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Frontier Corps

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Not to be confused with Frontier Constabulary or Frontier Force Regiment.
Frontier Corps
سرحد واہنی
From left to right:Insignia of FC KPK (left) Insignia of FC Balochistan-North (middle) Insignia of FC Balochistan-South (right)
From left to right:Insignia of FC KPK (left)
Insignia of FC Balochistan-North (middle)
Insignia of FC Balochistan-South (right)
Common nameFC Balochistan
FC KPK
AbbreviationFC
Agency overview
Formed1878; 146 years ago (1878)
Employees80,000 personnel as of 2015[1]
Annual budgetclassified
Jurisdictional structure
Federal agencyPakistan
Operations jurisdictionPakistan
Governing bodyMinistry of Interior
General nature
Specialist jurisdictions
  • Paramilitary law enforcement, counter insurgency, and riot control.
  • National border patrol, security, and integrity.
Operational structure
Headquarters
Agency executives
Parent agencyPakistan Army
Website
frontiercorpskpk.com

The Frontier Corps (Urdu: سرحد واہنی, reporting name: FC), is a paramilitary force of Pakistan in the provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to maintain law and order while overseeing the control of the country's borders with Afghanistan and Iran. The Frontier Corps is an umbrella term for two separate organizations: FC KP stationed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province and now including the Federally Administered Tribal Areas), and FC Balochistan stationed in Balochistan province. Each subdivision is headed by a seconded inspector general, who is a Pakistan Army officer of at least major-general rank, although the force itself is under the jurisdiction of the Interior Ministry.[2]

With a total manpower of approximately 100,000,[3][1] the task of the Frontier Corps is to help local law enforcement, and to carry out border patrol, counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism and anti-smuggling operations.[4]

Some of the FC's constituent units such as the Chitral Scouts, the Khyber Rifles, Swat Levies, the Kurram Militia, the Tochi Scouts, the South Waziristan Scouts, and the Zhob Militia have regimental histories dating back to British colonial times. The Khyber Rifles was in fact regularized during the 1965 war and fought with distinction in Kashmir.

History

Tochi Scouts in operations against Faqir Ipi in the 1930s

The Frontier Corps was created in 1907 by Lord Curzon, the viceroy of British India, in order to organize seven militia and scout units in the tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan: the Khyber Rifles, the Zhob Militia, the Kurram Militia, the Tochi Scouts, the Chagai Militia, the South Waziristan Scouts and the Chitral Scouts.[2]

The Frontier Corps was led by an "inspecting officer" who was a British officer of the rank of lieutenant colonel. In 1943 the inspecting officer was upgraded to an inspector general (an officer with the rank of brigadier), and the corps was expanded with the addition of new units—the Second Mahsud Scouts (raised in 1944) and the Pishin Scouts (in 1946).[2]

A member of the Khyber Rifles circa 1948

After Pakistan and India split in 1947, Pakistan expanded the corps further by creating a number of new units, including the Thal Scouts, the Northern Scouts, the Bajaur Scouts, the Karakoram Scouts, the Kalat Scouts, the Dir Scouts and the Kohistan Scouts. British officers continued to serve in the Frontier Corps up to the early 1950s. The corps was split into two major subdivisions with FC Balochistan incorporating the Zhob Militia, the Sibi Scouts, the Kalat Scouts, the Makran Militia, the Kharan Rifles, the Pishin Scouts, the Chaghai Militia and the First Mahsud Scouts.[2] In 1975 three units, the Gilgit Scouts, the Karakoram Scouts and the Northern Scouts, were merged to form a new paramilitary force called the Northern Light Infantry, which is now a full infantry regiment of the Pakistan Army.[5]

In the mid-1970s, the Pakistani government used FC Balochistan to counter the terrorists in Balochistan, and the force is unpopular among some of the local population who associate them with human rights violations and heavy-handed operations. To improve the image of the corps, it has been involved in the construction of schools and hospitals, although as of late 2004, corps installations in the province were being routinely attacked by terrorists.[2]

In the late 1990s, the Frontier Corps played an important role in eliminating opium poppy cultivation from Dir District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.[2]

In 2007, after the collapse of truce agreements between the Pakistani government and local militants, the Frontier Corps, teamed with regular Pakistani military units, conducted incursions into tribal areas controlled by the militants. The effort produced a series of bloody and clumsy confrontations.[6] On August 30, about 250 Pakistani troops, mostly from the Frontier Corps, surrendered to militants without a fight. In early November, most were released in exchange for 25 militants held by the Pakistan Army.[6]

There is a widespread consensus among United States government military and intelligence experts that the Frontier Corps are the best potential military units against the Islamist militants because its troops are locally recruited, know local languages and understand local cultures. The United States provided more than US$7 billion in military aid to Pakistan from 2002 to 2007, most of which was used to equip the Frontier Corps because it is in the front line of the fight against the Islamist insurgents. From late 2007, the Pakistani government intended to expand the corps to 100,000 and use it more in fighting Islamist militants, particularly Al-Qaeda, after extensive consultations with the U.S. government, with a multi-year plan to bolster the effort, including the establishment of a counterinsurgency training centre.[6] The US Obama policy for Pakistan was seen as a clear victory for the Pakistan Army lobby in the US. The $1.5 billion a year unrestricted aid recently[when?] announced will go a long way in seeing that the Frontier Corps stay at the height of their professional abilities due to new equipment and training.

The Corps has also fired occasionally on the U.S.-assisted Afghan Army.[7]

Role

  • Border security duties.
  • Assist Army/FCNA in the defense of the country as and when required.
  • Protect important communication centers and routes.
  • Undertake counter militancy/criminal/terrorism operations on orders.
  • Assist law enforcement agencies in maintenance of law and order.
  • Safeguard important sites and assets

During times of difficulties, the government occasionally gives the FC the power to arrest and detain suspects such as in late 2012[8] and early 2013 when the Prime Minister of Pakistan granted the FC policing powers.[9] These temporary powers can also be extended on the orders or consent of the provincial government or federal government or both.[10]

Organization

US DEA Administrator Karen P. Tandy with senior Frontier Corps Balochistan officials and Pakistani Government officials right in front of the Afghan-Pakistani border.

The senior command posts of the Frontier Corps are filled by officers seconded from the Pakistan Army for two to three years.[2]

The Scouts Training Academy is in Mirali in North Waziristan.

The Frontier Corps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is headquartered in Bala Hisar Fort in Peshawar.

The Frontier Corps in Balochistan is headquartered in Quetta and is led by Major General Nadeem Ahmed Anjum. FC Balochistan has a manpower of more than 50,000 troops. The School of Frontier Corps and Training Centre is in Loralai, and the Battle School for advanced courses is in Khuzdar.[2]

The corps is divided into thirty-four local units—-fifteen in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province and nineteen in Balochistan.

Frontier Corps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (North)

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (South)

  • Kurram Militia (1892)
  • South Waziristan Scouts (1900)
  • Tochi Scouts (1894)
  • Shawal Rifles
  • Khattak Scouts
  • Thal Scouts (1948)
  • Bhittani Rifles (2015)

Frontier Corps Balochistan

Balochistan (North)

  • Zhob Militia (1883)
  • Nushki Militia (1896)
  • Sibi Scouts (1971)
  • Chaman Scouts (1946)
  • Maiwand Rifles (1944)[11]
  • Ghazaband Scouts (1977)
  • Bambore Rifles (1977)
  • Loralai Scouts (1977)
  • Qilla Abdullah Scouts (2005)
  • Sui Rifles (2011)
  • Chiltan Rifles (2016)

Balochistan (South)

  • Kharan Rifles (1965)
  • Dasht Scouts (2018)
  • Mekran/Makran Scouts (1974)
  • Taftan Rifles (1977)
  • Dalbandin Rifles (2007–08)
  • Awaran Militia (2006)[11]
  • Panjgur Rifles (2005)
  • Kalat Scouts (1965)
  • Noshki Militia (2002)

Other units also located in Balochistan

  • Frontier Corps Training Centre, Loralai (FCTC)
  • IAC SQN
  • Frontier Corps Battle School
  • SOW (Special Operation Wing - Janinda)

Personnel

There were a total 100,000 active personnel as of 2015 and additional wings have been raised to meet the security challenges.[12][1] Frontier Corps units are locally recruited and are officered by Pakistani Army officers.

Equipment

Basic Equipment

  • GIDS Ballistic Helmet
  • Bullet Proof vests
  • GIDS Knee pads

Small Arms

  • QBZ-95: Used by the Special Operations Group (SOG) anti-terrorist unit
  • H&K G3: POF Made G3 Battle Rifles
  • AK-47: Multiple Variants in service
  • MG3: POF Made MG1A3 variant in service
  • PK-16: POF made Dshk heavy machine gun
  • Type-85: Chinese 12.7mm HMG
  • RPG-7: Rocket Propelled Grenade
  • Type-79: Chinese variant of the Dragonuv Sniper rifle

Mortars and Artillery

Vehicles

Armoured Vehicles

  • T-59 Tank: T-59II variant in service. Handed over to Frontier Corps by Pakistan Army
  • T-69 Tank: T-69IIMP Variant in service. Also handed over by Pakistan army.
  • T-55M: Modernized T-55 MBT. Number of Ex-Serbian units procured in 2020.[13]

Aircraft

Frontier Corps Pakistan have access to the aviation facilities via Pakistan Army. [14][15]

Inspectors general

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Frontier Corps headquarters in Bala Hisar Fort, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
A contingent from Frontier Corps, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa marching in black security forces uniform.

After independence in 1947, the Inspectors-General of FC NWFP were:

  1. Brig. Ahmad Jan, MBE (1950–51)
  2. Brig. K A Rahim Khan (1951–53)
  3. Brig. Bakhtiar Rana, MC (1953–55)
  4. Brig. Sadiq Ullah Khan, M.C (1955–58)
  5. Brig. Rakhman Gul, SQA, S, K, MC (1958–63)
  6. Brig. Sadiq Ullah Khan, MC (1963–64)
  7. Brig. Bahadur Sher, MC (1964–66)
  8. Brig. Mahboob Khan, TQA (1966–69)
  9. Brig. Mahmud Jan, SQA (1969–71)
  10. Maj. Gen. Shireen Dil Khan Niazi (1971–72)
  11. Brig. Iftikhar e Bashir (1972)
  12. Maj. Gen. Naseerullah Babar, SJ & Bar (1972–74)
  13. Maj. Gen. Ghulam Rabbani Khan, SBt (1974–78)
  14. Maj. Gen. Agha Zulfiqar Ali Khan (1978–81)
  15. Maj. Gen. Mian Muhammad Afzaal HI(M) SBt OKA(M) (Shaheed) (1982–84)
  16. Maj. Gen. Arif Bangash, SBt (1984–86)
  17. Maj. Gen. Mohammad Shafiq, SBt (1986–88)
  18. Maj. Gen. Ghazi ud Din Rana, SBt (1988–90)
  19. Maj. Gen. Humayun Khan Bangash, TBt (1990–91)
  20. Maj. Gen. Muhammad Naeem Akbar Khan (1991–92)
  21. Maj. Gen. Mumtaz Gul, TBt (1992–94)
  22. Maj. Gen. Fazal Ghafoor, SBt (1994–97)
  23. Maj. Gen. Sultan Habib (1997–2000)
  24. Maj. Gen. Tajul Haq (2000–03)
  25. Maj. Gen. Hamid Khan (2003–04)
  26. Maj. Gen. Tariq Masood (2004–06)
  27. Maj. Gen. Alam Khattak (2006–08)
  28. Maj. Gen. Tariq Khan (2008–10)
  29. Maj. Gen. Nadir Zeb (2010–2012)
  30. Maj. Gen. Ghayur Mehmood, TBt (2012–2014)[16]
  31. Maj. Gen. Tayyab Azam (2014-2016)
  32. Maj. Gen. Shaheen Mazhar Mehmood (2016-2017)[17]

In 2017 The FC KP was split into FC KP (North) and FC KP (South).[17]

IGFC KP (North)

  1. Maj. Gen. Muhammad Waseem Ashraf (2017-2018)
  2. Maj. Gen. Rahat Naseem Ahmed Khan (2018-Dec 2020)
  3. Maj. Gen. Adil Yamin (Dec 2020–present)[18]

IGFC KP (South)

  1. Maj. Gen. Khalid Javed (2017-2018)[17]
  2. Maj. Gen. Azhar Iqbal Abbasi (2018-2019)[19]
  3. Maj. Gen. Abid Latif Khan (2019-2020)[20]
  4. Maj. Gen. Muhammad Omar Bashir (March 2020 – October 2021)[21]
  5. Maj. Gen. Muhammad Munir Afsar, HI (M) (October 2021 - present)

Balochistan

  1. Maj. Gen. Rehmat Ali Shah (Mar. 1974 to Dec. 1976)
  2. Brig. Shakur Jan, SJ (Fen 1977 to Jul 1978)
  3. Maj. Gen. Alam Jan Mehsud (Jul 1978 to Jun 1980)
  4. Maj. Gen. Khurshid Ali (Jun 1980 to Feb 1984)
  5. Maj. Gen. M. Akram (Feb 1984 to Nov 1985)
  6. Maj. Gen. Shafiq Ahmed, SJ (Nov 1985 to Apr 1985)
  7. Maj. Gen. Sardar M. Khalid (May 1985 to Oct 1990)
  8. Maj. Gen. Chaudhry M. Nawaz (Nov 1990 to Oct 1991)
  9. Maj. Gen. Syed Zafar Mehdi (Oct 1991 to Nov 1993)
  10. Maj. Gen. M. Zia-ul-Haq (Nov 1993 to Oct 1997)
  11. Maj. Gen. Rafiullah Khan Niazi (Oct 1997 to Oct 1999)
  12. Maj. Gen. M. Ziaullah Khan (Nov 1999 to Oct 2001)
  13. Maj. Gen. Syed Sadaqat Ali Shah (Oct 2001 to Oct 2004)
  14. Maj. Gen. Shujaat Zamir Dar (Oct 2004 to Feb 2007)
  15. Maj. Gen. Salim Nawaz (Mar 2007 to Oct 2010)
  16. Maj. Gen. Ubaid Ullah Khan Khattak (Oct 2010 to Aug 2013)
  17. Maj. Gen. Ejaz Shahid (Aug 2013 to Feb 2015)
  18. Maj. Gen. Sher Afghun (Feb 2015 to Dec 2016)
  19. Maj. Gen. Nadeem Ahmed Anjum (Dec 2016- Dec 2018)

In 2017 FC Balochistan was split into FC Balochistan (North) and FC Balochistan (South).

IGFC Balochistan (North)

  1. Maj. Gen. Fayyaz Hussain Shah (Dec 2018–Jan 2021)[22]
  2. Maj. Gen. Yousaf Majoka (Jan 2021- present)[23]

IGFC Balochistan (South)

  1. Maj. Gen. Saeed Ahmed Nagra (2017-2018)
  2. Maj. Gen. Sardar Tariq Aman (2018 - Jan 2020)
  3. Maj. Gen. Sarfaraz Ali (Jan 2020 - Dec 2020)[24]
  4. Maj. Gen. Ayman Bilal Safdar (Dec 2020 - Oct 2021)[25]
  5. Maj. Gen. Kamal Anwar Chaudhry (Oct 2021—Present)

Frontier Corps schools and colleges

Most of the FC educational institutes are affiliated with Federal board rather than provincial boards in Balochistan. Currently FC funding/governing three schools and a college in Balochistan.

  1. Major Pervaiz Shaheed FC School and College, Beleli, Quetta. (Ghazaband scouts)
  2. Lieutenant Safiullah Shaheed FC school, Nushki. (Chaghi Militia)
  3. FC school, Chaman. (Pishin scouts)
  4. FC school, Loralai.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Roy, Kaushik (2015). Military Manpower, Armies and Warfare in South Asia. Routledge. p. 139. ISBN 9781317321286.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Hassan Abbas (2007-03-30). "Transforming Pakistan's Frontier Corps". Terrorism Monitor. 5 (6). Washington: Jamestown Foundation. Archived from the original on 2008-08-04. Retrieved 2010-09-09.
  3. ^ "Journey from Scratch to Nuclear Power". Pakistan Army. Archived from the original on 2011-08-15. Retrieved 2010-09-09.
  4. ^ "Miller, Greg, "U.S. military aid to Pakistan misses its Al Qaeda target"". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2007-11-05.
  5. ^ "Northern Light Infantry Regiment". Pakistan Army. Retrieved 2010-09-09.
  6. ^ a b c Miller, Greg, "U.S. military aid to Pakistan misses its Al Qaeda target", Los Angeles Times, November 5, 2007, accessed November 7, 2007.
  7. ^ Stockman, Farah, "Pakistan aid plan facing resistance / $300m requested for paramilitaries", Boston Globe, July 22, 2007, accessed November 7, 2007.
  8. ^ "Balochistan unrest: FC police powers mandate gets one-month extension". The Express Tribune. 3 November 2012.
  9. ^ "No Governor rule, army control: PM gives FC police powers in Quetta". The Express Tribune. 12 January 2013.
  10. ^ The Newspaper's Staff Correspondent (March 2015). "Police powers for FC extended". Dawn. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  11. ^ a b "Corps". Frontier Corps Balochistan. Archived from the original on 12 April 2015.
  12. ^ (Iiss), The International Institute of Strategic Studies (2017-02-14). The Military Balance 2017. Routledge, Chapman & Hall, Incorporated. ISBN 9781857439007.
  13. ^ "Pakistan Military received 100 modernised T55 Battle Tanks from the foreign country". April 2020.
  14. ^ "Frontier Corps (FC) Paramilitary Force of Pakistan - Pakistan Forces".
  15. ^ defence.pk
  16. ^ "Major reshuffle in the army". The News.
  17. ^ a b c "Rs80bn spent on FC in three and half years, says Nisar". Dawn (newspaper). 2017-05-21. Retrieved 2021-09-04.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ "IG FC North meets CM Mahmood Khan". The News International (newspaper). 2020-12-19. Retrieved 2021-09-04.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ "Efforts on to develop South Waziristan: IGFC". The News International (newspaper). 2019-04-05. Retrieved 2021-09-04.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ "Maj Gen Abid Latif Khan appointed IG FC KP". Pakistan Today (newspaper). 2018-01-08. Retrieved 2021-09-04.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ "Interior Minister in South Waziristan on two-day visit". Radio Pakistan. 2021-06-04. Retrieved 2021-09-04.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. ^ "IG FC pays farewell call to Balochistan CM". Daily Pakistan (newspaper). 2021-01-14. Retrieved 2021-09-04.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ^ "Body on protection of Hazara community meets". Dawn (newspaper). 2021-08-14. Retrieved 2021-09-04.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ^ "FC taking measures to ensure peace in border areas: IG". Dawn (newspaper). 2020-04-21. Retrieved 2021-09-04.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ "IGFC South meets Balochistan governor". Business Recorder (newspaper). 2021-01-13. Retrieved 2021-09-04.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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