PAKISTAN ARMY IN HISTORY

                                                                         An official army was soon formed after partition and the first General of Pakistan army, General Ayub Khan, took charge of the army in 1951. Before partition of India took place, both the countries experienced a lot of violence. The root of the problem was fear on behalf of the Pakistanis who feared that India would capture Kashmir. At the same time, India received 21 infantry regiments, 40 artillery and 12 armored weapons of war and Pakistan received less than half of each. This gave birth to insecurity and that resulted in the massive massacre of 1947. Pakistan army first fought India in 1947, hardly a few months after the division of the countries. The war was interrupted by the United Nations. However, the war did bring out the strength of the Pakistani army as it managed to hold on the northeastern parts of Kashmir.

The Pakistan army has fought a number of wars throughout history. In 1958, Pakistan army ousted democratic rule and military rule was established. General Ayub Khan became the President of the country. By 1957, the military strength of the army had increased significantly with United States and England providing a lot of aid to the country in terms of weapons and finances. This aid came after the Baghdad Pact of 1954 and subsequently, the South East Asian Treaty Organization and Central Treaty Organization.

At the time of independence, Pakistan acquired and raised 7th, 8th and 9th divisions. In 1948, the country raised 10th, 12th and 14th divisions. In 1950, the country got its 15th army division. However, due to the fact that aid from United States was restricted, several of them such as Division 6 and Division 9 were disbanded. Six infantry divisions and one armored division received US aid after 1954.

All through history, Pakistan has always had tensed relationship with India. A number of minor scuffles on the borders have been a common happening between the two countries. The tension peaked in the 1960s for the second time after 1947 and a battle was fought in the Rann of Kutch in the 1965. The most dominant feature of this border war was the implementation of Operation Gilbraltar. The battle ended with the Tashkent Declaration. However, the performance of Pakistan army has been widely appreciated in the war because it stood like a rock before the much stronger and advanced Indian army. In the war, artillery played a very important role.

In 1969, when General Yahya Khan became the president after ousting Ayub Khan, the Pakistan army was strengthened by formation of 16, 18 and 23 divisions. In the period between 1969 and 1971, a lot of civil unrest took place in the country and the army played a major role during this period. East Pakistan, which is the present Bangladesh, got its independence from Pakistan after a fierce war of Independence. The Bangladesh army, with the support of Indian army to a large extent, succeeded in defeating Pakistan army and gained their independence. The People’s Republic of Bangladesh was formed on 16th December 1971 after General Niazi’s surrender to the Indian attack.

Between 1971 and 1977, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto took over as the President and Chief Martial Law Administrator, a post vacated by General Yahya Khan. This appointment brought a brief end to the army rule and democracy was reinstated, although not for long. In 1977, army head General Zia ul Haq ousted the Bhutto government and declared himself President and military chief. Thus, army rule was back.

Pakistan has fought four wars with India in 1947, 1965, 1971 and the more recent Kargil war of 1999. In 1947, Pakistan took control of northern and western parts of Kashmir while India retained the northeastern, central and southern parts. The war ended on an equal footing. In the 1965 war that lasted five weeks, Pakistan army lost. The next war of 1971 was not over Kashmir but over the independence of Bangladesh. India won decisively and Bangladesh got its independence. Kargil war of 1999 was also lost by Pakistan and the forces had to retreat from the Line of Control. In the 1970s, Pakistan army fought the Balochistan war. Although the army was successful in the war, heavy losses were incurred. After the Kargil war, the army came back to governance with General Pervez Musharraf as the President.

Ever since 2000, Pakistan army has been involved in scuffles with the Al-Qaeda, Taliban and other terrorist groups that exist in Pakistan and Afghanistan. In 2004 May, Pakistan military suffered severe losses in war with Al Qaeda due to poor organization. Pakistan has been in the clutches of terrorist violence with a number of bombings taking place all over the country regularly.

In 2007, army attacked the militant region Swat Valley but was unsuccessful in driving militants out. In 2008, negotiations over Swat valley with militants did not yield results. In April 2009, the army again attacked the Swat Valley and by July of the same year, a lot of militants were cleared out. However, Taliban activity still exists in the country. The attack on the militant controlled Waziristan region took place in September-October of 2009. 30,000 troops were deployed and the army was able to recapture the territory of Waziristan.

All through history, Pakistan has had the support of United States financially and in military training and development. In 1948, US aided Pakistan with $0.77 million and progressively increased the aid. In 2010, $1867.37 million was provided.