Zhob Militia
| Zhob Militia | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1852 – present |
| Country |  British Raj (1852–1948) Pakistan (1948–present) |
| Allegiance | Pakistan |
| Branch | British Indian Army (1852–1948) Frontier Corps (1948–present) |
| Type | Militia/Paramilitary |
| Role | Light infantry Internal security |
| Size | 4,000 in 4 battalions± |
| Regimental Centre | Zhob, Baluchistan |
The Zhob Militia is a paramilitary regiment of the Frontier Corps, a Civil Armed Force based in Baluchistan and are one of the oldest paramilitary forces in the region.[1][2] The militia is under the control of the Frontier Corps and is commanded by officers seconded from Pakistan Army.
History
[edit]They were raised by Cavalry officer William Raikes-Hodson in 1852 to be an infantry scouting adjunct to the Corps of Guides and Hodson's Horse. They were raised entirely from Pashtun and Baluch tribesmen as well as Persian-speaking Afghans. Between 1917 and 1920 they acted as a Mounted infantry regiment under the command of British officers.[3] They fought against Amānullāh Khān forces during the Third Anglo-Afghan War.[4] The enlisted men and sepoys are mostly recruited from the Tareen, Kakar and Abdali tribes native to the region. The Militia converted from the .303 Rifle to the L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle in 1984. In the latter part of the Soviet-Afghan War, the unit carried on scouting and mounted reconnaissance operations deep into Khost and Ghazni, Afghanistan.
Organization
[edit]The Zhob Militia is headquartered at Zhob Contonment, previously called Fort Sandeman, and its four wings are located at Zhob, Sambaza, Muslim Bagh, and Qamardin Karaz. It is headed by a Brigadier with a Lt. Col commanding each wing [5]
Equipment
[edit]All Battalions are equipped along Light Infantry/Rifles lines with minimum heavy support weapons. Unlike other Infantry Battalions of the Pakistan Army, Zhob Militia does not have a Support Company having heavy weapons like Anti Tank Missiles and 120 mm Mortars. All Rifle Companies are equipped with the L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle and MG3 machine gun only, with Support Platoons in each Company armed with 81 mm Mortars and Target-Locating Radars.[6]
Units
[edit]- Headquarters Wing
- 149 Wing[7]
References
[edit]- ^ "Zhob Cantonment". Global Security.
- ^ Tripodi, Christian (2011). Edge of empire : the British political officer and tribal administration on the North-West frontier 1877–1947. Ashgate. p. 95. ISBN 978-0-7546-6838-1.
- ^ Indian Army (1923). Operations in Waziristan, 1919–1920. Government Central Press. p. 74.
- ^ Tomsen, Peter (2011). Wars of Afghanistan (1st ed.). Public Affairs. p. 70. ISBN 978-1-58648-781-2.
- ^ "Zhob Cantonment".
- ^ "Zhob Cantonment".
- ^ "The Gazette of Pakistan. Part III" (PDF). Government of Pakistan. 3 March 2021. p. 127. Retrieved 15 December 2022.