11th Infantry Division (Pakistan)
Encyclopedia
The 11th Infantry Division is an active formation of the Pakistan Army
. It is currently deployed in Lahore
as part of IV Corps, and is responsible for the defence of that city and the surrounding areas.
The division was formed just before the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
. Prior to this, the army chief at the time, General Muhammad Musa, had been calling for raising two new divisions; this was denied by the government citing a benign security environment, the lack of funds and the general reluctance of the US to fund new risings under the foreign military assistance scheme. After the 1962 Sino-Indian War, the Indian army underwent a substantial increase in numbers and capability and the government reversed its position and the division was raised by utilising reserve stocks. Initially called the 20th Infantry Division, the name was changed upon the request of the formation's first GOC, Major General
Abdul Hamid Khan
. The Division was then assigned to the defence of Lahore
. Major General
Muhammad Azeem Asif HI(M) is the present General Officer Commanding 11th Infantry Division.
, though individual units had seen action already in the Rann of Kutch
and in Operation Grand Slam
. It, along with the 10th Division successfully withstood the Indian assault towards Lahore, the 11th fighting in the Kasur region. After this battle, the division was committed to the Khem Karan offensive, for which the Divisional HQ was given command of the 1st Armoured Division. The two formations successfully managed to capture Khem Karan, though further attacks by the 1st Armoured were checked by the Indians. At the same time as the fighting in Khem Karan, the Indian offensive towards Sialkot was making progress at the Battle of Chawinda
and the 1st Armoured was withdrawn to reinforce the Pakistani forces in that sector. The 11th was forced to fall back to Khem Karan, where it withstood multiple attempts by the Indians to retake the town, however the ceasefire found the division in command of the town and several hundred square kilometres of Indian territory.
, the International Border, once more.
106 Brigade succeeded in overwhelming the resistance of the Indian 15th Battalion, Punjab Regiment
(35 Infantry Brigade, 14th Infantry Division) to take significant ground near Hussainiwala
, thereby controlling a key dam and threatening the border town of Ferozepur. One of the famous features that the formation captured was the Qaisar-e-Hind Fort.
, as of 2010 the Adjutant General
of the Pakistan Army, was the division General Officer Commanding
from February 2005 to April 2006.
The division is at present deployed around Lahore and has the following composition:
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
. It is currently deployed in Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
as part of IV Corps, and is responsible for the defence of that city and the surrounding areas.
The division was formed just before the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 was a culmination of skirmishes that took place between April 1965 and September 1965 between Pakistan and India. This conflict became known as the Second Kashmir War fought by India and Pakistan over the disputed region of Kashmir, the first having been fought in 1947...
. Prior to this, the army chief at the time, General Muhammad Musa, had been calling for raising two new divisions; this was denied by the government citing a benign security environment, the lack of funds and the general reluctance of the US to fund new risings under the foreign military assistance scheme. After the 1962 Sino-Indian War, the Indian army underwent a substantial increase in numbers and capability and the government reversed its position and the division was raised by utilising reserve stocks. Initially called the 20th Infantry Division, the name was changed upon the request of the formation's first GOC, Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Abdul Hamid Khan
Abdul Hamid Khan (general)
General Abdul Hamid Khan, HQA, SPk, SQA, was a Pakistan Army General. He was the Chief of Staff Pakistan Army under President General Yahya Khan during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War.-1965 Battle of Khem Karan:...
. The Division was then assigned to the defence of Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
. Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Muhammad Azeem Asif HI(M) is the present General Officer Commanding 11th Infantry Division.
1965 War
The Division as a whole first went into action at the Battle of LahoreBattle of Lahore
The Battle of Lahore or the Lahore Front were a series of battles in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 fought in around Lahore. The battle ended with an Indian tactical victory however Indian forces stopped their assault on Lahore once they had reached outskirts of the city having captured Burki...
, though individual units had seen action already in the Rann of Kutch
Rann of Kutch
The Great Rann of Kutch, also called Greater Rann of Kutch or just Rann of Kutch , is a seasonal salt marsh located in the Thar Desert in the Kutch District of Gujarat, India and the Sindh province of Pakistan....
and in Operation Grand Slam
Operation Grand Slam
Operation Grand Slam is virtually synonymous with the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War. It refers to an audacious plan drawn up by the Pakistan Army, in May 1965, to attack the vital Akhnoor Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir, which was not only the lifeline of an entire infantry division in Jammu and Kashmir but...
. It, along with the 10th Division successfully withstood the Indian assault towards Lahore, the 11th fighting in the Kasur region. After this battle, the division was committed to the Khem Karan offensive, for which the Divisional HQ was given command of the 1st Armoured Division. The two formations successfully managed to capture Khem Karan, though further attacks by the 1st Armoured were checked by the Indians. At the same time as the fighting in Khem Karan, the Indian offensive towards Sialkot was making progress at the Battle of Chawinda
Battle of Chawinda
The Battle of Chawinda was a part of the Sialkot Campaign in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. It was one of the largest tank battles since the Battle of Kursk in World War II....
and the 1st Armoured was withdrawn to reinforce the Pakistani forces in that sector. The 11th was forced to fall back to Khem Karan, where it withstood multiple attempts by the Indians to retake the town, however the ceasefire found the division in command of the town and several hundred square kilometres of Indian territory.
1971 War
Six years later, the division once again went into action in the 1971 war, and in a repeat of the experience in 1965, the Division crossed the Radcliffe LineRadcliffe Line
The Radcliffe Line was announced on 17 August 1947 as a boundary demarcation line between India and Pakistan upon the Partition of India. The Radcliffe Line was named after its architect, Sir Cyril Radcliffe, who as chair of the Border Commissions was tasked with equitably dividing of territory...
, the International Border, once more.
106 Brigade succeeded in overwhelming the resistance of the Indian 15th Battalion, Punjab Regiment
Punjab Regiment (Pakistan)
The Punjab Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Pakistan Army. The modern regiment was formed in 1956 from an amalgamation of the 1st Punjab Regiment, 14th Punjab Regiment, 15th Punjab Regiment and 16th Punjab Regiment...
(35 Infantry Brigade, 14th Infantry Division) to take significant ground near Hussainiwala
Hussainiwala
Hussainiwala is a village in Ferozepur district in Punjab state, India. It lies near the banks of the Sutlej river. The village is on the border with Pakistan, opposite the Pakistani village of Ganda Singh Wala...
, thereby controlling a key dam and threatening the border town of Ferozepur. One of the famous features that the formation captured was the Qaisar-e-Hind Fort.
Present
Nadeem TajNadeem Taj
Lieutenant General Nadeem Taj, HI is a senior and a three star general in the Pakistan Army who is currently serving as its Adjutant General in the GHQ...
, as of 2010 the Adjutant General
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
of the Pakistan Army, was the division General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth nations to a general officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, a general might be the GOC II Corps or GOC 7th Armoured Division...
from February 2005 to April 2006.
The division is at present deployed around Lahore and has the following composition:
- 21st Infantry Brigade, Lahore
- 52nd Infantry Brigade, Lahore
- 106th Infantry Brigade, Lahore
