I Corps, Mangla - A "strike" corps, it commands 6 Armoured Division, 8 Independent Armoured Brigade and two Mechanized Infantry Divisions (17 and 37). some elements have been deployed to North West Frontier Province (NWFP) to assist in countering militancy and securing the border with Afghanistan.

II Corps, Multan - A "strike" corps with a Mechanized Infantry Division (40), an Infantry Division (14) which was deployed to South Waziristan in 2007, an Armoured Division (1) and an Independent Armoured Brigade.

IV Corps, Lahore - The corps "mission" is to defend the area of Punjab province opposite Amritsar in India. it has two Infantry Divisions (10 and 11). two Independent Infantry Brigade Groups (partly mechanized), and one Independent Armoured Brigade Group.

V Corps, Karachi - The corps defends eastern and southern Sindh province. it has two Infantry Divisions (16, 18 partly mechanized) and three Independent Armoured Brigade Groups.

X Corps, Rawalpindi - Responsible for local security in the event of an emergency (the task of 111 Independent Infantry Brigade, Rawalpindi), and for Northern Pakistan and Pakistan-Administered Kashmir. HQ Force Commander Northern Areas (FCNA) is under administrative command of 10 Corps and opcom from GHQ. FCNA commands four Brigades with their HQ in Skardu, Astor, Siachen Glacier and Gilget. most infantry units are Northern Light Infantry Battalions (13), the three Infantry Divisions (12,19,23) have a total of 12 Brigades along the Line of Control (LOC).

XI Corps, Peshawar - Two Infantry Divisions (7 and 9) responsible for North West Frontier Province (NWFP), the Afghan Border, and for reinforcement of eastern formations
as required. currently involved in counter-insurgency operations, and heavily reinforced by units and formations from eastern corps.

XII Corps, Quetta - Two Infantry Divisions (33 and 41) responsible for western Sindh, the Afghan border, and for reinforcement of eastern formations as required (as took place during the India-Pakistan confrontation in 2002). also committed to internal security operations against the separatist Baloch National Army (BNA).

XXX Corps, Gujranwala - Two Infantry Divisions (8 and 15), two Independent Armoured Brigade Groups. responsibility for defence of the eastern front, south of IV Corps boundaries.

XXXI Corps, Bahawalpur - Provides depth defence and available for exploitation and counter attack. Commands 26 Mechanized Division and two Infantry Divisions (35 and 40), of which elements have been redeployed to the west.

Note: - Independent Armoured and Infantry Brigades are capable of extended operations without necessarily being reliant on a higher HQ for short-term logistic or intimate support. They can be used in counter-attack, exploitation of an advance, or rapid movement to reinforce formations under pressure.

Internal Conflicts

The Pakistan Army maintains a high level of readiness in anticipation of any renewed conflict with India, but current military operations have focussed mainly on internal security and, more markedly, counter-insurgency operations.

Counter-terrorism/counter-insurgency operations are being carried out in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) along the Afghan border, where over 100,000 army and Frontier Corps troops are deployed in North West Frontier Province (NWFP). The low level insurgency in Balochistan, while primarily confronted by the paramilitary Frontier Corps, also involves the army's X Corps, HQ Quetta (temporary).

UN Contributions:

As of August 2008, Pakistan has over 10,000 troops on UN peacekeeping service, contributing troops or military observers to 12 missions:

BINUB (Berundi) - one military observer.

UNOCI (Cote d/Ivoire) - ten military observers.

UNISOL (Sierra-Leone) - one military observer.

MINURSO (Western Sahara) - eight military observers and

MINUSTAH (Haiti) - one troop

MONUC (Democratic Republic of Congo) - 3,500 troops and 53 military observers.

UNMEE (Ethiopia/Eritrea) - two military observers.

UNMIK (Kosovo) - two military observers.

UNMIL (Liberia) - 16 military observers.

UNMIT (Timor-Leste) - four military observers.

UNOMIG (Georgia) - 11 military observers and

UNMIS (Sudan) - 18 milirary observers and 1,562 troops

Chief of Army Staff: General Raheel Shareef

Vice Chief of Army Staff: Vacant

The Pakistan Army is commanded by the Chief of Army Staff (CoAS). he is assisted by a Vice Chief (position vacant from November 2007) and six Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) who are all three-star generals:

Chief of the General Staff (CGS)

Adjutant General (AG)

Quartermaster General (QMG)

Master General of Ordanance (MGO)

Inspector General Training and Education (IG T&E)

Military Secretary (MS)

Within the army the most influential deliberative body is the Corps Commanders Conference chaired by the CoAS and also attended by the Vice and Deputy Chiefs and the three-star PSOs.

GHQ Pakistan Army, at present located in Rawalpindi, is reported to move to a new complex on the outskirts of Islamabad within the next two years.

The army is structured in a conventional fashion, akin to that of the British Army before its series of reorganizations, and has not found it necessary to change for the sake of appearing modern. A drawback to the present system is that the span of higher command is too wide to effect continuous control by GHQ in Rawalpindi. There have been proposals create two intermediate HQ to command the corps on the eastern border, but the costs in funding and high-quality manpower would be prohibitive.

Some manpower savings have been effected by reducing the number of logistics and other support personnel, especially in officer's messes. but with the army heavily committed to operations in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Balochistan in addition to carrying out normal training, it is unlikely these savings will be translated into an actual reduction in overall strength.

Given the recently arisen imparitives of counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency and continuining dialouge and reduction of tensions on the eastern border, it is assessed that the army's basic organization will not alter, although they will continue to be rotational deployment of formations and units to the west.

Divisions and Brigades

The composition of fighting formations varies according to roles and tasks, with the aim of maintaining a balanced and flexible divisional groupings capable of accepting reinforcements of, for example, a further independent brigade under command for a particular operation. Ongoing mechanization, following resumption of M-113 (variant) production, has resulted in both armoured divisions achieving greater mobility, and the mechanized infantry divisions having appropriate allocations of armour and tracked support, given the delivery of more SP-109s from the US infantry divisions in the two strike corps have re-equipped almost entirely with Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), but will not receive SP artillery in the short term. Brigades are conventionally structured, as far as possible in square formation, and the independent armoured brigades in V Corps (HQ Karachi) are to all intents an armoured division. Force Command Northern Area (FCNA), a mountain division in all but name, is lightly equipped and has no armour. Within combat divisions, logistics brigades have been formed to command support elements. This has resulted in promotion opportunities for officers of the support services that otherwise would not have been available.

Of Pakistan's nine corps HQ, six are sited close to the indian border. Those in Peshawar (II Corps) and Quetta (XII Corps) are heavily involved in internal security and counter insurgency operations in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Balochistan. X Corps HQ, Rawalpindi commands formations along the Line of Control (LOC).

In Karachi, V Corps (with some elements at present involved in internal security operations in Sindh and Balochistan Provinces), has the role of countering a thrust by India intended to cut the main Karach-Lahore road. This important road is being complemented by the new indus highway leading up the center of the country, an initiative prompted by economic and strategic considerations. the corps is also responsible for countering possible landings by indian marines or special forces.

The three heavy infantry formations, IV, XXX, and XXXI Corps are tasked with countering indian thrusts in their immediate areas.

Both I Corps (Mangla) and II Corps (Multan) are armour heavy "strike" corps, which would implement the doctrine of the riposte.

Army Strategic Forces Command is regarded as a corps and commanded by a lieutenant general with his HQ in Rawalpindi. it is responsible for training, deployment and activation of nuclear missile assets.

Corps and Sub-ordinate Formations with Locations.

Strategic Forces Command, Rawalpindi.
2 Missile Group, Probably Sargodha.
? Missile Group, n/a.

I Corps, Mangla
6 Armoured Division, Kharian.
17 Mechanized Infantry Division, Kharian
37 Mechanized Infantry Division, Gujranwala.

II Corps, Multan
1 Armoured Division, Multan
14 Infantry Division, Okara (deployed to South Waziristan Agency 2007)
40 Infantry Division, Okara

IV Corps, Lahore
10 Infantry Division, Lahore
11 Infantry Division, Lahore
3 Independent Armoured Brigade
212 Independent Infantry Brigade

V Corps, Karachi
16 Infantry Division, Hyderabad
18 Infantry Division, Hyderabad
Three Independent Armoured Brigades, Malir (?), Pano Aqil (?), Hyderabad (?)

X Corps, Rawalpindi
Force Command Northern Area, Gilget (equivalent of a division, possibly five infantry divisions)
12 Infantry Division, Murree
19 Infantry Division, Jhelum
23 Infantry Division, Gujrat
111 Independent Infantry Brigade, Rawalpindi

XI Corps, Peshawar
7 Infantry Division, Mardan
9 Infantry Division, Kohat

XII Corps, Quetta
41 Infantry Division, Quetta
33 Infantry Division, Quetta

XXX Corps, Gujranwala
8 Infantry Division, Sialkot
15 Infantry Division, Sialkot

XXXI Corps, Bahawalpur
35 Infantry Division, Bahawalpur
34 Infantry Division, Pano Aqil
105 Independent Brigade Group, Bahawalpur(?)

Special Forces
The Special Services Group (SSG) is headquartered at Cherat and has a base at Attock. it is also responsible for the Airborne School at Peshawar. it consists of three battalions each of four companies.

Other SSG elements include:

Akbar Company (Combat Diver Unit)
Zarrar Company (Counter-terrorism)
Iqbal Company (Communications Unit)

Unit, Base, Type and Role

1 Sqdn, Dhamial, JetRanger II/III, Liaison/Training

2 Sqdn, Lahore, UH-IH Iroquois, Mushshak, Liaison

3 Composite Sqdn, Multan, Mushshak, Liaison

4 Sqdn, Quetta, Mi-17, Support
Detachment of 4 Sqdn, Rahwali, Mi-17, Support

5 Sqdn, Dhamial, Alouette III, Observation/Liaison

6 Sqdn, Dhamial, Bell 412, Mi-17, Support
Emergency Relief Cell, Dhamial, AB-205A-1, Disaster Relief

7 Composite Sqdn, Faisal, O-1 Bird Dog, Mushshak, Liaison

8 Sqdn, Dhamial, SA-315B Lama, Observation/Liaison
Detachment 8 Sqdn, Skardu, Mushshak, Alouette III, Bell 412, Support

9 Composite Sqdn, Peshawar, Mushshak, Alouette III, Miscellaneous

13 Sqdn, Dhamial, Cessna 412, Commander 680/840, Y-12, VIP Transport

21 Sqdn, Multan, SA 330J Puma, UH-IH Iroquois, Support

24 Sqdn, Multan, SA 330J Puma, Support

25 Sqdn, Dhamial, SA 330J Puma, Helicopter Support
Detachment, Gilget, SA 330J Puma, Helicopter Support

31 Sqdn, Multan, AH-1F HueyCobra, Jet Ranger III, Attack/Liaison (deployed to FATA)

32 Sqdn, Multan, AH-1F HueyCobra, Jet Ranger III, Attack/Liaison (deployed to FATA)

Aviation School, Rahwali, Mushshak, Schweizer 300C, Alouette III, Bell 47G/OH-13S, JetRanger II/III.

The Frontier Corps consists of 14 units based in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and 13 units based in Baluchistan, with HQ based in Peshawar and Quetta.

The Pakistan Rangers HQ is in Sialkot with subordinate HQ in Sialkot, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan. The Rangers are responsible for low level border security but can be deployed elsewhere as required by the internal security situation.

The "Riposte" is simple in concept: it is intended that the two strike corps conduct a limited advance along narrow fronts with the objective of occupying indian territory near the border, probably to a depth of 40 to 50 km. Pakistan considers that international pressure would result in a ceasefire after a maximum of three weeks of conflict, enough time to gain some territory to be used in subsequent bargaining. there would be acceptance of Indian penetration, which would be inevitable given the comparitive lack of mobility within the Infantry heavy divisions. Independent Armoured and Mechanized Brigades are intended for quick counter attack and exploitation and would add considerable weight to advances by the strike corps.

The "Riposte" is practiced at all levels. Major excercises involve the crossing of water obstacles and minefields at night with emphasis on subsequent break-out and rapid advance. So far as has been seen, the concept has been adequately translated into workable plans which are continuously being refined. However, complete mechanization of the strike corps and other formations was slowed by the effects of US sanctions and it will take some time for them to achieve desired mobility, although US army surplus equipment is now being rapidly delivered, and local manufacture and rebuilding of US supplied AFV/APC has received considerable impetus, thus improving the mechanization process.

The army took great interest in the Indian army/airforce excercise Vajra Shakti (Thunder Power, conducted in Punjab from 1-10 May 2005). in view of its emphasis on maintaining mobility while operating closed down against nuclear attack. Pakistan's own counter - nuclear preparedness is patchy, and it is doubtful that even the strike corps could fight through a nuclear battlefield.

India's doctrine of "Cold Start" involving swift penetration of Pakistan with the aim of isolating, destroying or capturing vital points (such as nuclear stores and other installations has resulted in some modification to the Riposte, in that acceptability of penetration could be fatal to counter-penetration plans. in the event of an indian advance reaching or crossing the line of the main Lahore-Karachi highway, it is likely there would be consideration of employment of tactical nuclear missiles.

Karachi

Mangla

Lahore

Multan

Peshawar

Quetta

Rawalpindi

Bahawalpur

Regimental and special-to-arms and -services training is of a high standard but there is much learning by rote, which tends to reduce initiative. Instruction at army schools (such as the School of Infantry and Tactics at Quetta) is impressive and courses are conducted efficiently. This also applies to the Command and Staff College. Directing staff are high quality and the syallabus is sound. However, the culture of chappa- an anxiety to conform, resulting in emphasis on obtaining "correct" solutions from former students - produces careful, but imitative papers. Despite this, topic discussion is energetic, and the product is generally good.

Advanced technical training and graduate/post-graduate studies are carried out under the aegis of the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), which involves the Colleges of Medicine, Signals, Military Engg and Electrical and Mechanical Engg. These are linked with civilian, naval and airforce institutions and with Michigan State (US) and Cranfield (UK) universities.

Advanced courses for officers are conducted at National Defence University in Islamabad, of which the two main courses (August to June) are the National Defence Course (brigadiers and equivalent) and the Armed Forces War Course (lieutenant colonels and equivalent). Instruction is world standard.

Individual and collective training in units is conducted in an annual cycle, usually dictated by the timing of higher-level excercises. Sub-unit and unit excercises generally held in summer, with brigade and divisional manoeuveres after the harvest and in winter.
There has been emphasis on computer-based war gaming, with consequent improvement in staff work, especially in logistics. In the 1965 and 1971 wars, few formations were far from base facilities and supply dumps and it is only comparitively recently that battlefield recovery and practice in forward supply have been alotted the importance they deserve. Much training focuses on obstacle crossing, as there are extensive natural and manmade water barriers on both sides of the border, especially in Punjab.

Since 2001, following the invasion of Afghanistan, there has been a gradual than accelerating requirement to counter terrorism and insurgency, especially in, but far from limited to, Baluchistan and North West Frontier Province (NWFP). As the main task of the army was defence of the eastern border, and low level border control was almost exclusively the responsibility of the Pakistan Rangers and the Frontier Corps (the latter assisted by tribal irregulars), there was no particular emphasis on instruction in counter insurgency. When it became necessary to deploy formation HQ and units to the western regions it became apparent that such instruction was essential, and unit and sub-unit training was undertaken concurrently with modification of syllabi in army schools such as the School of Infantry and Tactics. It is expected that this emphasis will be maintained, given the senstivity of the western border regions and the decreasing likelihood of conflict with India (?).

Baloch Regimental Centre, Abbotabad
Frontier Force Regimental Centre
HQ, School of Mountain Warfare (mobile detachments, elements in Skardu)
Pakistan Military Academy
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Azad Kashmir Regimental Centre, Attock
Special Service Group (SSG) (also at Cherat and the Parachute School, Peshawar)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Corps of Military Police Centre, Dera Ismail Khan
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Punjab Regimental Centre, Mardan
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Schools of Army Education, Logistics and Intelligence Murree
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Schools and Centres of Armour, Artillery, Service Corps, Nowshera
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parachute School (SSG) Peshawar
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sindh Regimental Centre, Petaro
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Command and Staff College Quetta
School of Infantry and Tactics
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aviation Centre and School Rawalpindi
Military College of Electrical & Mechanical Engg
Army Medical College
Military College of Signals
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Military College of Engineering Risalpur
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Al-Khalid
Pakistan's efforts to develop its own indigenous tank, the Al-Khalid, suffered initially from difficulties over the supply of power/transmission packs from a European source, As a result of co-operation with Ukraine over the T-80 Main Battle Tank (MBT), the Ukranian Malyshev Plant sold engine and gearbox units for the Al-Khalid to Pakistan in September 2000, and was contracted to provide a total of 315 packs. In November 2000 Pakistan announced that the Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) facility would build a pre-production batch of Al-Khalids in co-operation with the China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO). The first 15 Al-Khalids appeared in July 2001. The production rate in 2004 was estimated by HIT to be 45-60 annually, dependent on budget allocation, and some 220 were in service as of May 2008. Development continues, with modifications in the fire control system and linkage.

Upgraded T-59
Though superseded by the Al-Khalid as the Pakistan Army's first line MBT, the Phase III Al-Zarrar version of the Type 59 has been upgraded and is adequate for training and emergency combat use. The program is centered on fitting a 125mm smoothbore main gun, an upgraded computerised fire control system and ATCOP TR3 laser range-finder, together with DNS 3 image intensifier. Both Thales and Sagem night vision equipment is under trial. Improved armour protection has also been fitted in the shape of an external anti-mine plate on the chassis and Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA). Unlike the Al-Khalid MBT, the 125mm main gun is not fitted with an auto-loader, so the Al-Zarrar has a fourth crew member for this purpose. The army has ordered 400 upgraded tanks of the holding od some 1,000, with the remainder being phased out as the Khalids enter service. The first batch of 80 was handed over in February 2004. it is unlikely Pakistan will seek to purchase MBTs from other sources in the forseeable future, and that it will concentrate on continuing close cooperation with China in this as in other aspects of military development.

Armoured Personnel Carriers

HIT has developed a number of M113A1 variants for the Pakistan Army. These include:

1. The Maaz is a modified M113A1 fitted with a Baktar Shikan anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW). The shape of the M113A1 has been modified, extending its nose slightly and adding additional diesel fuel tanks on the back.

2. Mouz - Modified M 113 fitted with RBS 70.

3. Talha - Modified M 113 APC.

4. Saad - Modified M 113 APC.

5. Al-Hamza - Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) (25mm cannon).

6. Al-Qaswa - logistics vehicle.

7. Sakb - Command post vehicle.

8. Al-Hadeed - Recovery vehicle (modified Talha)

Pakistan is seeking to procure self-propelled mortar systems to equip mechanized infantry battalions with indigeneous firepower to complement the recent improvement in Pakistan's self-propelled artillery formations. This capability is seen as a requirement given the planned increase in the number of fully mechanized formations, but both the Artillery Directorate and Strike Corps are more concerned with the effectiveness of self-propelled howitzers and hence mortar procurement is likely to take second place and be based around converted M 113s or similar systems.

In October 2008, the Bush administration notified US Congress of its plans to provide as much as US$ 116 million in upgrades for eight of the Pakistan Army's AH 1F Cobra helicopters, which are being used in counter-insurgency operations in the country's tribal regions.

Since 2003, the US has provided Pakistan with upto 32 surplus Cobras, which are supposed to be used to provide surveillence, attack and close air support to ground forces engaging the Taliban and fighters linked to Al Qaeda based in Pakistan's federally administered tribal areas (FATA) and northwest frontier province (NWFP). The proposed Cobra refurbishment will include associated equipment and services as well as warranties, transportation and logistics support.

Prime contractor for the upgrades is US Helicopter in Ozark, Alabama, will send staff to join serving US personnel in Pakistan for three weeks to ensure delivery and operability of the upgraded equipment. A three person field office will also be established for three years to provide technical assistance for the upgrades to the Pakistan Army.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
In March 2006, the army finalised an order from Germant for the EMT Luna short-range battlefield reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition UAVs. Three or four systems are likely to be obtained but complete details are yet to be known.

In July 2006, Pakistan and Turkey signed a deal for the joint production of six to seven tactical UAVs, according to turkish and pakistani defence industry sources. During a visit to Turkey, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force, ACM Tanvir Mahmood Ahmad confirmed to Jane's that the two countries would co-operate on UAV production but declined to give further details. The decision to co-build UAVs came after months of study in the two countries.

In May 2008, following a visit to Pakistan by Australia's Chief of Defence Force, that Pakistan had expressed interest in acquiring the Scan Eagle pilotless reconnaissance aircraft built by Boeing Australia.

Type: Al-Khalid
Manufacturer: HIT
Role:MBT
Original Total:220

Type: Type 59/59M (including Zarrar)
Manufacturer: HIT
Role:MBT
Original Total:600

Type: Type 69 (PRC improved version of Type 59. 100mm gun. Not battle survivable)
Manufacturer: Chinese State Factories
Role:MBT
Original Total:350

Type: Type 85 IIAP
Manufacturer: Chinese State Factories
Role:MBT
Original Total:300 (local assembly of kits and manufacture of some components. 125mm gun but fire-control system basic in early versions (upgrade in progress)) total planned production unknown. further acquisition unlikely.

Type: T 80UD
Manufacturer: Malayshev Plant, Ukraine.
Role:MBT
Original Total:320

Type: M 113A1/M 113A2
Manufacturer: HIT.
Role:APC
Original Total: 2,000

Type: UR 416
Manufacturer: Rheinmetall Landsystems GmbH.
Role:APC
Original Total: 35

Type: Type 531
Manufacturer: n/a.
Role:APC
Original Total: 100

Type: BTR 70/BTR-80 (UN Service)
Manufacturer: n/a.
Role:APC
Original Total: 120