intended for infrastructure defense but took the field as regular infantry.
Frontier Works Organization
15,000 core personnel
Sub-contractors and labor hired as needed
Military heavy construction/maintenance organization for border roads, bridges, tunnels, but also used for other construction like cantonments, airfields, army aviation fields and strips, dams, thermal power plants, canals, fiber-optic backbone, and Pakistan Atomic Energy infrastructure. Aside from the well-known 774-km Karakorum Highway linking Pakistan with China via Pakistan Kashmir, the FWO has also built the 650-km Makran Coast Highway. The Karakorum Highway is now being converted into six lanes.
491 Engineer Group
492 Engineer Group
493 Engineer Group
494 Engineer Group
495 Engineer Group
496 Engineer Group
Groups have 1-2 engineer battalions and 2-6 constructions teams of 3-600 personnel each. There are also 2 Quarrying & Construction battalions and two road maintenance teams.
Army cantonments (not complete)
Abbottabad
Landi Kotal
Attock
Loralai
Badin
Malir
Bagh
Mangla
Bhawalpur
Manshera
Bahawalnagar
Multan
Bhimber