XXX Corps (Pakistan)
The XXX Corps (30 Corps), known as Triple X Corps, is a corps of Pakistan Army currently assigned in Gujranwala, Punjab Province. The Corps is a major and integral part of the army, along with PAF's Eastern Air Command and Navy's Eastern Naval Command. It is currently commanded by Lt Gen Asim Munir Ahmed Shah, who is designated as Corps Commander of this holding corps.
| XX X Corps | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1987 - present |
| Country |  |
| Allegiance |  |
| Branch | Active Duty |
| Type | Army Corps |
| Role | Combined arms formation Tactical headquarters element |
| Size | 30,000+ approximategly (though this may vary as units are rotated) |
| HQ/Command Control Headquarter | Gujranwala, Punjab Province |
| Nickname(s) | Triple X Corps, Gujranwala Corps[1] |
| Colors Identification | Red, White and Green |
| Engagements | Indo-Pakistani War of 1999 India-Pakistan Standoff |
| Decorations | Military Decorations of Pakistan Military |
| Commanders | |
| Corps Commander | Lt Gen Asim Munir Ahmed Shah |
| Cheif of Staff | Brigadier Ghazafi |
| Notable commanders | Gen Raheel Sharif Lt Gen Javed Ashraf Qazi Lt Gen Abdul Qadir Baloch Lt Gen Nadeem Taj |
The vital area, which connects Pakistani Punjab and parts of Kashmir governed by India (extending from Jehlum to Narowal), has always been of strategic importance; the place was the site of major battles in both 1965 and 1971. Traditionally, this area had been held by I Corps. That corps already had offensive duties, and the task of defending this area was being neglected by the corps HQ.
To improve the situation, it was decided to raise another corps headquarters to look after this area. Thus the XXX Corps was raised and given the command of both new raisings and units and formations detached from I Corps, which was then dedicated to offensive tasks.[2]
Since the beginnings of an anti-India insurgency in Kashmir, the Line of Control has been an active operational zone. The corps has been deployed along its sector of the LOC and engaged in operations since 1989.
List of Commanders
Lieutenant-General   |
Commander XXX Corps | Term Start | Term End |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asim Munir Ahmed Shah | June 2019 | Present | |
| Aamir Abbasi, | December 2017 | june 2019 | |
| Ikram Ul Haq, | September 2015 | December 2017 | |
| Ghayur Mahmood, | October 2014 | September 2015 | |
| Salim Nawaz, | July 2013 | October 2014 | |
| Muzammil Hussain, | October 2012 | July 2013 | |
| Raheel Sharif, | October 2010 | October 2012 | |
| Jamil Haider, | April 2010 | October 2010 | |
| Nadeem Taj, | October 2008 | April 2010 | |
| Waseem Ahmad Ashraf, | April 2007 | October 2008 | |
| Anis Ahmed Abbasi, | September 2005 | April 2007 | |
| Mohammad Sabir, | October 2004 | September 2005 | |
| Javed Hassan, | January 2004 | October 2004 | |
| Munir Khan, | March 2003 | January 2004 | |
| FaizJilani Malik, | October 2001 | March 2003 | |
| Abdul QadirBaloch, | January 2001 | October 2001 | |
| Agha Jehangir Khan, | April 1998 | January 2001 | |
| Naeem Akbar Khan, | March 1997 | April 1998 | |
| Ziauddin Butt, | February 1996 | March 1997 | |
| Javed Ashraf Qazi, | August 1995 | February 1996 | |
| Mohammad Tariq, | May 1993 | August 1995 | |
| Hamid Niaz, | May 1992 | May 1993 | |
| ChaudhrySardar Ali, | November 1990 | May 1992 | |
| Pir Dad Khan, | March 1988 | November 1990 | |
| ImtiazWaraich, | July 1987 | March 1988 |
Order of battle
Its present order of battle is as follows:[3]
- HQ XXX Corps, Gujranwala
- 8th Infantry Division, Sialkot. The division was raised in 1947 and took part in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 with 24, 14th Para Brigade and 115 Brigades. Attached were Changez Force and 124 Brigade from 33rd Infantry Division.[4]
- 15th Infantry Division, Sialkot
- 2nd Artillery Division – Gujranwala
- 2nd Independent Armoured Brigade
- 54th Independent Infantry Brigade Group, Sialkot
- Independent Artillery Brigade
- Independent Engineer Brigade
- Independent Signal Brigade
- Independent Anti-tank Brigade
References
- "New corps commanders for Rawalpindi and Gujranwala". Dawn.
- Ravi Rikhye,Pakistan Army Divisions Archived November 7, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- Global Security website page on XXX Corps
- John H. Gill, An Atlas of the 1971 India - Pakistan War: The Creation of Bangladesh, Near East South Asia Centre for Strategic Studies (National Defense University), p.78
