XII Corps (Pakistan)
The XII Corps, also known as Quetta Corps[1][2] is a corps of the Pakistan Army currently stationed in Quetta, Balochistan Province.
XII Corps | |
---|---|
Active | 1985–present |
Country | Pakistan |
Allegiance | Pakistan Army |
Branch | Active Duty |
Type | Army Corps |
Role | Combined arms formation Tactical headquarters element |
Size | 20,000+ approximately (though this may vary as units are rotated) |
HQ/Command Control Headquarter | Quetta, Balochistan Province |
Nickname(s) | Quetta Corps[1] |
Colors Identification | Red, white and black |
Engagements | Soviet–Afghan War Pakistan war in Afghanistan War on terror India-Pakistan Standoff Balochistan conflict War in North-West Pakistan |
Decorations | Military Decorations of Pakistan Military |
Commanders | |
Commander XII Corps | Lieutenant General Asif Ghafoor |
Notable commanders | General Khalid Shameem Wynne General Abdul Waheed Kakar Lieutenant General Sarfraz Ali |
History
The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 created for Pakistan a real security threat on the western borders for the first time in its history. As a result, two new corps were raised to guard the western borders. These were the XI Corps 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 against 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[3]
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-Qaeda 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 conflict 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.
Structure
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 is thought to be:
Structure of XII Corps | |||||||||
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Corps | Corps HQ | Corps Commander | Assigned Units | Unit HQ | |||||
XII Corps | Quetta | Asif Ghafoor |
33rd Infantry Division | Khuzdar | |||||
41st Infantry Division | Quetta | ||||||||
44th Light Infantry Division | (Gwadar) | ||||||||
Independent Infantry Brigade | (Turbat) | ||||||||
Independent Armoured Brigade | (Khuzdar) | ||||||||
Independent Infantry Brigade | (Gwadar) | ||||||||
Independent Engineer Brigade | U/I Location | ||||||||
Independent Signal Brigade | U/I Location |
List of Commanders XII Corps
Lieutenant-General |
Asif Ghafoor | August 2022 | Present |
Sarfraz Ali | December 2020 | August 2022 | |
Muhammad Waseem Ashraf | September 2019 | December 2020 | |
Asim Saleem Bajwa | September 2017 | September 2019 | |
Aamer Riaz | October 2015 | September 2017 | |
Nasser Khan Janjua | September 2013 | October 2015 | |
Alam Khattak | October 2011 | September 2013 | |
Javed Zia | April 2010 | October 2011 | |
Khalid Shameem Wynne | April 2007 | April 2010 | |
Shahid Hamid | September 2003 | October 2004 | |
Abdul Qadir Baloch | October 2001 | September 2003 | |
Mushtaq Hussain | October 1999 | October 2001 | |
Tariq Pervaiz | May 1997 | October 1999 | |
Saranjam Khan | 1995 | May 1997 | |
Lieutenant general Zia Ullah Khan | January 1993 | 1995 | |
Abdul Waheed Kakar | August 1989 | January 1993 | |
Syed Zakir Ali Zaidi | May 1987 | August 1989 | |
Khushdil Khan Afridi | 1985 | May 1987 |