Covert Action Division
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 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1800 by Pashtun Tribe Leaders |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Pakistan |
| Headquarters | Islamabad, Pakistan |
| Agency executive | |
| Parent agency | ISI |
 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Government of Pakistan |
| Motto | Faith, Unity, Discipline |
| Agency executive | |
Covert Action Division (CAD) is generally considered the most secretive special operations force of Pakistan. It is responsible for paramilitary and covert operations as well as special activities. It is tasked to collect intelligence in dense hostile environments and act as a special warfare unit of ISI.
Mission
These operatives often operate in remote locations behind enemy lines to carry out direct action (including raids and sabotage), counter-intelligence, guerrilla or unconventional warfare, counter-terrorism, and hostage rescue missions, in addition to being able to conduct espionage via HUMINT assets.
History of battles
- 2013-Present (Operation Zarb-e-Azam)
- 2007 (Operation Silence)
- 2001-Present (War in North West Pakistan)
- 2000-Present (War On Terror In Blochistan)
- 2000-2015 (Indo Pak border skirmishes and war on terror)
- 1998-1999 (Kargil War)
- 1980-1987 (Soviet War in Afghanistan, Siachen conflict)
- 1971-1972 (Indo Pak War)
- 1971 (Bangladesh Leberation War)
- 1964-1965 (Indo Pak War)
- 1965 (Operation Gibraltar)
- 1948-2015 (LOC border skirmishes)
- Several undisclosed operations
History and formation
Originally a Pashtun militia, fought several battles in last 215 years starting from Sikhs then British and finally was merged in OCT 1947 with PA, were tasked to liberate Kashmir and in spite of no area knowledge and no good weaponry succeeded in liberating a huge part of Kashmir. After formation of ISI in 1948 and problems caused by FIQAR of IPI, a group of die hard persons from the militia and Gilgit scouts were taken and trained. They formed new directorate of ISI. Their main task was to counter influence of FIQAR of IPI and if he starts a insurgency with help of Afghans then cause a denial to his efforts until main force of PA arrives. In start mostly was formed out of Pashtun Guerilla fighters who fought Sikhs and British from father to son. This is why the Covert Action Division traces its history back to 1800. Until the formation of SSG it was a unit like dedicated commando unit. In 1960 they were known to West but only their name. In 1980 the unit received training from CIA, assisted Afghan Mujahidin took part in many battles against Soviets, till date little is known about unit. Until November 1954 unit was mostly aimed to counter insurgency in Waziristan but after that its role was slowly expanded new unit was raised in East Pakistan. Working mechanism of the unit remains unknown they belong to that part of Pakistan Defense, which are totally under dark blanket and little or nothing about them is known outside High Brass.
Training
CAD operatives are trained in home developed tactics developed during journey of 215 years. They are also trained in to a high level of proficiency in the use and tactical employment of an unusually wide degree of modern weaponry, IEDs and IWs IITM, explosive devices and firearms (foreign and domestic), hand-to-hand combat, high performance/tactical driving (on and off road), apprehension avoidance (including picking handcuffs and escaping from confinement), improvised explosive devices, cyber warfare, covert channels, parachuting, SCUBA diving, proficiency in foreign languages, surreptitious entry operations (picking or otherwise bypassing locks), vehicle hot-wiring, survival, evasion, resistance and escape (SERE), extreme survival and wilderness training, combat EMS medical training, tactical communications, and tracking.
Recruitment
Today it consists of personnel from SSG, SSW, and SSGN on deputation, police force personnel from whole country and its own highly trained personnel.