XII Corps (Pakistan)

XII Corps
Active	1985 - Present
Country	Pakistan
Allegiance	Pakistan Army
Branch	Active Duty
Type	Army Corps
Role	Combined arms formation Tactical headquarters element
Size	60,000+ approximately (though this may vary as units are rotated)
Part of	Western and Southern Military Command of Pakistan Army
HQ/Command Control Headquarter	Quetta, Balochistan Province
Nickname(s)	XII Corps
Colors Identification	Red, White and Black
Engagements	Soviet war in Afghanistan Pakistan war in Afghanistan War on terror India-Pakistan Standoff Balochistan conflict War in North-West Pakistan
Decorations	Military Decorations of Pakistan Military
Commanders
Corps Commander	Lt Gen Aamir Riaz
Notable commanders	General Khalid Shameem Wynne General Abdul Waheed Kakar

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 former DG Military Operations Lieutenant-General Aamer Riaz 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 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 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.

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.

List of commanders

1. Lt Gen Khushdil Khan Afridi, 1985 – May 1987
2. Lt Gen Syed Zakir Ali Zaidi, May 1987 – August 1989
3. Lt Gen Abdul Waheed Kakar, August 1989 – January 1993
4. Lt Gen Zia Ullah Khan, January 1993 – 1995
5. Lt Gen Saranjam Khan, 1995 – May 1997
6. Lt Gen Tariq Pervaiz, May 1997 – October 1999
7. Lt Gen Mushtaq Hussain, October 1999 – October 2001
8. Lt Gen Abdul Qadir Baloch, October 2001 – September 2003
9. Lt Gen Shahid Hamid, September 2003 – October 2004
10. Lt Gen Hamid Rab Nawaz, October 2004 – April 2007
11. Lt Gen Khalid Shameem Wynne, April 2007 – April 2010
12. Lt Gen Javed Zia, April 2010 – October 2011
13. Lt Gen Alam Khattak, October 2011 – September 2013
14. Lt Gen Naseer Khan Janjua, September 2013 – October 2015
15. Lt Gen Aamir Riaz, October 2015 – 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)

External links

• Global Security Website
• Orbat.com