List of formations of the Pakistan Army
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This is a list of formations of the Pakistan Army, the land warfare branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. With a strength of approximately 520,000 active personnel, it has traditionally operated in line with the British Indian Army since its establishment in 1947. However, with growing modernization, many traditional formations have been disbanded in favor of modern structures, a process largely completed during the 21st century.
The Pakistan Army is organized into various formations such as corps, regiments, artilleries, divisions, commands, brigades, and battalions. As of 2024 unofficial reports, the army operates nine corps across the four provinces which further operates nineteen administrative corps.
It has four regiments divided into armoured regiment; reportedly consisting 14 cavalries, infantry regiment; consisting six regiments, artillery regiment; consisting two artilleries, and the Frontier Force regiment which is grouped into sixteen rifles and scouts. It operates six divisions across the country with three divisions in Punjab and two in Gilgit-Baltistan.
History
The modern history of the Pakistan Army dates back to the formation of Pakistan in 1947, following the partition of the India subcontinent.[1] The army was initially formed as a professional land force by inheriting the assets and personnel of the British Indian Army, with its first commander-in-chief, Frank Messervy. Since its formation, the military has taken a central role in governance, with Pakistan undergoing multiple military coups, leading to periods of military rule.[2][3] Over time, the Pakistan Army has become a powerful institution, which significantly impacted both the country's security policy and its internal politics.[4][2]
Since 1947, the army has participated in various wars such as the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 and the 1971 war. After the Indo-Pakistani war of 1947–1948, the army developed specific formations to address the new strategic realities along the borders. During the 1965 and 1971 wars, new units and formations were established to address the changing nature of warfare.[4][3]
Corps
- I Corps at Mangla Cantonment, Azad Kashmir
- II Corps at Multan Cantonment, Punjab
- IV Corps at Lahore, Punjab
- V Corps at Karachi, Sindh
- X Corps at Chaklala Cantonment, Punjab
- XI Corps at Peshawar, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
- XII Corps at Quetta, Balochistan
- XXX Corps at Gujranwala, Punjab
- XXXI Corps at Bahawalpur, Punjab[1]
Administrative corps
- Pakistan Army Air Defence Corps
- Pakistan Army Artillery Corps
- Pakistan Army Armoured Corps
- Pakistan Army Aviation Corps
- Pakistan Armed Forces Band
- Pakistan Army Corps of Education
- Pakistan Army Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
- Pakistan Army Corps of Engineers
- Pakistan Army Education Corps
- Infantry Branch
- Judge Advocate General Branch
- Military Intelligence
- Pakistan Army Corps of Military Police
- Pakistan Army Medical Corps
- Pakistan Armed Forces Nursing Service
- Pakistan Army Ordnance Corps
- Pakistan Army Corps of Remount Veterinary and Farms
- Pakistan Army Corps of Service
- Pakistan Army Corps of Signals[1]
Regiments
Armoured regiments
- 5th Horse
- 6th Lancers at Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab
- 8th Cavalry at Bahawalnagar, Punjab
- 13th Lancers at Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
- 15th Lancers
- 19th Lancers
- 20th Lancers
- 4th Cavalry at Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- 11th Cavalry
- 12th Cavalry at Rawalpindi, Punjab
- 22nd Cavalry
- 23rd Cavalry
- 24th Cavalry
- 32nd Cavalry
- Guides Cavalry[5]
- President's Bodyguard at Aiwan-e-Sadr
Infantry regiments
Artillery regiments
Frontier Corps regiments
Divisions
Independent brigades
- 105 Independent Infantry Brigade
- 105 Air Defence Independent Brigade Group
- 111 Independent Infantry Brigade at Rawalpindi
- 212 Infantry Brigade[1]