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WP:FORK this is not a separate organization. It's sub-organization
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{{Short description|Pakistani paramilitary force}}
#REDIRECT [[Frontier Corps]]
{{Distinguish|Frontier Constabulary|Frontier Force Regiment}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
| agencyname = Frontier Corps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (South)
| nativename = {{nq|فرنٹیئر کور خیبر پختونخواہ (جنوبی)}}
| commonname =
| abbreviation = FCKP(S)
| patch =
| patchcaption =
| logo = Logo of the Khyber pakhtunkhwa frontier corps.png
| logocaption = The logo of FC KPK (North+South)
| badge =
| badgecaption =
| flag =
| flagcaption =
| image_size =
| motto =
| mottotranslated =
| formedmonthday =
| formedyear = {{start date and age|2017}}
| employees = <!-- 70,000 personnel {{as of|2017|lc=y}}<ref name=armygov>{{cite web |url=https://www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk/AWPReview/TextContent.aspx?pId=18&rnd=157#Para-Military-Forces |title=Journey from Scratch to Nuclear Power |publisher=Pakistan Army |access-date=2010-09-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170503191745/https://www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk/AWPReview/TextContent.aspx?pId=18&rnd=157#Para-Military-Forces |archive-date=2017-05-03| url-status=dead}}</ref> -->
| budget = <!-- {{PKR|3.77 billion|link=yes}} (2020) -->
| country = Pakistan
| countryabbr =
| federal = Yes
| map =
| mapcaption =
| sizearea =
| sizepopulation =
| legaljuris =
| governingbody = [[Ministry of Interior (Pakistan)|Ministry of Interior]]
| constitution1 = Frontier Corps Ordinance, 1959<ref>{{cite act|type=Ordinance|index=XXVI|year=1959|title=Frontier Corps Ordinance, 1959}}</ref>
| speciality1 = border
| speciality2 = paramilitary
| headquarters = [[Dera Ismail Khan]]
| electeetype =
| minister1name = [[Sarfraz Bugti]]
| minister1pfo = Minister of Interior
| chief1name = [[Major General]] Haroon Hameed Chaudhry
| chief1position = [[Inspector General]]
| parentagency = [[Civil Armed Forces]]
| overviewbody = [[Pakistan Army]]
| footnotes =
| reference =
| website = {{URL|https://www.interior.gov.pk/index.php/hq-frontier-corps-kpk-peshawar}}
}}

The '''Frontier Corps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (South)''' ({{lang-ur|{{nq| فرنٹیئر کور خیبر پختونخواہ (جنوبی)}}}}, [[reporting name]]: '''FCKP(S)'''), is a group of paramilitary regiments of [[Pakistan]], operating in the southern part of [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]] province, to overseeing the country's borders with [[Afghanistan]] and assisting with maintaining law and order. It is one of four Frontier Corps with the others being: [[Frontier Corps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (North)|FC Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (North)]] stationed in the north of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and [[Frontier Corps Balochistan (North)|FC Balochistan (North)]] and [[Frontier Corps Balochistan (South)|FC Balochistan (South)]] stationed in Balochistan province.

The Frontier Corps are often confused with [[Frontier Constabulary]] as both forces abbreviated as <nowiki>''FC''</nowiki>. Frontier Corps are group of four paramilitary forces officered by the [[Pakistan Army]]. On other hand, Frontier Constabulary is unified force officered by the [[Law enforcement in Pakistan|Police Service of Pakistan]].

The Corps is headed by a [[wikt:secondment|seconded]] [[inspector general]], who is a [[Pakistan Army]] officer of at least major-general rank, although the force itself is officially under the jurisdiction of the [[Ministry of Interior (Pakistan)|Interior Ministry]].<ref name=jamestown>{{cite journal |first=Hassan |last=Abbas |date=30 March 2007 |title=Transforming Pakistan's Frontier Corps |journal=Terrorism Monitor |volume=5 |issue=6 |publisher=Jamestown Foundation |location=Washington |url=http://www.jamestown.org/programs/gta/single/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1056&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=182&no_cache=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804160742/http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2370292 |archive-date=4 August 2008 |access-date=9 September 2010}}</ref>

<!-- With a total manpower of approximately 70,000,<ref name=armygov/> and a budget of {{PKR|3.77 billion|link=yes}},<ref>{{cite web |url=https://na.gov.pk/uploads/1591967197_724.pdf |title=Federal Budget 2020–2021: Details of demands for grants and appropriations | volume=3 |page=2531 |publisher=[[National Assembly of Pakistan]] |access-date=19 December 2022}}</ref> the task of the Frontier Corps is to help local law enforcement, and to carry out border patrol, counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism and anti-smuggling operations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-uspakistan5nov05,0,6337979,print.story?coll=la-home-center |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071105202242/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-uspakistan5nov05,0,6337979,print.story?coll=la-home-center |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 November 2007 |title=Miller, Greg, "U.S. military aid to Pakistan misses its Al Qaeda target" |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> -->
The Corps consists of several infantry regiments, themselves composed of one or more [[battalion]]-sized wings. Some of the regiments were raised during the [[British Raj|colonial era]]. These include the [[Chitral Scouts]], the [[Khyber Rifles]], the [[Kurram Militia]], the Tochi Scouts, the South Waziristan Scouts, and the [[Zhob Militia]].

==History==
[[File:TOCHI SCOUTS ON THE NORTH WEST FRONTIER OF INDIA DURING THE 1930S HU73815.jpg|thumb|upright|Tochi Scouts in operations against [[Faqir Ipi]] in the 1930s]]
The Frontier Corps was created in 1907 by [[Lord Curzon]], the [[viceroy of India|viceroy of British India]], in order to organize seven militia and scout units in the tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan: the [[Khyber Rifles]], the [[Zhob Militia]], the Kurram Militia, the Tochi Scouts, the [[Chagai Militia]], the South Waziristan Scouts and the [[Chitral Scouts]].<ref name=jamestown/>

The Frontier Corps was led by an "inspecting officer" who was a British officer of the rank of [[lieutenant colonel]]. In 1943 the inspecting officer was upgraded to an [[Inspector general#Military|inspector general]] (an officer with the rank of [[brigadier]]), and the corps was expanded with the addition of new units—the Second Mahsud Scouts (raised in 1944) and the Pishin Scouts (in 1946).<ref name=jamestown/>

After Pakistan and India split in 1947, Pakistan expanded the corps further by creating a number of new units, including the Thal Scouts, the Northern Scouts, the [[Bajaur Scouts]], the Karakoram Scouts, the Kalat Scouts, the Dir Scouts and the Kohistan Scouts. British officers continued to serve in the Frontier Corps up to the early 1950s. The corps was split into two major subdivisions with FC Balochistan incorporating the Zhob Militia, the Sibi Scouts, the Kalat Scouts, the Makran Militia, the Kharan Rifles, the Pishin Scouts, the Chaghai Militia and the First Mahsud Scouts.<ref name=jamestown/> In 1975 three units, the [[Gilgit Scouts]], the Karakoram Scouts and the Northern Scouts, were merged to form a new paramilitary force called the [[Northern Light Infantry]], which is now a full infantry regiment of the Pakistan Army.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk/AWPReview/TextContent.aspx?pId=162| title=Northern Light Infantry Regiment| publisher=Pakistan Army| access-date=2010-09-09}}</ref>

In 2007, after the collapse of truce agreements between the Pakistani government and local militants, the Frontier Corps, teamed with regular Pakistani military units, conducted incursions into tribal areas controlled by the militants. The effort produced a series of bloody and clumsy confrontations.<ref name="lat1">Miller, Greg, [https://web.archive.org/web/20071105202242/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-uspakistan5nov05,0,6337979,print.story?coll=la-home-center "U.S. military aid to Pakistan misses its Al Qaeda target"], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', November 5, 2007, accessed November 7, 2007.</ref> On August 30, about 250 troops, mostly from the Frontier Corps, surrendered to militants without a fight. In early November, most were released in exchange for 25 militants held by the Pakistan Army.<ref name="lat1"/>

There is a widespread consensus among United States government military and intelligence experts that the Frontier Corps are the best potential military units against the Islamist militants because its troops are locally recruited, know local languages and understand local cultures. The United States provided more than US$7&nbsp;billion in military aid to Pakistan from 2002 to 2007, most of which was used to equip the Frontier Corps because it is in the front line of the fight against the Islamist insurgents. From late 2007, the Pakistani government intended to expand the corps to 100,000 and use it more in fighting Islamist militants, particularly Al-Qaeda, after extensive consultations with the U.S. government, with a multi-year plan to bolster the effort, including the establishment of a counterinsurgency training centre.<ref name="lat1"/> The US Obama policy for Pakistan was seen as a clear victory for the Pakistan Army lobby in the US. The $1.5&nbsp;billion a year unrestricted aid recently{{when|date=December 2020}} announced will go a long way in seeing that the Frontier Corps stay at the height of their professional abilities due to new equipment and training.

The Corps has also fired occasionally on the U.S.-assisted [[Afghan Army]].<ref name="bg">Stockman, Farah, [http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2007/07/22/pakistan_aid_plan_facing_resistance?mode=PF "Pakistan aid plan facing resistance / $300m requested for paramilitaries"], ''[[Boston Globe]]'', July 22, 2007, accessed November 7, 2007.</ref>

==Role==
* Border security duties.
* Assist Army/FCNA in the defense of the country as and when required.
* Protect important communication centers and routes.
* Undertake counter militancy/criminal/terrorism operations on orders.
* Assist law enforcement agencies in maintenance of law and order.
* Safeguard important sites and assets

During times of difficulties, the government occasionally gives the FC the power to arrest and detain suspects such as in late 2012<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/460215/balochistan-unrest-fc-police-powers-mandate-in-quetta-ends/|title=Balochistan unrest: FC police powers mandate gets one-month extension|date=3 November 2012|work=The Express Tribune}}</ref> and early 2013 when the [[Prime Minister of Pakistan]] granted the FC policing powers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/493124/no-governor-rule-army-control-pm-extends-fc-powers-in-quetta/|title=No Governor rule, army control: PM gives FC police powers in Quetta|date=12 January 2013|work=The Express Tribune}}</ref> These temporary powers can also be extended on the orders or consent of the provincial government or federal government or both.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1166662|title=Police powers for FC extended|author=The Newspaper's Staff Correspondent|work=Dawn|date=March 2015}}</ref>

== Organisation ==
The senior command posts are filled by officers seconded from the Pakistan Army for two to three years.<ref name=jamestown/> The Corps consists of ten infantry regiments, most of which are composed of a number of [[battalion]]-sized "wings", and a number of training and support units. The Corps planned to raise four new wings in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nadra.gov.pk/20_Months_achievements_Brochure.pdf |title=20 Months Achievements |page=58 |publisher=[[National Database and Registration Authority]] |access-date=10 December 2022}}</ref>
* Scouts Training Academy,<ref name=gazette20210428>{{cite web |url=http://pcp.gov.pk/SiteImage/Downloads/Issue-17%20Dated%2028-04-2021.pdf |title=The Gazette of Pakistan. Part III. |publisher=Government of Pakistan |date=28 April 2021 |access-date=16 December 2022}}</ref>{{rp|258}} [[Mir Ali, Pakistan|Mir Ali]], [[North Waziristan]]
* Training Centre FC KPK (South) at [[Miranshah]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://na.gov.pk/uploads/1591967197_724.pdf |title=Federal Budget 2020–2021: Details of demands for grants and appropriations | volume=3 |page=2545 |publisher=[[National Assembly of Pakistan]] |access-date=19 December 2022}}</ref>
* Field Intelligence Unit<ref name=gazette20210331-III>{{cite web |url=http://pcp.gov.pk/SiteImage/Downloads/Issue-13%20Dated%2031-03-2021.pdf |title=The Gazette of Pakistan. Part III. |publisher=Government of Pakistan |date=31 March 2021 |access-date=13 December 2022}}</ref>{{rp|196}}
* Badar Rifles<ref name=gazette20210210>{{cite web |url=http://pcp.gov.pk/SiteImage/Downloads/Issue-6%20Dated%2010-02-2021.pdf |title=The Gazette of Pakistan. Part III. |publisher=Government of Pakistan |date=10 February 2021 |access-date=13 December 2022}}</ref>{{rp|89}}
* Bhittani Rifles (2015)<ref name=gazette2020118>{{cite web |url=http://www.pcp.gov.pk/SiteImage/Downloads/Issue-6%20Dated%2005-02-2020.pdf |title=The Gazette of Pakistan. Part III. |page=118 |publisher=Government of Pakistan |date=20 September 2019 |access-date=11 December 2022}}</ref>
* Gomal Scouts<ref name=gazette20210210/>{{rp|89}}
* Khattak Scouts<ref name=gazette2020119/>
* [[Kurram Militia]] (1892)<ref name=gazette2020118/>
* North Waziristan Scouts
* [[Shawal Rifles]]
* South Waziristan Scouts (1900)<ref name=gazette2020118/>
* Thall Scouts<ref name=gazette2020119>{{cite web |url=http://www.pcp.gov.pk/SiteImage/Downloads/Issue-6%20Dated%2005-02-2020.pdf |title=The Gazette of Pakistan. Part III.|page=119 |publisher=Government of Pakistan |date=20 September 2019 |access-date=11 December 2022}}</ref> (raised in 1948)<ref name=yearbook>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BksqAQAAIAAJ |title=South Asia Defence and Strategic Year Book |page=284 |date=2009 |author=<!--Not stated--> |publisher=Panchsheel |access-date=19 December 2022}}</ref>
* Tochi Scouts (1894)<ref name=gazette2020118/>

;Interior Ministry support
* 50 Aviation Squadron<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nadra.gov.pk/20_Months_achievements_Brochure.pdf |title=20 Months Achievements |pages=12–14 |publisher=[[National Database and Registration Authority]] |access-date=27 December 2022}}</ref>

==Personnel==
<!-- There were a total 70,000 active personnel as of 2017 and additional wings have been raised to meet the security challenges.<ref name=armygov/><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vk8-vgAACAAJ|title=The Military Balance 2017 |last=(Iiss)|first=The International Institute of Strategic Studies|date=2017-02-14|publisher=Routledge, Chapman & Hall, Incorporated|isbn=9781857439007}}</ref> Frontier Corps units are locally recruited and are officered by Pakistani Army officers. -->
In January 2022 during press briefing [[Inter-Services Public Relations|Pakistan military spokesperson]] General [[Babar Iftikhar]] says, As a part of Pakistan's Western border management, 67 new wings has been established for the FC Balochistan and FC Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to strengthen border security and formation of the six more wings is in process.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.brecorder.com/news/amp/40144946 | title=Talks with TTP on hold, operations to continue: DG ISPR | date=5 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/05-Jan-2022/pakistan-army-vows-to-make-border-management-system-with-afghanistan-more-effective%3fversion=amp | title=Pakistan Army vows to make border management system with Afghanistan more effective | date=5 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tribune.com.pk/story/2337264/pak-afghan-border-fencing-here-to-stay-dg-ispr%3famp=1 | title=Pak-Afghan border fencing here to stay: DG ISPR | date=5 January 2022}}</ref>

==Equipment==
{{more citations needed|1=section|date=March 2022}}

===Basic Equipment===
*[[Global Industrial Defence Solutions|GIDS]] Ballistic Helmet
*Bullet Proof vests
*GIDS Knee pads

===Small Arms===
*[[VSK-100]]: The VSK 100 is essentially a Belarusian version of the AKM.
*[[QBZ-95]]: Used by the Special Operations Group (SOG) anti-terrorist unit
*[[H&K G3]]: POF Made G3 Battle Rifles
*[[AK-47]]: Multiple Variants in service
*[[MG3]]: POF Made MG1A3 variant in service
*[[PK-16]]: [[Pakistan Ordnance Factories|POF]] made Dshk heavy machine gun
*[[Type 77 heavy machine gun|Type-85]]: Chinese 12.7mm HMG
*[[RPG-7]]: Rocket Propelled Grenade
*[[Dragunov sniper rifle|Type-79]]: Chinese variant of the Dragonuv Sniper rifle

===Mortars and Artillery===
*[[Mortier 120mm Rayé Tracté Modèle F1|MO-120RT]]: 120mm Mortar
*[[LLR 81mm|LLR-81 Mortar]]: 81mm Mortar

===Vehicles===
*[[Toyota Land Cruiser Prado]]: VIP transport
*[[Toyota Hilux]]: Main Utility and troop/officer transport vehicle
*[[Land Rover Defender]]: Utility Vehicle
*[[Mitsubishi L-200]]: Utility Vehicle
*[[Hino Ranger]]: Troop/Supply transport

===Armoured Vehicles===
The Corps operates various [[Heavy Industries Taxila|HIT]] made armoured vehicles.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://ispr.gov.pk/press-release-detail.php?id=1716|website=Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR)|title=No PR-89/2011-ISPR|date=12 April 2011}}</ref>
*[[Mohafiz (vehicle)|Mohafiz]]: Unknown numbers in service.
*[[Type 59 tank|Type-59 Tank]]: Type-59II variant in service. Handed over to Frontier Corps by [[Pakistan Army]]
*[[Type 69|Type-69 Tank]]: Type-69IIMP Variant in service. Also handed over by Pakistan army.
*[[T-54/T-55|T-55M]]: Modernized T-55 MBT. Number of Ex-Serbian units procured in 2020.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://timesofislamabad.com/01-Apr-2020/pakistan-military-received-100-modernised-t55-battle-tanks-from-the-foreign-country | title=Pakistan Military received 100 modernised T55 Battle Tanks from the foreign country | date=April 2020 }}</ref>

===Aircraft===
The Corps has access to the aviation resources of the Pakistan Army.

==Inspectors general==
[[File:Balahisar-peshawar.jpg|thumb|Frontier Corps headquarters in [[Bala Hissar, Peshawar|Bala Hisar Fort]], [[Peshawar]], [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]], [[Pakistan]]]]
[[File:Frontier Corps Pakistan march 2016.jpg|thumb|A contingent from Frontier Corps, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa marching in black security forces uniform]]
The Corps was divided into FC NWFP and FC Balochistan in 1974. The inspectors general listed below are from 1974 to 2017. For previous inspectors general, see the [[Frontier Corps#Inspectors general|Frontier Corps]] article.
# Maj. Gen. Ghulam Rabbani Khan, SBt (1974–78)
# Maj. Gen. Agha Zulfiqar Ali Khan (1978–81)
# Maj. Gen. Mian Muhammad Afzaal [[Hilal-e-Imtiaz|HI(M)]] [[Sitara-e-Basalat|SBt]] [[Order of King Abdul Aziz|OKA(M)]] [[Shahid|(Shaheed)]] (1982–84)
# Maj. Gen. [[Arif Bangash]], SBt (1984–86)
# Maj. Gen. [[Mohammad Shafiq]], SBt (1986–88)
# Maj. Gen. Ghazi ud Din Rana, SBt (1988–90)
# Maj. Gen. Humayun Khan Bangash, TBt (1990–91)
# Maj. Gen. Muhammad Naeem Akbar Khan (1991–92)
# Maj. Gen. Mumtaz Gul, TBt (1992–94)
# Maj. Gen. Fazal Ghafoor, SBt (1994–97)
# Maj. Gen. Sultan Habib (1997–2000)
# Maj. Gen. Tajul Haq (2000–03)
# Maj. Gen. Hamid Khan (2003–04)
# Maj. Gen. Tariq Masood (2004–06)
# Maj. Gen. [[Alam Khattak]] (2006–08)
# Maj. Gen. [[Tariq Khan (general)|Tariq Khan]] (2008–10)
# Maj. Gen. Nadir Zeb (2010–2012)
# Maj. Gen. Ghayur Mehmood, TBt (2012–2014)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-13-14224-Bajwa-made-DG-ISPR-in-high-level-military-reshuffle|title=Major reshuffle in the army|work=The News}}</ref>
# Maj. Gen. Tayyab Azam (2014-2016)
# Maj. Gen. Shaheen Mazhar Mehmood (2016-2017)<ref name=dawn>{{cite news |date=21 May 2017 |title=Rs80bn spent on FC in three and half years, says Nisar |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1334479 |access-date=10 December 2022 |publisher=Dawn (newspaper)}}</ref>

FC NWFP was renamed as FC KP. In 2017 FC KP was split into FC KP (North) and FC KP (South).<ref name=dawn/>
# Maj. Gen. Khalid Javed (2017-2018)<ref name=dawn/>
# Maj. Gen. Azhar Iqbal Abbasi (2018-2019)<ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-04-05|title=Efforts on to develop South Waziristan: IGFC|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/453541-efforts-on-to-develop-south-waziristan-igfc|access-date=2021-09-04|work=The News International (newspaper)|language=en}}</ref>
# Maj. Gen. Abid Latif Khan (2019-2020)<ref>{{Cite news|date=2018-01-08|title=Maj Gen Abid Latif Khan appointed IG FC KP|url=https://archive.pakistantoday.com.pk/2018/01/08/maj-gen-abid-latif-khan-appointed-ig-fc-kpk/|access-date=2021-09-04|work=Pakistan Today (newspaper)}}</ref>
# Maj. Gen. Muhammad Umer Bashir (March 2020 – October 2021)<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-06-04|title=Interior Minister in South Waziristan on two-day visit|url=https://www.radio.gov.pk/04-06-2021/interior-minister-reaches-south-waziristan-on-a-two-day-visit|access-date=2021-09-04|work=[[Radio Pakistan]]|language=en}}</ref>
# Maj. Gen. Muhammad Munir Afsar, [[Hilal-i-Imtiaz|HI (M)]] (October 2021 – October 2022)
# Maj. Gen. Haroon Hameed Chaudhry (October 2022 – present)

==See also==
* [[Law enforcement in Pakistan]]
* [[Civil Armed Forces]]
* [[Military history of the North-West Frontier]]
* [[Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://frontiercorpskpk.com Frontier Corps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]

{{Frontier Corps}}
{{Civil Armed Forces}}
{{Border protection agencies}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Frontier Corps|Khyber]]
[[Category:Civil Armed Forces]]
[[Category:Military in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]]
[[Category:Military in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas]]

Revision as of 20:45, 8 April 2024

Not to be confused with Frontier Constabulary or Frontier Force Regiment.

Frontier Corps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (South)
فرنٹیئر کور خیبر پختونخواہ (جنوبی)
The logo of FC KPK (North+South)
The logo of FC KPK (North+South)
AbbreviationFCKP(S)
Agency overview
Formed2017; 7 years ago (2017)
Jurisdictional structure
Federal agencyPakistan
Operations jurisdictionPakistan
Governing bodyMinistry of Interior
Constituting instrument
  • Frontier Corps Ordinance, 1959[1]
General nature
Specialist jurisdictions
  • National border patrol, security, and integrity.
  • Paramilitary law enforcement, counter insurgency, and riot control.
Operational structure
HeadquartersDera Ismail Khan
Elected officer responsible
Agency executive
Parent agencyCivil Armed Forces
Website
www.interior.gov.pk/index.php/hq-frontier-corps-kpk-peshawar

The Frontier Corps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (South) (Urdu: فرنٹیئر کور خیبر پختونخواہ (جنوبی), reporting name: FCKP(S)), is a group of paramilitary regiments of Pakistan, operating in the southern part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, to overseeing the country's borders with Afghanistan and assisting with maintaining law and order. It is one of four Frontier Corps with the others being: FC Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (North) stationed in the north of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and FC Balochistan (North) and FC Balochistan (South) stationed in Balochistan province.

The Frontier Corps are often confused with Frontier Constabulary as both forces abbreviated as ''FC''. Frontier Corps are group of four paramilitary forces officered by the Pakistan Army. On other hand, Frontier Constabulary is unified force officered by the Police Service of Pakistan.

The Corps is headed by a seconded inspector general, who is a Pakistan Army officer of at least major-general rank, although the force itself is officially under the jurisdiction of the Interior Ministry.[2]

The Corps consists of several infantry regiments, themselves composed of one or more battalion-sized wings. Some of the regiments were raised during the colonial era. These include the Chitral Scouts, the Khyber Rifles, the Kurram Militia, the Tochi Scouts, the South Waziristan Scouts, and the Zhob Militia.

History

Tochi Scouts in operations against Faqir Ipi in the 1930s

The Frontier Corps was created in 1907 by Lord Curzon, the viceroy of British India, in order to organize seven militia and scout units in the tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan: the Khyber Rifles, the Zhob Militia, the Kurram Militia, the Tochi Scouts, the Chagai Militia, the South Waziristan Scouts and the Chitral Scouts.[2]

The Frontier Corps was led by an "inspecting officer" who was a British officer of the rank of lieutenant colonel. In 1943 the inspecting officer was upgraded to an inspector general (an officer with the rank of brigadier), and the corps was expanded with the addition of new units—the Second Mahsud Scouts (raised in 1944) and the Pishin Scouts (in 1946).[2]

After Pakistan and India split in 1947, Pakistan expanded the corps further by creating a number of new units, including the Thal Scouts, the Northern Scouts, the Bajaur Scouts, the Karakoram Scouts, the Kalat Scouts, the Dir Scouts and the Kohistan Scouts. British officers continued to serve in the Frontier Corps up to the early 1950s. The corps was split into two major subdivisions with FC Balochistan incorporating the Zhob Militia, the Sibi Scouts, the Kalat Scouts, the Makran Militia, the Kharan Rifles, the Pishin Scouts, the Chaghai Militia and the First Mahsud Scouts.[2] In 1975 three units, the Gilgit Scouts, the Karakoram Scouts and the Northern Scouts, were merged to form a new paramilitary force called the Northern Light Infantry, which is now a full infantry regiment of the Pakistan Army.[3]

In 2007, after the collapse of truce agreements between the Pakistani government and local militants, the Frontier Corps, teamed with regular Pakistani military units, conducted incursions into tribal areas controlled by the militants. The effort produced a series of bloody and clumsy confrontations.[4] On August 30, about 250 troops, mostly from the Frontier Corps, surrendered to militants without a fight. In early November, most were released in exchange for 25 militants held by the Pakistan Army.[4]

There is a widespread consensus among United States government military and intelligence experts that the Frontier Corps are the best potential military units against the Islamist militants because its troops are locally recruited, know local languages and understand local cultures. The United States provided more than US$7 billion in military aid to Pakistan from 2002 to 2007, most of which was used to equip the Frontier Corps because it is in the front line of the fight against the Islamist insurgents. From late 2007, the Pakistani government intended to expand the corps to 100,000 and use it more in fighting Islamist militants, particularly Al-Qaeda, after extensive consultations with the U.S. government, with a multi-year plan to bolster the effort, including the establishment of a counterinsurgency training centre.[4] The US Obama policy for Pakistan was seen as a clear victory for the Pakistan Army lobby in the US. The $1.5 billion a year unrestricted aid recently[when?] announced will go a long way in seeing that the Frontier Corps stay at the height of their professional abilities due to new equipment and training.

The Corps has also fired occasionally on the U.S.-assisted Afghan Army.[5]

Role

  • Border security duties.
  • Assist Army/FCNA in the defense of the country as and when required.
  • Protect important communication centers and routes.
  • Undertake counter militancy/criminal/terrorism operations on orders.
  • Assist law enforcement agencies in maintenance of law and order.
  • Safeguard important sites and assets

During times of difficulties, the government occasionally gives the FC the power to arrest and detain suspects such as in late 2012[6] and early 2013 when the Prime Minister of Pakistan granted the FC policing powers.[7] These temporary powers can also be extended on the orders or consent of the provincial government or federal government or both.[8]

Organisation

The senior command posts are filled by officers seconded from the Pakistan Army for two to three years.[2] The Corps consists of ten infantry regiments, most of which are composed of a number of battalion-sized "wings", and a number of training and support units. The Corps planned to raise four new wings in 2020.[9]

Interior Ministry support
  • 50 Aviation Squadron[17]

Personnel

In January 2022 during press briefing Pakistan military spokesperson General Babar Iftikhar says, As a part of Pakistan's Western border management, 67 new wings has been established for the FC Balochistan and FC Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to strengthen border security and formation of the six more wings is in process.[18][19][20]

Equipment

Basic Equipment

  • GIDS Ballistic Helmet
  • Bullet Proof vests
  • GIDS Knee pads

Small Arms

  • VSK-100: The VSK 100 is essentially a Belarusian version of the AKM.
  • QBZ-95: Used by the Special Operations Group (SOG) anti-terrorist unit
  • H&K G3: POF Made G3 Battle Rifles
  • AK-47: Multiple Variants in service
  • MG3: POF Made MG1A3 variant in service
  • PK-16: POF made Dshk heavy machine gun
  • Type-85: Chinese 12.7mm HMG
  • RPG-7: Rocket Propelled Grenade
  • Type-79: Chinese variant of the Dragonuv Sniper rifle

Mortars and Artillery

Vehicles

Armoured Vehicles

The Corps operates various HIT made armoured vehicles.[21]

  • Mohafiz: Unknown numbers in service.
  • Type-59 Tank: Type-59II variant in service. Handed over to Frontier Corps by Pakistan Army
  • Type-69 Tank: Type-69IIMP Variant in service. Also handed over by Pakistan army.
  • T-55M: Modernized T-55 MBT. Number of Ex-Serbian units procured in 2020.[22]

Aircraft

The Corps has access to the aviation resources of the Pakistan Army.

Inspectors general

Frontier Corps headquarters in Bala Hisar Fort, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
A contingent from Frontier Corps, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa marching in black security forces uniform

The Corps was divided into FC NWFP and FC Balochistan in 1974. The inspectors general listed below are from 1974 to 2017. For previous inspectors general, see the Frontier Corps article.

  1. Maj. Gen. Ghulam Rabbani Khan, SBt (1974–78)
  2. Maj. Gen. Agha Zulfiqar Ali Khan (1978–81)
  3. Maj. Gen. Mian Muhammad Afzaal HI(M) SBt OKA(M) (Shaheed) (1982–84)
  4. Maj. Gen. Arif Bangash, SBt (1984–86)
  5. Maj. Gen. Mohammad Shafiq, SBt (1986–88)
  6. Maj. Gen. Ghazi ud Din Rana, SBt (1988–90)
  7. Maj. Gen. Humayun Khan Bangash, TBt (1990–91)
  8. Maj. Gen. Muhammad Naeem Akbar Khan (1991–92)
  9. Maj. Gen. Mumtaz Gul, TBt (1992–94)
  10. Maj. Gen. Fazal Ghafoor, SBt (1994–97)
  11. Maj. Gen. Sultan Habib (1997–2000)
  12. Maj. Gen. Tajul Haq (2000–03)
  13. Maj. Gen. Hamid Khan (2003–04)
  14. Maj. Gen. Tariq Masood (2004–06)
  15. Maj. Gen. Alam Khattak (2006–08)
  16. Maj. Gen. Tariq Khan (2008–10)
  17. Maj. Gen. Nadir Zeb (2010–2012)
  18. Maj. Gen. Ghayur Mehmood, TBt (2012–2014)[23]
  19. Maj. Gen. Tayyab Azam (2014-2016)
  20. Maj. Gen. Shaheen Mazhar Mehmood (2016-2017)[24]

FC NWFP was renamed as FC KP. In 2017 FC KP was split into FC KP (North) and FC KP (South).[24]

  1. Maj. Gen. Khalid Javed (2017-2018)[24]
  2. Maj. Gen. Azhar Iqbal Abbasi (2018-2019)[25]
  3. Maj. Gen. Abid Latif Khan (2019-2020)[26]
  4. Maj. Gen. Muhammad Umer Bashir (March 2020 – October 2021)[27]
  5. Maj. Gen. Muhammad Munir Afsar, HI (M) (October 2021 – October 2022)
  6. Maj. Gen. Haroon Hameed Chaudhry (October 2022 – present)

See also

References

  1. ^ Frontier Corps Ordinance, 1959 (Ordinance XXVI). 1959.
  2. ^ a b c d e Abbas, Hassan (30 March 2007). "Transforming Pakistan's Frontier Corps". Terrorism Monitor. 5 (6). Washington: Jamestown Foundation. Archived from the original on 4 August 2008. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
  3. ^ "Northern Light Infantry Regiment". Pakistan Army. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
  4. ^ a b c Miller, Greg, "U.S. military aid to Pakistan misses its Al Qaeda target", Los Angeles Times, November 5, 2007, accessed November 7, 2007.
  5. ^ Stockman, Farah, "Pakistan aid plan facing resistance / $300m requested for paramilitaries", Boston Globe, July 22, 2007, accessed November 7, 2007.
  6. ^ "Balochistan unrest: FC police powers mandate gets one-month extension". The Express Tribune. 3 November 2012.
  7. ^ "No Governor rule, army control: PM gives FC police powers in Quetta". The Express Tribune. 12 January 2013.
  8. ^ The Newspaper's Staff Correspondent (March 2015). "Police powers for FC extended". Dawn. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  9. ^ "20 Months Achievements" (PDF). National Database and Registration Authority. p. 58. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  10. ^ "The Gazette of Pakistan. Part III" (PDF). Government of Pakistan. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  11. ^ "Federal Budget 2020–2021: Details of demands for grants and appropriations" (PDF). National Assembly of Pakistan. p. 2545. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  12. ^ "The Gazette of Pakistan. Part III" (PDF). Government of Pakistan. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  13. ^ a b "The Gazette of Pakistan. Part III" (PDF). Government of Pakistan. 10 February 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  14. ^ a b c d "The Gazette of Pakistan. Part III" (PDF). Government of Pakistan. 20 September 2019. p. 118. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  15. ^ a b "The Gazette of Pakistan. Part III" (PDF). Government of Pakistan. 20 September 2019. p. 119. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  16. ^ South Asia Defence and Strategic Year Book. Panchsheel. 2009. p. 284. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  17. ^ "20 Months Achievements" (PDF). National Database and Registration Authority. pp. 12–14. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  18. ^ "Talks with TTP on hold, operations to continue: DG ISPR". 5 January 2022.
  19. ^ "Pakistan Army vows to make border management system with Afghanistan more effective". 5 January 2022.
  20. ^ "Pak-Afghan border fencing here to stay: DG ISPR". 5 January 2022.
  21. ^ "No PR-89/2011-ISPR". Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) (Press release). 12 April 2011.
  22. ^ "Pakistan Military received 100 modernised T55 Battle Tanks from the foreign country". April 2020.
  23. ^ "Major reshuffle in the army". The News.
  24. ^ a b c "Rs80bn spent on FC in three and half years, says Nisar". Dawn (newspaper). 21 May 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  25. ^ "Efforts on to develop South Waziristan: IGFC". The News International (newspaper). 5 April 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  26. ^ "Maj Gen Abid Latif Khan appointed IG FC KP". Pakistan Today (newspaper). 8 January 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  27. ^ "Interior Minister in South Waziristan on two-day visit". Radio Pakistan. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
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