View source for Northern Light Infantry Regiment

{{Short description|Infantry regiment of the Pakistan Army}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = Northern Light Infantry Regiment
| image                         = File:Badge of Northern Light Infantry.jpg
| image_size                    = 240px
| caption                       = Regimental cap badge of the NLI.
| dates                         = 1975–present (originally founded in 1913 as the [[Gilgit Scouts]] in [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], [[British Raj|British India]])
| country                       = {{flag|Pakistan}}
| allegiance                    = 
| branch                        = {{Army|PAK}}
| type                          = [[Light infantry]]
| role                          = [[Mountain warfare]]
| size                          = [[Northern Light Infantry Regiment#Units|18 battalions]]
| command_structure             = 
| garrison                      = [[Gilgit|Gilgit, Pakistan]]
| garrison_label                = Headquarters
| nickname                      = 
| patron                        = 
| motto                         = 
| colors                        = {{legend2|#00401A|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}{{legend2|#FFFFFF|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}{{legend2|#00BFFF|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
| colors_label                  = Colours
| march                         = 
| mascot                        = 
| equipment                     = 
| equipment_label               = 
| battles                       = {{collapsible list
| titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal;
| title = ''See list''
|'''[[British Indian Army|Colonial Battles]]'''
*{{small|[[Hunza–Nagar Campaign]]}}
|'''[[Indo-Pakistani wars and conflicts|Indo-Pakistani Wars and Conflicts]]'''
*{{small|[[Kashmir conflict|Kashmir conflict (1947–present)]]}}
*{{small|[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948|First Indo−Pakistani War]]}}
*{{small|[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965|Second Indo−Pakistani War]]}}
*{{small|[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|Third Indo−Pakistani War]]}}
*{{small|[[Siachen conflict|Siachen conflict (1984–2003)]]}}
*{{small|[[Kargil War|1999 Kargil War]]}}
|'''[[List of wars involving Pakistan|Secondary Operations]]'''
*{{small|[[Soviet–Afghan War]]}}
**{{small|[[Operation Cyclone]]}}
}}
| anniversaries                 = 
| decorations                   = 
| battle_honours                = <!-- Commanders -->
| commander1                    = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Chief of the Army Staff (Pakistan).svg|size=24px}} [[General (Pakistan)|General]] [[Asim Munir (general)|Syed Asim Munir Ahmad Shah]]
| commander1_label              = [[Chief of Army Staff (Pakistan)|Chief of Army Staff]]
| commander2                    = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Pakistani Army.svg|size=24px}} [[Lieutenant general|Lt. Gen.]] Anwar Ali Haider
| commander2_label              = [[Colonel Commandant]]
| commander3                    = [[File:PA NLI.png|150px]]
| commander3_label              = Regimental Flag
| identification_symbol         = 
| identification_symbol_label   = 
| identification_symbol_2       = 
| identification_symbol_2_label = 
| identification_symbol_3       = 
| identification_symbol_3_label = 
| identification_symbol_4       = 
| identification_symbol_4_label = <!-- Aircraft -->
| aircraft_attack               = 
| aircraft_bomber               = 
| aircraft_electronic           = 
| aircraft_fighter              = 
| aircraft_interceptor          = 
| aircraft_patrol               = 
| aircraft_recon                = 
| aircraft_trainer              = 
| aircraft_transport            = 
}}

The '''Northern Light Infantry Regiment''' ('''NLI''') is a [[light infantry]] [[regiment]] in the [[Pakistan Army]], based and currently headquartered in [[Gilgit]], [[Pakistan]]. Along with other forces of the [[Pakistan Armed Forces|Pakistani military]], the NLI has the primary responsibility of conducting ground operations in the interest of defending the strategically-important territory of [[Gilgit-Baltistan|Gilgit−Baltistan]], a Pakistani-controlled region that constitutes part of [[Kashmir]], which has been [[Kashmir conflict|disputed]] between Pakistan and [[India]] since 1947. The NLI draws a majority of its recruits from native [[Tribe|tribes]] present in the nearby mountainous areas who are reportedly less prone to altitude sickness and the cold temperatures that characterize [[Mountain warfare|high-altitude mountain warfare]], allowing the regiment to conduct its duties optimally.<ref name="global security"/>{{better source needed|date=November 2020}}

The Northern Light Infantry is best known for the extensive assistance and training it provided to the [[Islamic Unity of Afghanistan Mujahideen|Afghan mujahideen]] (with backing from the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and [[Inter-Services Intelligence|ISI]]) during the [[Soviet–Afghan War]].<ref name="Murphy2013">{{citation|last=Murphy|first=Eamon|title=The Making of Terrorism in Pakistan: Historical and Social Roots of Extremism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=19mPVOBZ_9YC&pg=PA127|year=2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0-415-56526-4|pages=127–}}</ref>

==Formation==
The Northern Light Infantry has its origins in the [[Gilgit Scouts]] raised by [[British Raj|British India]] in 1913 for defending the [[princely state]] of [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]'s northern frontier. The Scouts, along with rebels in the [[Jammu and Kashmir Rifles|Jammu and Kashmir State Forces]], fought for [[Dominion of Pakistan|Pakistan]] on the northern front of the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948|First Kashmir War]], conquering important points of interest such as [[Skardu]], [[Kargil]] and [[Drass, Ladakh|Drass]] (the latter two were subsequently captured by the [[Indian Army]]). In 1949, the Gilgit Scouts were split into two forces, with the wing under the original name 'Gilgit Scouts' designated for internal security operations, and a second wing, named the 'Northern Scouts', designated for major external operations. In 1964, the Northern Scouts were further bifurcated with the raising of the 'Karakoram Scouts' based in Skardu. All three forces were brought together again in 1975, under the banner of the [[Northern Light Infantry]] (then a paramilitary force). Following the 1999 [[Kargil War]] with India, where the Northern Light Infantry saw extensive combat, the force was converted into a regular [[regiment]] of the [[Pakistan Army]].<ref name=NLI>[https://www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk/AWPReview/TextContent.aspx?pId=162 Northern Light Infantry Regiment (NLI)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325234959/https://www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk/AWPReview/TextContent.aspx?pId=162 |date=2018-03-25 }}, Pakistan Army, retrieved 25 March 2018.</ref><ref name="GB Scouts">[http://www.gilgitbaltistanscouts.gov.pk/gbs%20history.htm History of Gilgit Baltistan Scouts], Gilgit Baltistan Scouts, retrieved 6 April 2018.</ref><ref>{{citation |last=Snedden |first=Christopher |title=Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s5KMCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA255 |year=2015 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-1-84904-342-7 |ref={{sfnref|Snedden, Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris|2015}} |page=255}}</ref>

A new paramilitary force was created in 2003 under the name [[Gilgit−Baltistan Scouts]] to fill the internal security role of the former Gilgit Scouts.<ref name="GB Scouts"/>

==Status and composition==
{{unreferenced section|date=December 2016}}
Upon its founding, the Northern Light Infantry regiment was to function as a [[Civil Armed Forces|paramilitary force]], at par with the [[Pakistan Rangers]] and [[Frontier Corps]], under the jurisdiction of the [[Ministry of Interior (Pakistan)|Ministry of Interior]] and commanded by regular [[Pakistan Army]] officers. In 1967 and 1970, two battalions of the NLI were airlifted and deployed to [[Karachi]], [[Sindh]], for internal security duties such as riot control and aiding civil authorities during an [[Elections in Pakistan|election-related]] period of violence. The regiment's performance during this time earned them a commendation from [[Ayub Khan (general)|Field Marshal Ayub Khan]].

By 1998, the NLI consisted of 13 battalions commanded by a [[Major general|Major-General]] of the Pakistan Army under the designation of [[Inspector general|Inspector-General]] of the NLI, whose office was the Inspectorate-General of NLI reporting to the [[X Corps (Pakistan)|GOC, X Corps]] as well as the Pakistani Interior Minister.

== Notable operations ==

=== First Kashmir war(1947–1948) ===
{{Further|First Kashmir war}}
Muhammad Baber Khan, the Honorary Captain, fought in the 1947–1948 Kashmir War. The [[British government of India|British government]] gave the [[Hari Singh|Maharaja of Kashmir]] control over Gilgit Agency upon partition. At Gilgit, Brigadier Ghansara Singh arrived to assume the role of Governor. Major General H L Scott, the [[Kashmir conflict|Kashmiri]] chief of military staff, later joined as well. The [[Gilgit Scouts]], who were all Muslim, supported [[Pakistan|Pakistan's]] entry. Honorary Captain Muhammad Baber Khan convened a meeting of [[Gilgit Scouts|Gilgit scouts]] junior commissioned officers in the junior commissioned officers' mess on October 31, 1947, in the afternoon. At this meeting, it was resolved to overthrow the [[Dogra dynasty|dogra rule]]. 

The governor gave himself up on November 1, 1947. The Muslim company of Captain Hassan Khan's 6 Jammu Kahmir infantry battalion, which was traveling from [[Bunji, Pakistan|Bunji]] to [[Gilgit]], joined the scouts as well. The scouts set Partab Bridge on fire and attacked, destroying the dogra check post. After deserting, the Sikh and dogra components were apprehended. Consequently, 27000 square miles were freed from Dogra Raj. Major Muhammad Tufail Shaheed (Nishan-i-Haider), Honorary Captain Muhammad Baber Khan of the 1st [[Northern Light Infantry Regiment|Northern Light Infantory Regiment]], who was instrumental in the 1947 fight of liberation from [[Dogra dynasty|Dogra Raj]], was then assigned as the force's commander.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Northern Light Infantry Regiment (NLI) – Pakistan Army |url=https://pakarmy.com.pk/northern-light-infantry-regiment/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240108161941/https://pakarmy.com.pk/northern-light-infantry-regiment/ |archive-date=2024-01-08 |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=pakarmy.com. |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Northern Light Infantry Regiment |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/pakistan/rgt-nli.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240108163506/https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/pakistan/rgt-nli.htm |archive-date=2024-01-08 |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=www.globalsecurity.org}}</ref>

=== Soviet-Afghan War (1979–1989) ===
{{Further|Soviet–Afghan War}}Following the [[Soviet Union]]'s invasion of [[Democratic Republic of Afghanistan|Afghanistan]] in 1979, the [[United States]], [[United Kingdom]], [[Pakistan]] and [[Israel]] launched [[Operation Cyclone]], in which they financed and armed the [[Islamic Unity of Afghanistan Mujahideen|Afghan mujahideen]] to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a [[Soviet satellite state]] and subsequently threaten Pakistan (a [[Western Bloc|U.S. ally]] in the [[Cold War]]). Here, with primarily [[Saudi Arabia|Saudi Arabian]] and American financing, the Northern Light Infantry trained Afghan mujahideen fighters in [[Gilgit-Baltistan|Gilgit−Baltistan]] before sending them back to Afghanistan with [[State of the art|state-of-the-art]] armaments to fight the [[Soviet Armed Forces|Soviet military]].

===Siachen Glacier Conflict (1984–2003)===
{{Further|Siachen Conflict}}
[[India]]'s 1984 [[Operation Meghdoot|seizure]] of the [[Siachen Glacier]] (an area of [[Kashmir]] that was uninhabited and not controlled by any parties to the [[Kashmir conflict]]) resulted renewed high-level tensions with [[Pakistan]] until a mutual ceasefire agreement was brought into effect in 2003. During this period of intermittent fighting in the [[Siachen conflict]], the NLI's [[1st Battalion, Northern Light Infantry Regiment|1st battalion]] performed defence and support work.<ref name="global security">{{cite web|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/pakistan/rgt-nli.htm|title=Northern Light Infantry|work=Global Security|access-date=17 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk/AWPReview/TextContent8e6a.html|title=Northern Light Infantry|access-date=20 June 2017|work=Pakistan Army Website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701194342/https://www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk/AWPReview/TextContent8e6a.html|archive-date=1 July 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Kargil War (1999)===
{{Further|Kargil War}}In May 1999, Pakistan began operations to occupy key Indian forward posts along the [[Line of Control|Line of Control (LoC)]], sparking the [[Kargil War]]. Initially [[Pakistan Army]] denied any involvement in the war.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-07-26|title=Kargil: The forgotten victims of the world's highest war|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-49101016|access-date=2021-04-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Kamath|first=P.M.|date=2000|title=Pakistan after the Kargil Crisis : Implications for India|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41960891|journal=Indian Journal of Asian Affairs|volume=13|issue=1/2|pages=123–132|jstor=41960891|issn=0970-6402}}</ref> However, later on, it was reported that the [[Pakistan Army]] had launched forces exclusively from the Northern Light Infantry during this conflict. These included the [[5th Battalion, Northern Light Infantry Regiment|5th]], [[6th Battalion, Northern Light Infantry Regiment|6th]], [[8th Battalion, Northern Light Infantry Regiment|8th]] and [[12th Battalion, Northern Light Infantry Regiment|12th]] battalions in full strength and some elements of the [[3rd Battalion, Northern Light Infantry Regiment|3rd]], [[4th Battalion, Northern Light Infantry Regiment|4th]], [[7th Battalion, Northern Light Infantry Regiment|7th]] and [[11th Battalion, Northern Light Infantry Regiment|11th]] battalions with the paramilitary [[Chitral Scouts|Chitral]] and [[Bajaur Scouts]], both of the [[Frontier Corps]], deployed for [[Military logistics|logistical support]].<ref name="global security" />

Massive Indian counterattack coupled with heavy diplomatic pressure from the [[United States]] forced Pakistan to begin a withdrawal after months of intense fighting. Pakistani casualties during this conflict, like those of other Indo−Pakistani conflicts, remain disputed and unconfirmed. International sources (such as those from the [[United States Department of Defense|U.S. Department of Defense]]) place Pakistani casualties at around 700+. After 11 years, Pakistan officially reported that around 453 of its soldiers were killed during the conflict.<ref name="HT_Times_26_July_2011">{{cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/kargil-vijay-diwas-day-to-mark-india-s-victory-in-1999-conflict-against-pakistan/story-x2cUNDgKxoQPxrzKEmoK4J.html|title=Kargil Vijay Diwas: Day to mark India's victory in 1999 conflict against Pakistan|date=26 July 2011|newspaper=Hindustan Times}}</ref> PM [[Nawaz Sharif]] and some other sources placed the Pakistani casualties figure from 2,700 to 4,000 personnel.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2003/08/17/stories/2003081702900800.htm|title=Over 4,000 soldiers killed in Kargil: Sharif|work=The Hindu|date=3 October 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031003114303/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2003/08/17/stories/2003081702900800.htm|archive-date=2003-10-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Khan|first=M. Ilyas|date=2019-07-26|title=The forgotten victims of the world's highest war|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-49101016|access-date=2020-08-03}}</ref><ref name="Tavares2006">{{cite book|last1=Tavares|first1=Rodrigo|title=Understanding Regional Peace and Security|date=2006|publisher=Göteborg University|isbn=978-9187380679|page=297|quote=the US State Department quoted the Pakistani military casualties at 700, whereas Indian sources reported the Pakistani casualties to be 1000+. According to the then PM Nawaz Sharif (quoted in Gulf News, February 2002), the entire Northern Light Infantry of Pakistan was wiped out during the conflict claiming 2,700 lives.}}</ref><ref name=pib>{{cite web|last=Chakraborty|first=A.&nbsp;K.|title=Kargil War Brings into Sharp Focus India's Commitment to Peace|url=http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr2000/fjul2000/f210720001.html|publisher=[[Press Information Bureau]], Government of India|access-date=23 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://164.100.24.208/lsq/quest.asp?qref=51302|title=Breakdown of casualties into Officers, JCOs, and Other Ranks|work=[[Parliament of India]] Website|access-date=20 May 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202045832/http://164.100.24.208/lsq/quest.asp?qref=51302|archive-date=2 December 2008}}</ref><ref name="rollofhonor">{{cite web|url=http://www.indianarmy.nic.in/martyrs/home.jsp?operation=28&hidrecord=10&FormBugs_Page=1#Form|title=Complete Roll of Honour of Indian Army's Killed in Action during Op Vijay|work=Indian Army|access-date=20 May 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071222013826/http://www.indianarmy.nic.in/martyrs/home.jsp?operation=28&hidrecord=10&FormBugs_Page=1#Form |archive-date = 22 December 2007}}</ref><ref name="toi">{{Cite news|title=Pak lost 2,700 men in Kargil war: Sharif|work=[[The Times of India]]|agency=Press Trust of India|publication-date=6 July 2006|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/Pak-lost-2700-men-in-Kargil-war-Sharif/articleshow/1711896.cms|access-date=26 October 2017}}</ref>

===Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (2004–present)===
{{Further|Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa}}
The regiment has been taking part in counter-insurgency operations in [[North-West Pakistan]].  On 12 June 2013, the commanding officer of the 11th NLI battalion was killed in an [[Improvised explosive device|IED]] attack during a [[Operation Rah-e-Shahadat|military operation]] in [[Tirah Valley]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Shinwari|first=Ibrahim|date=13 June 2013|title=Army officer killed in Tirah valley blast|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1017883/army-officer-killed-in-tirah-valley-blast|url-status=live|work=Dawn|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130710155017/https://www.dawn.com/news/1017883/army-officer-killed-in-tirah-valley-blast|archive-date=10 July 2013|access-date=16 June 2013}}</ref>

==Units==
* 1st Battalion (Victors)
* 2nd Battalion (Liberators)
* 3rd Battalion (Mountain Warriors)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pcp.gov.pk/SiteImage/Downloads/Issue-24%20Dated%2016-06-2021.pdf |title=The Gazette of Pakistan. Part II. |page=243 |publisher=Government of Pakistan |date=16 June 2021 |access-date=16 December 2022}}</ref>
* 4th Battalion (The Hill Panthers)
* 5th Battalion (Defenders of K2)(Proud Five)
* 6th Battalion (Sikkis Saifullah)<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |date=2 May 2018 |title=Martyrs of 2012 Gayari avalanche honoured in Siachen |url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/193779-ceremony-held-in-gayari-to-pay-tribute-to-martyrs-ispr |publisher=[[Geo News]] |access-date=11 December 2022}}</ref>
* 7th Battalion (Indus Guards)
* 8th Battalion (Koh Shikan)
* 9th  Battalion (Barqdam Battalion)
* 10th Battalion (The Snow Leopards)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2375968/untold-tales-from-the-battlefront |title=Untold tales from the battlefront |quote=The 10th Northern Light Infantry is tasked |first=Naveed |last=Hussain |publisher=[[The Express Tribune]] |access-date=11 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pcp.gov.pk/SiteImage/Downloads/Issue-1%20Dated%2001-01-2020.pdf |title=The Gazette of Pakistan. Part II. |page=1 |publisher=Government of Pakistan |date=1 January 2020 |access-date=16 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pakistangulfeconomist.com/2017/03/27/pakistan/ |title=In the news: Pakistan: India's Modi greets PM on Pakistan Day |publisher=Pakistan & Gulf Economist |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=27 March 2017}}</ref>
* 11th Battalion (Skarchin)
* 12th Battalion (Haideran Haideran)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hilal.gov.pk/eng-article/detail/MTI3OQ==.html |title=Spirits Rekindled – Joint Staff Pakistan Day Parade - 2015 |last=Tariq |first=Sardar Muhammad |first2=Asif Jehangir |last2=Raja |website=Hilal: The Pakistan Armed Forces Magazine |access-date=9 December 2022}}</ref>
* 13th Battalion (Shingo Guards)
* 14th Battalion (Shujan Battalion)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.hilal.gov.pk/eng-article/detail/MzE1Mg==.html |title= Long Live Pakistan: Joint Services Pakistan Day Parade 23rd March 2019 |last=Iqbal |first=M. Javed |website=Hilal: The Pakistan Armed Forces Magazine |access-date=9 December 2022}}</ref><ref name=gazette20201216>{{cite web |url=http://pcp.gov.pk/SiteImage/Downloads/Issue-51%20Dated%2016-12-2020.pdf |title=The Gazette of Pakistan. Part II. |publisher=Government of Pakistan |date=16 December 2020 |access-date=12 December 2022}}</ref>{{rp|601}}
* 15th Battalion (The First)
* 16th Battalion
* 17th Battalion (LCB)(Al Zadeed)(Ready To Fight)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pcp.gov.pk/SiteImage/Downloads/Issue-4%20Dated%2027-01-2021.pdf |title=The Gazette of Pakistan. Part II. |publisher=Government of Pakistan |date=27 January 2021 |page=21 |access-date=13 December 2022}}</ref>
* 18th Battalion (Al Azb)

==See also==
* [[Kashmir conflict]]
** [[Siachen conflict|Siachen conflict (1984-2003)]]
** [[Kargil War]]
* [[Soviet–Afghan War|Soviet-Afghan War]]
** [[Operation Cyclone]]
* [[Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts]]
* [[Ladakh Scouts]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite web|title=Northern Light Infantry|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/pakistan/rgt-nli.htm|website=Globalsecurity.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054556/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/pakistan/rgt-nli.htm|archive-date=4 March 2016}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180701194342/https://www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk/AWPReview/TextContent8e6a.html Northern Light Infantry - Pakistan Army website]

{{Pakistan Infantry Regiments}}

[[Category:Infantry regiments of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Mountain units and formations]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1999]]
[[Category:Military in Gilgit-Baltistan]]