12th Infantry Division (Pakistan)

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12th Infantry Division
Active1948- Present
CountryFlag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan
BranchFlag of the Pakistani Army.svg  Pakistan Army
Type Division
Size86,000 men (though this may vary as units are rotated)
Part of X Corps (Pakistan)
Headquarters Murree, Punjab (Pakistan)
Nickname(s)Chinar Division
ColorsGreen & Red
Engagements Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Siachen conflict
Indo-Pakistani War of 1999
War on terror
Commanders
General Officer Commanding Major-General Muhammad Irfan
Notable CommandersMajor General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani
Major General Shahid Aziz
Major General Akhtar Abdur Rehman
Major General Akhtar Hussain Malik

12th Infantry Division is a frontline formation of the Pakistani Army, headquartered in The Murree Hills Cantonment. It's deployed under X Corps and it operates under the vast expanse of the LOC. It's Brigades are deployed all across Azad Jammu Kashmir and the Line of Control, starting from just short of the Kargil area to Tattapani. Its operational units total out to 6 Infantry Brigades, 1 Divisional Artillery brigade and a number of supporting units of Air Defence, Supply, Engineering, Signals and Remount & Veterinary Corps.It's the largest division of the Pakistani Army and oversees frequent skirmishes at the border.

Contents

The Division specialises in Mountain warfare, counter-insurgency, and relief operations under extreme conditions. Its Area of Responsibility includes some of the most sensitive and contested sectors such as Kel, Bagh, Rawalakot and Neelum Valley.

History

The division was formed in 1948, from troops allocated to Pakistan from the old British Indian Army. It was the first division sized formation to be created by the Pakistan Army (the three prior ones, 7th (Golden Arrow), 8th and 10th infantry divisions predated Pakistan).

1948 Kashmir War

The division went into combat against the Indian army in Kashmir. A notable action was the recapturing of Skardu from the Indian forces, accomplished with help from tribesmen from the tribal areas.

1965 Indo-Pakistani War

In between the wars the division was active on the ceasefire line, where fighting broke out on several occasions. In 1965 the division undertook Operation Grand Slam, whereby under the command of 7th Infantry Division, it attacked and captured Chamb, and then moved on and captured territory beyond the river Tawi, ending up in a position 6 km ahead of Jammu. Although its performance was greatly lauded at the time, its commander Maj-Gen Akhtar Hussain Malik was privately criticised by General Ayub Khan, 5 km from LoC Indian forces, attack Haji Peer Pass and Pakistan force attack and capture Rajouri sector three months (this would not be retaken until after the ceasefire).

1971 Indo-Pakistani War

Six years later, the division went into action again, this time in Poonch-Ranjouri sector. Despite being outnumbered by Indian forces, the formation managed to advance nearly 50 km, all the way to Ranjouri. Unfortunately dogged Indian resistance meant that it was unable to capture Poonch itself. During the war, it was commanded by Maj-Gen Mohammad Akbar Khan.

Recent history

Since 1971, the formation had been deployed on the Line of Control, dividing the Indian and Pakistani-administered Kashmir, where sporadic fights break out with Indian forces, and occasionally full-fledged actions develop. In 1991, the division defeated an Indian incursion into the Neelum Valley.

List of GOCs (Commanders)

-2006

References

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