Chief of Staff (Pakistan Army)

Not to be confused with Chief of the Army Staff (Pakistan).

Chief of Staff
چیف آف اسٹاف
Flag of the Pakistan Army
Ministry of Defence Army Secretariat-I at MoD
Abbreviation	COS
Member of	General Headquarters
Reports to	Commander-in-Chief
Residence	Rawalpindi Cantonment, Punjab
Nominator	Commander-in-Chief
Appointer	Governor General of Pakistan, Prime Minister or President of Pakistan
Term length	Not fixed
Constituting instrument	Article
Precursor	Deputy Chief of the General Staff
Formation	15 August 1947;77 years ago (1947-08-15)
First holder	Nazir Ahmed
Final holder	General Abdul Hamid Khan
Abolished	20 December 1971;53 years ago (1971-12-20)
Succession	On basis of seniority, subjected to the decision of the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Unofficial names	2nd in Command
Deputy	Chief Martial Law Administrator Chief of the General Staff

The Chief of Staff (COS) of the Pakistan Army, was a senior military position that existed from 1947 to 1971 , responsible for assisting the Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) of the Pakistan Army in operational, administrative, and organisational matters. The COS was essentially the second-in-command of the army during this period. This position was abolished in 1971.

History

The position of Chief of Staff was established in 1947, after the Independence of Pakistan, to manage the administrative and operational duties of the newly formed Pakistan Army. ^[1]

The role of the COS was to serve as the principal staff officer to the Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C), ensuring the smooth functioning of military operations, planning, logistics, and strategic decision-making. ^[2]

During the early years of Pakistan, the army's leadership was shaped by British-trained officers. The first few individuals to serve as Chief of Staff were instrumental in establishing the army's organizational structure, as well as coordinating operations during significant events such as the Indo-Pakistani war of 1947–1948 and later conflicts. ^[3]

The position of Chief of Staff was abolished in 1971 after the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971, and its responsibilities were redistributed among senior officers within General Headquarters (GHQ). ^[4]

The structural reorganization aimed to streamline the command hierarchy, with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) emerging as the sole head of the army in 1972 replacing the Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C). ^[5]

List of former Chiefs of Staff

No.	Portrait	Chief of Army Staff	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Unit of Commission
01		Ahmed, NazirMajor-General Nazir Ahmed (1898–1971)	15 August 1947	16 January 1951	3 years, 154 days	16 Punjab
02		Raza, MianMajor-General Mian Raza (1904–1984)	16 January 1951	1 October 1957	6 years, 258 days	10 Baluch
03		Rana, BakhtiarLt. General Bakhtiar Rana (1910–1996)	20 September 1966	25 March 1969	2 years, 186 days	4 Punjab
04		Hamid Khan, AbdulLt-General Hamid Khan (1917–1984)	25 March 1969	20 December 1971	2 years, 270 days	16 Punjab

Abolition of the Position

In 1971, following the Bangladesh Liberation War and the subsequent restructuring of the Pakistan Army, the position of Chief of Staff was discontinued. This move was part of a broader effort to centralize authority under the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who became the sole head of the Pakistan Army in 1972. The responsibilities of the COS were distributed among various departments and senior staff officers within the General Headquarters (GHQ). ^[6]

Legacy

The role of the Chief of Staff played a significant part in the development of the Pakistan Army's early command structure. The position bridged the gap between strategic planning and operational execution, ensuring smooth coordination within the military. While the position no longer exists, its impact on the army's organizational evolution remains notable in Pakistan's military history.

References

1. Riza, Shaukat (1977). The Pakistan Army, 1947-1949. Natraj Publishers. ISBN   978-81-85019-63-5.
2. Defence Journal. 1987.
3. Cloughley, Brian (1999). A History of the Pakistan Army: Wars and Insurrections. Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0-19-579015-3.
4. Nawaz, Shuja (2008). Crossed Swords: Pakistan, Its Army, and the Wars Within. Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0-19-547660-6.
5. Riza, Shaukat (1977). Pakistan Army 1966-71. Natraj Publishers. ISBN   978-81-85019-61-1.
6. Riza, Shaukat (1977). Pakistan Army 1966-71. Natraj Publishers. ISBN   978-81-85019-61-1.