1977–1999

In 1977 a coup was staged by General Zia ul-Haq and the government was overthrown. This led to the hanging of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto after he was tried and proclaimed guilty of conspiracy of murdering a politician named Kasuri by Zia's handpicked judges. Zia reneged on his promise of holding elections within 90 days and ruled as a military dictator until his death in an air crash in 1988. General Mohammad Iqbal Khan served as a joint chief from 1980 to 1984 and was the Chief Martial Law Officer during that time.

In the mid-1970s the Pakistan Army was involved in fighting an uprising in Balochistan. Various Balochi factions, some with the oblique support of the USSR, wanted independence or at least greater provincial rights. The rebellion was put down on the behest of the Bhutto government but the Army suffered heavy casualties. After Bhutto was deposed, the province returned to normalcy under General Rahimuddin.

In the 1980s, Pakistani armed forces co-operated with the United States to provide arms, ammunition and intelligence assistance to Afghan mujahideen who were fighting the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The U.S. supplied modern military equipment to Pakistan.

During the 1st Gulf War Pakistan Army contributed troops for the defence of Saudi Arabia against possible Iraqi retaliation. Although Pakistan Army saw few actions their still its performance was remarkable. The 153 Lt AirDefence (GM/SP) Regiment deployed in Tabuk scored multiple hits on number of Iraqi Scuds and provided round the clock Air Defence protection to Saudi Troops in the Area.

                                               Mission 

Pakistan Army serves as the land-based branch of the Pakistan Military. Chapter 2 of PART XII of Pakistani Constitution defines the purpose of the Army as:[9]“ The Armed Forces shall, under the directions of the Federal Government, defend Pakistan against external aggression or threat of war, and, subject to law, act in aid of civil power when called upon to do so.




                                           1969–1971
During the rule of Yahya Khan, the people of East Pakistan protested against various political and economic disparities that had been imposed on them by West Pakistan and massive civil unrest broke out in East Pakistan. During operations against these rebels, called Operation Searchlight, a faction of the Pakistan Army under General Yahya Khan was responsible for the 1971 Bangladesh atrocities.[12] Beginning with the start of Operation Searchlight on 25 March 1971 and due to the Bangladesh Liberation War, there were numerous human rights abuses in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) perpetrated by the Pakistan Army, with support from local political and religious militias, especially against Hindus.[13][14] Time reported a high ranking U.S. official as saying "It is the most incredible, calculated thing since the days of the Nazis in Poland."[15]

The original plan envisioned taking control of the major cities on 26 March 1971, and then eliminating all opposition, political or military,[16] within one month. The prolonged Bengali resistance was not anticipated by Pakistani planners.[17] The main phase of Operation Searchlight ended with the fall of the last major town in Bengali hands in the mid of May.

Soon heavy fighting broke out between Pakistani army and India-backed Bengali freedom fighters,in this period Pak army killed estimated 3 Million Bengali people.In December 1971,Pakistan attacked India's western air based that started war of 1971.In eastern theater Pak army was decimated by Indian Army and Bengali freedom fighters,while in west front,Pak army was defeated in battles of Basanter and Longewalla.

On 16 December 1971, Lt. Gen A. A. K. Niazi, CO of Pakistan Army forces located in East Pakistan signed the Instrument of Surrender.Over 93,000 Pakistani troops surrendered to the Indian forces, making it the largest surrender since World War II.

In 1997 R. J. Rummel published a book, available on the web, called "Statistics of Democide: Genocide and Mass Murder Since 1900", In Chapter 8 called "Statistics Of Pakistan's Democide Estimates, Calculations, And Sources" he looks at the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. Rummel wrote:
In East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) [the President of Pakistan, General Agha Mohammed Yahya Khan, and his top generals] also planned to murder its Bengali intellectual, cultural, and political elite. They also planned to indiscriminately murder hundreds of thousands of its Hindus and drive the rest into India. And they planned to destroy its economic base to insure that it would be subordinate to West Pakistan for at least a generation to come. This plan may be perceived as genocide.[18]

According to Maj. (Retd.) Agha Humayun Amin, Pakistan Army high command commanders had not seriously considered an Indian invasion of East Pakistan until December 1971 because it was presumed that the Indian military would not risk Chinese or U.S. intervention. Maj Mazhar states that the PA's senior command failed to realise that the Chinese would be unable to intervene during the winter months of November to December 1971 period due to snowbound Himalayan passes and the U.S. had not made any real effort to persuade India against attacking East Pakistan.

1947–1958 

General Ayub Khan arriving to take command of the Pakistan Army in 1951

The Pakistan Army was created on 30 June 1947 with the division of the British Indian Army. The soon to be created Dominion of Pakistan received six armoured, eight artillery and eight infantry regiments compared to the 12 armoured, forty artillery and twenty one infantry regiments that went to India. Fearing that India would take over the state of Kashmir, irregulars, scouts and tribal groups entered the Muslim majority state of Kashmir to oppose the Maharaja of Kashmir and Kashmiri Hindus and Sikhs in 1947, even though the Maharaja chose to join the Union of India. This led to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. Regular army units joined the invasion later on but were stopped after the refusal of the army chief of staff, British officer General Sir Frank Messervy, to obey Pakistani leader Jinnah's orders to move the army into Kashmir. A ceasefire followed on UN intervention with Pakistan occupying the northwestern part of Kashmir and India occupying the rest. Later, during the 1950s, the Pakistan Army received large amounts of economic and military aid from the United States and Great Britain after signing two mutual defence treaties, the Baghdad Pact, which led to the formation of the Central Treaty Organization, and the South East Asian Treaty Organization (SEATO) in 1954. This aid greatly expanded the Army from its modest beginnings.

The sole division headquarters that went to Pakistan was the 7th. 8th and 9th Divisions were raised in 1947; 10, 12th and 14 Divisions were raised in 1948. 15 Div was raised in 1950. At some point before 1954, 6 Division was raised and 9 Division disbanded. 6 Division was disbanded at some point after 1954 as US assistance was available only for one armoured and six infantry divisions.

                                         Organization and Command Structure


The Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee deals with all problems bearing on the military aspects of state security and is charged with integrating and coordinating the three services.[citation needed] In peacetime, its principal function is planning; in time of war, its chairman is the principal staff officer to the president in the supervision and conduct of the war.[citation needed] The secretariat of the committee serves as the principal link between the service headquarters and the Ministry of Defence in addition to coordinating matters between the services.[citation needed] The three branches within the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee deal with planning, training, and logistics. Affiliated with the committee are the offices of the Engineer-in-Chief, the director general of medical service, the director of Inter-Services Intelligence, and the director of inter-services public relations.

                                   Current deployments

It is estimated that approximately 60–70% of Pakistani troops are deployed along the India-Pakistan border to counter an invasion threat from India.[18] However, since the start of militancy in the Pakistan Tribal areas in the aftermath of post 9/11 US invasion of Afghanistan more than 150,000 troops have been shifted to Tribal areas and Swat Valley to counter the Taliban invasion.[19] Since the September 11th terrorist attacks, Pakistani military forces have engaged in the War on Terrorism against Taliban and Al Qaeda extremists. Compared to other militaries, it has suffered the highest number of casualties in the war. Those troops along with various paramilitary forces are involved in a protracted fight against extremists in the tribal areas of Pakistan. After the Mumbai incident of 2009 and subsequent standoff with India, several brigades were moved back east. The Pakistan military also assists the Govt in combating natural disasters, such as the 2005 Kashmir earthquake and the floods in Punjab, Sindh and Baluchistan in 2008 and 2010.

                                                            History

Before 1947, most military officers of the newly formed Pakistan Armed Forces had served in the British Indian Army and fought in both World Wars and the numerous Anglo-Afghan Wars. Several experienced commanders who fought in the British military in World War II joined Pakistan Armed Forces giving it professionalism, experience and leadership. After independence, the military was supposed to have been divided between India and Pakistan with a ratio of 64% going to India and 36% for Pakistan; however, it is estimated that Pakistan inherited only about 15% of the equipment.[13]

Post-independence, it has fought three wars against India,[14] several border skirmishes with Afghanistan and against the Soviet Union which occupied Afghanistan in 1979, and an extended border skirmish with India in 1999 (Kargil War) and is currently conducting anti-terrorist operations along the border areas of Afghanistan. Pakistan Armed Forces have participated in several United Nations peacekeeping operations.

The Pakistan Armed Forces have also taken over the Pakistani government several times since independence mainly on the pretext of lack of good civilian leadership, whom most Pakistanis regard as corrupt and inefficient.[15] However, according to the political parties removed from power by the army, political instability, lawlessness and corruption are direct consequences of army rule.[16][17]

                                Pakistan Armed Forces
                  From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


The Pakistan Armed Forces (Urdu: پاک مُسَلّح افواج‎, Musallah Afwaj-e-Pakistan) are the military forces of Pakistan. They are the seventh largest in the world in terms of active troops. The armed forces comprise three main branches: the Pakistan Army, the Pakistan Navy (including the Pakistan Marines) and the Pakistan Air Force, together with a number of paramilitary forces and Strategic Plans Division (SPD) forces.

Following 1962, Pakistan Armed Forces has had close military relations with the People's Republic of China, including development and research cooperation to enhance military system, such as on the JF-17 Thunder, K-8 Karakorum, and others as well. As of 2013 China is the largest supplier of military equipment to Pakistan.[4] Both nations also cooperate on development in nuclear weapons and space technology programs.[5][6][7] The armies have a schedule for organizing joint military exercises.[8] PAF also maintains close military relation with United States and is a Major non-NATO ally of the USA. It primarily import military equipment from China and USA.[4]

The armed forces were formed in 1947 when Pakistan became independent from the British Empire. Since then, the armed forces have played a decisive role in the history of Pakistan. A sense of national unity and identity was forged out of the wars of 1947 and 1965 against India. Border clashes with Afghanistan led to the creation of the paramilitary forces to deal with civil unrest as well as secure the border areas. The Marines were commissioned in 1971, however due to a poor performance in the 1971 war they were disbanded. In 1990, they were commissioned again and serve as part of the Navy. In 2010 the Pakistan Armed Forces had approximately 617,000 personnel on active duty, 513,000 in reserve, 304,000 in its paramilitary forces and approximately 20,000 serving in the Strategic Plans Division forces, giving a total of almost 1,451,000 personnel.[2] The armed forces have a large pool of volunteers and as such, conscription is not, and has never been needed.[9]

Pakistan Armed Forces are led by an officer corps that is not restricted by social class or nobility and are appointed from a variety of sources such as service academies and direct appointment from both civilian status and the enlisted ranks. The Pakistan Army is the best organized group in the country and is highly respected in civil society and the social ranks as an institution.[10] Since the founding of Pakistan, the army has been key in holding the state together, promoting a feeling of nationhood and providing a bastion of selfless service.[11]

Pakistan Armed Forces are the largest contributors to United Nations peacekeeping efforts, with more than 10,000 personnel deployed in 2007.[12] Other foreign deployments have consisted of Pakistani military personnel as advisers in African and Arab countries. The Pakistani military maintained division and brigade strength presences in some of the Arab countries during the Arab-Israeli Wars, and the first Gulf War to help the Coalition as well as the Somalian and Bosnian conflicts.

                                                    Major Raja  Aziz Bhatti Shaheed 
Major Aziz Bhatti Shaheed family belong to District Gujrat, district headquarters nearly 110 miles away was a small village. Major Aziz Bhatti Shaheed was born in Hong Kong in 1928. Major Aziza Bhatti two uncles, Imam-ul-deen and Ahmed Deen was employer of Hong Kong police. In childhood life, Major Aziz Bhatti liked to play football, cricket, hockey and tennis. After returning Pakistan, he started career in pilot job and in 1947, he appointed as a position in kar purl. He was the brave commander of Pakistan. 10 September 1965, he was martyrdom by an enemy tank shell. Major Aziz Bhatti awarded the highest military award of Nishan-e-Haider.

Major Aziz Bhatti Shaheed ka khandan zila Gujrat kay zila Sadar moqam sey taqreban 110 miles door aik chotay sey dehat sey taluq rakhta tha. App kay do cha cha Imamuddin aur Ahmed din Hong Kang Police mein mulazim thay. Lehaza app kay walid Mohammed Abdullah bhi talash rozgar kay silsilay mein Hong rawana huwe aur wahan sey Queen’s College sey teen sala tadresi tarbiati course pass ker kay kuch arsa moallim rahay aur phir Reserve police mein bharti hogay. 6 August 1928 ko Hong Kong hi mein Aziz Bhatti peida hoye. Waldain nay in ka naam Aziz Ahmed rakha lakin ghar mein piyar say unhain Raja Raja keh kar pukara jata tha.

Bachpan mein Major Aziz Bahtti ko Football, Cricket, Hockey aur Tennis bohot pasand thay. Major Aziz Bhatti Shaheed ko moshque sey bhi bohot dilchaspi thi aur app Mouth Organ baray shoq sey bajaya kertay thay. Major Aziz Bhatti ko bachpan mein khelon mein “Likan meti” bohot pasand tha. App middle tak ibtedai taleem sira mein Kadoorie School Hong Kong mein hasil ki Metric kernay kay bad Mejor Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Queen College Hong Kong mein dakhla lay liya. College mein app ki zahanat ko dekhtay huye Principal ki safarish per Britannia hokomat ney app ko ala taleem kay liye wazefay ki pesh kash ki. Japan per Hong Kong kay qabzay kay bad app ko taleem ka silsila munqata ker kay Japani Behriya mein Watch and Ward ki hasiat say molazmat kerna pari. Unhein gair mamuli salhiyaton ki waja sey app Head Watch man kay uhday per ja poncay bad azan app nay Japani Behria key Captain key course mein dakhla leya aur bil akhir December 1945 mein apnay khandan key hum rah masaib o alam jhelnay key bad watan wapis lot aye. June 1946 mein app ki shadi Naib Subedar ki sahebzadi Zarina Akhtar sey anjam pai. Yehan yad rahay kay unki ahliya ka asal nam Rashida tha lakin Aziz Bhatti ney azrah mohabbat un ka nam Zarina rakh diya. Qudrat ney app ko char beton aur do betion sey nawaza.

Apnay Watan anay kay bad Major Aziz Bhatti ney 1946 mein batour Airman ka agaz kiya aur 1947 mein karporal kay uhday per faiz huwe. 1948 mein app nay Pak Fouj mein molazmat kay leye darkhast di 21 January 1948 ko Wazir Azam Pakistan Liaquat Ali Khan nay Aziz Bhatti ko Eazazi Talwar aur Norman talai tamgah anayat kiya 1950 mein Major Aziz Bhatti Second Lieutenant ki haisiat sey 4/16 Punjab Regiment sey munsalik rahay. 24 January 1951 sey lay ker 11 January1953 tak Aziz Bhatti Shaheed add joint lieutenant rahay. jab kay February 1953 sey December 1953 tak captain add joint rahay.

January 1956 mein Major Aziz Bhatti Shaheed ko ala tarbiat kay leye Canada bhej diya geya jahan sey wapsi per app nay Kohat aur Jhelum mein GSO second operations ki hasiat sey khidmat anjam dein. June 1961 sey June 1962 tak app 17 Punjab Regiment sey wabistah rahay jab kay June 1962 sey June 1964 tak app nay Infantry School Quetta mein molazmat ki January 1965 sey May 1965 tak app Punjab Regiment mein second in command ki hasiat sey molazmat kertay rahay. 29 August 1965 ko hangami halat kay pesh e nazar Major Aziz Bhatti Shaheed ki rukhsat mansukh ker di gai aur app ko fori tour per hazir honay ka hokum huwa. 6 September 1965 ko Bharat kay hamla awar honay per app ko Barki kay mahaz per bheaj diya gaya. Mahaz per rawanah honay sey pehlay Major Aziz Bhatti Shaheed nay apni ehliya sey kaha “ Mein aaj jis qadar khush hun tum atni udas ho rahi ho mojahedin kay leye maidan jang ko rawana honay ki saat unki zindagi ki mobarak taren saat hoti hai. Tumhein maloom hai kay aaj mein watan aziz per napak azaem kay sath hamlah kernay walay zalelo makkar dushman ki sarkobi kay leye maidan mein jar raha hon. Meri khahish hai kay tum mujhay khushi khushi rukhsat karo agar mein iss moqaddas jahad mein shaheed ho jaun to ansu na bahana.”

6 September 1965 ko sarhay sat bajay app mahaj per pahonchay aur jeep sey utar ker morchon mein gaye aur sipahyon sey mokhatib hoker kaha “Bahadro dat ker moqabla karo.” Company commander ki hasiat sey Major Aziz Bhatti ki post BRB kay thi lakin unhon nay apnay leye OP ki post ka intekhab kea jo agar chay khatray wali jagah thi lakin dushman kay qareb thi 6 aur 7 September ko Major Aziz Bhatti Shaheed nay khan khanay sey inkar ker deya aur sathyon sey kaha kay “mein abhi aram nahin karun ga mujhay app logon kay aram ki zarurat hai.” 8 September 1965 ko jab dushman nay chenk wandi sey bharpur hamlah keya to unhon nay aram keye bagair dushman per zaberdast hamlah kerkay usay pispa ker deya iss moqa per jab commanding officer kernel Quraeshi nay unhain aram ka hokum deya to unhon nay aik azam sey kaha. “ Sir Ye bara nazuk mahaz hai mein iss jagha dushman ki naqlo harkat sey puri tarah waqif ho chukka hun naye afsar ko samajhnay mein waqt lagay ga lahza mujhay aram ki zarurat nahin."

10 September ko dushman kay aik golay ki zad mein aker Major Aziz Bhatti shaheed huya aur zindah javed ho gaye unhon nay mulk o millat ki laj rakh li aur apni jaan ka nazrana day ker usay bacha leya.

Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed