Civil_Armed_Forces

Civil Armed Forces

Civil Armed Forces

Pakistani paramilitary forces

The Civil Armed Forces (CAF) [2] are a group of nine paramilitary, uniformed organisations, separate and distinct from the regular "military" Pakistan Armed Forces. They are responsible for maintaining internal security, helping law enforcement agencies, border control, counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism, riot control, and anti-smuggling under the Ministry of Interior. They frequently operate alongside the Pakistani military in response to natural disasters. During times of war they can have their command transferred to the Ministry of Defence, and effectively combined to form a reserve force for the Pakistani military.

This article is about Pakistani paramilitary forces. It is not to be confused with Pakistan Armed Forces.
Quick Facts Service branches, Headquarters ...

History

Some CAF units were originally raised in the colonial era on the frontiers of the empire, and played a key role in the consolidation of control by building a link between the state and communities in strategically sensitive frontier areas through recruitment to government service. In many areas paramilitary units continue to play exactly the same historical role decades after independence.

The CAF are currently undergoing significant expansion of some (57) additional 'wings' approved for raising in the 2015–16 to deal with the challenging internal and border security environment and to provide security for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), coordinated by a new 2-star command raised in September 2016, the Special Security Division.[3]

The CAF are paid for from the budget of the Ministry of Interior which also provides administrative support. However they are (with the exception of the Frontier Constabulary) commanded by officers on secondment from the Pakistan Army. They function under the operational control of army corps headquarters, not just in war time but whenever Article 245 of the Pakistani Constitution is invoked to provide 'military aid to civil power', for example in Karachi since 2015, [4] and in Punjab since February 2017. [5][6]

List of forces

Colonel Masud, Commandant of the Frontier Corps' Pishin Scouts (right), presents U.S. Drug Enforcement Administrator Karen P. Tandy (left) with his unit ballcap in Chaman, Balochistan, Pakistan, September 2007

Civil Armed Forces (CAF)

  • Punjab Rangers
    • Headquartered in Lahore.
    • Divided into five commands, each composed of several battalion-sized "wings" of approximately 800 men each.
    • This force has a border security role on the Punjab provincial external border with India. It also performs internal security duties (counter-insurgency, counter-gang, public order, etc.) under the operational control of Pakistan Army corps commanders.[7]
  • Sindh Rangers
    • Headquartered in Karachi.
    • Divided into seven commands, each composed of several battalion-sized "wings" of approximately 800 men each.
    • This force has a border security role on the Sindh provincial external border with India. It also performs internal security duties (counter-insurgency, counter-gang, public order, etc.) under the operational control of Pakistan Army corps commanders.[7]
  • Frontier Corps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (South)
    • Formed in 2017 by the splitting of Frontier Corps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
    • Headquartered in Dera Ismail Khan.
    • Composed of ten infantry regiments, each formed from several battalion-sized "wings".
    • Under the command of the XI Corps, the force has been in the forefront of counter-insurgency operations against the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and foreign militants since 2003.
  • Frontier Corps Balochistan (North)
    • Formed in 2017 by the splitting of Frontier Corps Balochistan.
    • Headquartered in Quetta.
    • Composed of ten infantry regiments, each formed from several battalion-sized "wings".
    • Under the command of the XII Corps, the force has been in the forefront of counter-insurgency operations against the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and Baloch separatists.
  • Frontier Corps Balochistan (South)
    • Formed in 2017 by the splitting of Frontier Corps Balochistan.
    • Headquartered in Turbat.
    • Composed of ten infantry regiments, each formed from several battalion-sized "wings".
    • Under the command of the XII Corps, the force has been in the forefront of counter-insurgency operations against Baloch separatists.

Other Paramilitary Organisations

50 Aviation Squadron

  • 50 Aviation Squadron of the Ministry of Interior is the nucleus of an air wing designed to provide additional air support to CAFs, including in disaster relief and medical evacuations.[8]

Ranks

More information Rank group, General / flag officers ...
More information Rank group, Junior commissioned officers ...

See also

References

  1. [1]
    IISS 2024, p. 301
  2. [2]
    "Protection of Pakistan Act 2014" (PDF). na.gov.pk.
  3. [3]
    Uploader (15 August 2016). "NAP decision: 29 new wings of civil armed forces to be raised". Archived from the original on 27 February 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  4. [4]
    "COAS directs Karachi Corps to step up rescue work". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  5. [5]
    "Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan: Between the Kashmir conflict and China". Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan: Between the Kashmir conflict and China. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  6. [6]
    "No link with recent GB, upcoming AJK polls: ECP". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  7. [7]
    "Pakistan Rangers (Sindh)". Archived from the original on 24 August 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
  8. [8]
    "20 Months Achievements" (PDF). National Database and Registration Authority. p. 12-14. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
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