Pakistan's Northern Command?

[Saleem]

This is the first reference to an existing Northern Command for the Army after the initial announcement for the three Commands several years ago. I think GOC 12 Corps was simultaneously GOCinC Southern Command. Could it be that GOC 10 Corps (or 1 Corps) is simultaneously GOCinC Northern Command? reference to Armoured Groups suggests 1 Corps is part of the Command.

COAS visits second leg of Azm-e-Nau III

 

[hillman32]

Northern Command is likely to fight in Ravi - Chenab Corridor and Gujranwala Corp Commander should be the Commander of Northern Command.

The area is close to GHQ and they can control progress of battle and I think for same reason the appointment is pending.

 

[fatman17]

check the pak army info thread for areas of responsibilities.

 

[fatman17]

X Corps, Rawalpindi - Responsible for local security in the event of an emergency (the task of 111 Independent Infantry Brigade, Rawalpindi), and for Northern Pakistan and Pakistan-Administered Kashmir. HQ Force Commander Northern Areas (FCNA) is under administrative command of 10 Corps and opcom from GHQ. FCNA commands four Brigades with their HQ in Skardu, Astor, Siachen Glacier and Gilget. most infantry units are Northern Light Infantry Battalions (13), the three Infantry Divisions (12,19,23) have a total of 12 Brigades along the Line of Control (LOC).

 

[Saleem]

ok...but I was thinking if 1 and 30 Corps are northern command, where does 10 Corps lie? directly under GHQ? seems possible given the innovative chains of command developed by the army over the years.

seems that central command would be 2 and 31 Corps with GOC 2 Corps being GOCinC Central command.

the use of dual responsibility as both GOCinC of command and GOC Corps is interesting. it economizes on support elms e.g. sigs etc. but need to see how it works out practically. reminds one of the soviet system where a senior commander was given command of a group of fronts. he had a very limited staff and used one of the front's assets for his command and control. I read a long time ago - may it was called stavka or something.

but does not portend well given the past higher command performance. Will the dual use not produce conflicts of interest and breakdown communications given the very strong jamming and EW capabilities of potential opponents? the higher command, where it matters, is prone to "personalized" command with minimal use of staff methods and procedures to fully evaluate the situation and its consequences - from operation Gibraltar to kargil.