XII Corps (Pakistan)

The XII Corps, also known as Quetta Corps[1] or Southern Command[2] is a corps of Pakistan Army currently stationed in Quetta, Balochistan Province. It is commanded by Lieutenant-General Sarfraz Ali

XII Corps/Southern Command
Active	1985–present
Country	Pakistan
Allegiance	Pakistan Army
Branch	Active Duty
Type	Army Corps
Role	Combined arms formation Tactical headquarters element
Size	30,000+ approximately (though this may vary as units are rotated)
HQ/Command Control Headquarter	Quetta, Balochistan Province
Nickname(s)	Quetta Corps[1]
Colors Identification	Red, White and Black
Engagements	Soviet–Afghan War Pakistan war in Afghanistan War on terror India-Pakistan Standoff Balochistan conflict War in North-West Pakistan
Decorations	Military Decorations of Pakistan Military
Commanders
Commander Southern Command	Lt Gen Sarfraz Ali
Notable commanders	General Khalid Shameem Wynne General Abdul Waheed Kakar

History

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 created for Pakistan a real security threat on the western borders for the first time in its history. As a result, two new corps were raised to guard the western borders. These were the XI Corps in Peshawar, and the XII Corps, with the responsibility of guarding the Bolan Pass. The formation spent, the first few years of its history guarding against Soviet expansionism. The end of the cold war and the ending of the Soviet threat, led the formation into a new era. It would lose divisions, and brigades to the western border. Notably 40 infantry division would be moved to Okara,[3] and for a time it would have only one division.

War on Terrorism

The war on terror began and once again the corps began to undertake duty on the western borders, catching and neutralising Al-Qaeda and Taliban operatives, although it has not been involved to such an extent as the XI Corps. The operations continue to this day.

2001–2002 Standoff

The formation would in early 2002 be moved to the eastern border for the first time in its history as the threat of war with India loomed. The corps purpose was to provide reinforcement to V Corps in the Thar desert. It would return to Quetta in 2004 just in time to face a new challenge.

Baloch Rebellion

In 2004, the Balochistan conflict restarted. The formation was involved in putting down the insurrection in collaboration with local security forces, and by 2006, with the killing of Akbar Bugti, the rebellion was more or less suppressed.

List of Commanders Southern Command & XII Corps

Lieutenant-General	Sarfaraz Ali	December 2020
	Muhammad Waseem Ashraf	September 2019	December 2020
	Asim Saleem Bajwa	September 2017	September 2019
	Aamer Riaz	October 2015	September 2017
	Nasser Khan Janjua	September 2013	October 2015
	Alam Khattak	October 2011	September 2013
	Javed Zia	April 2010	October 2011
	Khalid Shameem Wynne	April 2007	April 2010
	Shahid Hamid	September 2003	October 2004
	Abdul Qadir Baloch	October 2001	September 2003
	Mushtaq Hussain	October 1999	October 2001
	Tariq Pervaiz	May 1997	October 1999
	Saranjam Khan	1995	May 1997
	Lieutenant general Zia Ullah Khan	January 1993	1995
	Abdul Waheed Kakar	August 1989	January 1993
	Syed Zakir Ali Zaidi	May 1987	August 1989
	Khushdil Khan Afridi	1985	May 1987

ORBAT

The formations composition has changed on several occasions in the past, and like all formations on the western border it has received reinforcements for the war on terror, however its present composition is thought to be.

Formations	Location
HQ XII Corps	(Quetta)
33rd Infantry Division	(Quetta)
41st Infantry Division	(Quetta)
Independent Infantry Brigade	(Turbat)
Independent Armoured Brigade	(Khuzdar)
Independent Infantry Brigade	Gwader
Independent Engineer Brigade	U/I Location
Independent Signal Brigade	U/I Location

External links

• Global Security Website
• Orbat.com

References

1. "Bajwa made Quetta corps commander in reshuffle". Dawn.
2. "Pakistan Army hands over model village in Mashkai to earthquake survivors". geo.tv.
3. XII Corps