Pakistan's armed forces, though they present a formidable strength today, made a humble beginning, virtually starting from a scratch. Post-partition, the military assets of British India were unjustly divided in a ratio of 64:36 per cent between India and Pakistan. Unfortunately, the Indian spitefulness resulted in Pakistan receiving only a fraction of its original share and that too in a dilapidated state.
Pakistan Army had its baptism under fire just after its inception; after the fraudulent accession of Kashmir by the Maharaja Hari Singh on October 27, 1947, Mountbatten and Nehru air-launched the Indian Army into the Srinagar Valley. The Indian Army's offensive was halted at the Cease-fire Line (now Line of Control) by Pakistan Army. Kashmir remains an unresolved issue between Pakistan and India despite the UN Resolutions seeking the mandate of the people of Kashmir to join either Pakistan or India.
Despite his frail condition and failing health, Quaid-i-Azam visited establishments of all three Services. Fledgling Pakistan was deprived of the leadership of the Quaid as early as September 1948. Owing to the Quaid's exhortations, Pakistan Army made a sound start, despite the early teething problems due to unequal distribution of assets, our founding fathers made prudent decisions, which put Pakistan on the road to development.
The enthusiasm and spirit of the people and the Armed Forces of Pakistan in the 1965 War proved to be the finest hour for Pakistan. The Armed Forces proved their mettle against a vastly superior force and stopped it in its tracks. Pakistan's valiant sons stood united as one solid edifice to defend their motherland.
The trail blazing acts of valour set the standards for generations to follow. The arms embargo on Pakistan following the 1965 War, made it strive for self reliance and diversify its sources. The Pakistan Ordnance Factory, which was established in 1951, at Wah Cantonment, near Rawalpindi, to produce small arms, ammunition and explosives was modernised and expanded to meet the challenges of modern armed forces.
The blue print for Heavy Mechanical Complex at Taxila, as an arms rebuilding factory was also laid. Heavy Industries Taxila provides facilities for overhaul, rebuild and progressive manufacture of Main Battle Tanks, Armoured Recovery Vehicles, Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), guns and production of MBT-2000 Al-Khalid, and Al-Zarrar Tanks. In addition it has the capability to rebuild, upgrade and modernise Armoured Vehicles of both Eastern and Western origin.
The year 1971 was the most tragic one in the history of Pakistan and its armed forces bore the brunt of it. The War in 1971 was forced upon Pakistan and resulted in the dismemberment of its eastern wing; but gave it a new resolve to work hard and stand on its own feet. The road to development, self-reliance and indigenization has enabled Pakistan to develop its own missiles, tanks, armoured personnel carriers, submarines, ships and aircraft.
The acquisition of modern weapons and equipment in Pakistan Army along with its indigenous production of combat arms and ammunition proved to be a major source of motivation for the troops to meet any challenge to Pakistan's sovereignty. After the success of it's major developments in the defence industry, the Defence Export Promotion Organisation (DEPO) was created to promote Pakistani defence equipment to the world by inviting major and small players to the IDEAS Exhibition, which is held annually at the Karachi expo centre.
-- WEAPONS AND
-- EQUIPMENT
-- Weapon Systems:
-- Small Arms:
-- Heckler & Koch MP5 9 mm carbines and the Carbine 1A 9 mm sub-machine guns
-- MachineGun MG-3
-- SMG PK, Type 1 & 2
-- Automatic Rifle G-3, Types A3 & P4
-- Anti Aircraft Machine Gun 12.7 mm, Type 54
-- Main Battle Tanks:
-- MBT 2000 Al-Khalid: - new generation tank being inducted into the Pakistan Army.
-- Al-Zarar: - A substantial upgrade of the T-59 tank, bringing them at par with the T-72.
-- Al Khalid II Main Battle Tank: - Reportedly under development, it will replace Al Zarrar and T-59 tanks from 2012. Assumed to be on par with the Chinese T-99 MBT.
-- Armoured Personnel Carriers:
-- UR 416M
-- Saad APC
-- Al-Qaswa Logistic Vehicle
-- Muhafiz person recovery vehicle
-- Al-Talha (Pakistan currently operates 400 of these machines and expects to operate 2000 Al-Talha's by 2010)
-- Al-Talha APC are upgraded versions of M113 and are currently being manufactured at Heavy Industries Taxila
-- Multiple Rocket System:
-- T-83 Azar 122 mm
-- Anti Tank Guided Weapons:
-- Bakter-Shikan ATGM
-- Army Air Defence:
-- Anza mk I
-- Anza mk II
-- Anza mk III
Military Training system in Pakistan is comprehensive and has a well defined structure. Pakistan Military Academy Kakul is the principal cradle of leadership for officer training for the Army. Besides other professional training institutions, Staff College Quetta and National Defence University prepare the officer cadre to face future challenges.
Through their portals pass, thousands of Gentlemen Cadets, who are moulded from an inchoate mass into magnificent officers, imbibed with fighting spirit, conviction in their national cause, unflinching and selfless devotion to duty.
The Pakistan Army provides equal opportunities to women, who now proudly serve alongside men to take up the challenges of defending their nation.
Since 1960, Pakistan Army has been actively participating in the UN multi-national efforts to maintain peace and order around the globe. Its contribution to UN peacekeeping has been as wide-ranging as the varied cultural, geographic, political and security conditions in which it had to operate. Congo, West Irian, Somalia, New Guinea, Cambodia, East Timor, Slovenia, Haiti, Bosnia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Kuwait and Yemen are to name just a few.
The humble contribution it has made in this regard bespeaks its desire to see the principles of human dignity, freedom and self-determination applied to all the peoples struggling to secure their inalienable basic rights.
The conflict at Siachen, the world's highest battleground is embedded in the unresolved Kashmir dispute. On April 13, 1984, Indian Army committed aggression and occupied positions overlooking key passes in the Saltoro Range. Pakistan Army rushed its troops to stop further advancement of the Indian troops. Since then both armies face each other, combating the harsh brutal weather as well as each other.
Kargil was not a one off operation but the latest in a series of moves and countermoves at a tactical level by India and Pakistan along the Line of Control in the inaccessible snow bounded Northern Areas. The Indians had been creeping forward across the Line of Control even after Simla Agreement. The Kashmiri freedom fighting mujahideen occupied the Kargil heights that the Indian army had vacated for the winter.
The Indians brought four regular divisions into the area along with a heavy concentration of Artillery. India overreacted by bringing its air force into action.
However the action of Indian Air Force was not confined to the freedom fighters' locations; the Indian also started crossing over and bombarding position of the Pakistan Army. The Kargil operation was a landmark in the history of Pakistan Army. As few as five battalions, in support of the freedom fighter groups, were able to compel the Indians to employ more than four divisions. Our nation remains proud of its commanders and troops, whose grit and determination was obvious and unquestionable.
Pakistan's missile program is indigenous and has a wide array of weapon systems in its missile arsenal, which range from the short range Hatf to the medium range Abdali, Ghaznavi and Shaheen and the long range Ghauri and Shaheen 2; Pakistan has successfully tested its indigenous Cruise Missile Babur, which can be launched from ground, air and sea platforms including submarines.
In May 1998, India carried out its second nuclear tests at Pokhran after the first in 1974, and became highly belligerent. Its saber-rattling forced Pakistan to come out of the nuclear closet and conduct tests of its own, declaring to the world that it possessed nuclear weapons for its defence and deterrence of war-mongers but it harbours no aggressive designs against any one.
PAKISTANI MISSILE INVENTORY:
There is confusion in Ghauri III and Raad both being referred as Hatf-VIII, I have asked the concerned authorities to clarify. They will get back to me.
OPERATION PRAKARAM:
In December 2001 taking advantage of the international environment India carried out massive deployment along its border with Pakistan to coerce Pakistan to regress on Kashmir issue and accept Indian hegemony. Pakistan's response was swift and timely. Due to superior strategy and national resolve India had to retreat and withdraw its forces unconditionally.
Pakistan Army and the nation are firm in their resolve to root out terrorism and are playing a major role in the efforts to counter the menace and making Pakistan a safe and secure land for its citizens, where people from every walk of life, religion and creed, dwell in peace and harmony. The Army has played a major role in improving the socio-economic conditions of the tribal belt and Balochistan and has uplifted them through a sustained focus on its human resource development, education, health, communication infrastructure and poverty reduction.
The Armed Forces of Pakistan have always responded to any calamity, natural or man-made, to help not only Pakistanis in distress but the humanity world-wide; whether it was the massive October 2005 earthquake that caused havoc and devastation in Kashmir and northern areas of Pakistan. Be it the Tsunami in Far East or floods in Turkey or cyclone in Bangladesh, Pakistan Army has responded with all its strength and missionary zeal to aid the mankind.
Contribution towards national development by the armed forces has not been confined to the defence sector; Pakistan Armed Forces in general and Pakistan Army in particular have contributed to building roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and other basic amenities. The Karakoram Highway is a clear example of a daring feat of construction in one of the most treacherous terrain's of the world. Restructuring of the Sukkur Barrage was a challenging task, which the engineers of Pakistan Army successfully accomplished.
Pakistan Army has never demurred from lending a helping hand whenever asked to do so. It has performed multifarious tasks in the aid of civil power, whether it was duties during census or elections, anti-dacoit actions, tracking ghost schools, medical aid, and evacuation of flood, fire or train accident victims. Its Cantonments provide sanctity and security along with job opportunities and basic amenities like education, medical and sports facilities to local civilians residing in the vicinity.
The Armed Forces organisations like SCO, FWO and NLC play a major role in providing logistics and laying the communication infrastructure in the most demanding of terrain's.
Sports and the armed forces go hand in hand. Since the armed forces remain fit and pay a lot of emphasis on physical activities, they are the backbone of every physical sport in the country. From providing the infrastructure for sports facilities to participants and sponsors, the contribution of the Armed Forces in the field of sports and bringing glory to Pakistan in national and international events is unparalleled.
During the last sixty years, Pakistan Army has evolved into a highly motivated, modern and professional force defending the ideological and geographical frontiers of Pakistan. Equipped with state-of-the-art weapon systems, organised under sound structures and supported by battle-tested doctrines, it stands alert to serve Pakistan, both in peace, and war, to deter and combat any enemy, within and without, never being reluctant even to make the supreme sacrifice of their lives.
The Shaheeds and recipients of Pakistan's highest military award for valour, 'Nishan-i-Haider' have emblazoned a golden chapter in the annals of Pakistan's history and set standards for future generations to follow.
During the last six decades of Pakistan's existence, the defenders of Pakistan have withstood multifarious challenges and tests of time. Backed by the people of Pakistan, its Army always rose to the occasion, be it guarding the frontiers in war, protecting the lives of people in various calamities, rendering services for nation building, purging the society of the menace of extremism/terrorism or service to humanity in various UN missions. The Pakistan Army makes the nation proud of its service with honour, dignity, dedication and commitment.
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Designation Other Name Range Payload Status Inventory
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Hatf I/ IA 80/100 Km 500 Kg Deployed 50+
Abdali-I Hatf-II 180 Km 500 Kg Deployed Unknown
Ghaznavi-I Hatf-III 290 KM 500 Kg Under Production 34-80
Shaheen-I Hatf-IV 750 Km 750 Kg Deployed 50
Ghauri-I Hatf-V 1500 Km 700-1000 Kg Deployed 50
Ghauri-II Hatf-VA 2400 Km 1500 Kg Operational 200
Shaheen-II Hatf-VI 2500 Km 1000 Kg+ Operational 50
Ghauri-III Hatf-VIII 3500 Km 1000 Kg+ Under Production -
Babur Hatf-VII 500 Km 500 Kg Tested -
Cruise Missile
Râad Hatf - VIII 350 KM All types of warheads Tested Air Launched Cruise Missile
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