Gilgit Scouts
Encyclopedia
The Gilgit Scouts is the name of a paramilitary
force that was originally raised, under the name the "Gligit Levies", in 1889, by British Army
Colonel Algernon Durand. The force was originally headquartered in Gilgit
, which was the principal city of the Gilgit Agency
, located within the territory of the Princely state of Kashmir and Jammu.
in the battle of Nilt, part of the Hunza-Nagar Campaign. In 1913, the force was reorganized on a company
basis and became known as the "Gilgit Scouts", joining the Frontier Corps
.
When the Gilgit Scouts were raised, its strength was 582. The recruitment in the Gilgit scouts was based on the recommendation of Mir
s and Raja
s of the area. Close relatives of Mirs and Rajas were given direct Viceregal
commissions in the corps of Gilgit scouts.
After the Partition of India
, the Gilgit Scouts joined with the forces of the Pakistan Army
in attacks against forces of the erstwhile princely state during the First Kashmir War. According to British Major William Brown, one-time commanding officer, there was a secret plan among the Gilgit Scouts to set up a "Republic of Gilgit
-Astor(e)
" when they ousted the armed forces of the Maharajah of Kashmir
on November 1, 1947, but on November 2, the Pakistani flag was raised in Gilgit
. After conclusion of the war, the Gilgit Scouts operated as a paramilitary force in the Northern Areas
, until 1975, when it became amalgamated into the Northern Light Infantry
Regiment.
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
force that was originally raised, under the name the "Gligit Levies", in 1889, by British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
Colonel Algernon Durand. The force was originally headquartered in Gilgit
Gilgit
Gilgit is a city in northern PakistanGilgit may refer to other terms related with the area of the city:* Gilgit River* Gilgit Valley* Gilgit District* Gilgit Agency * Gilgit Airport...
, which was the principal city of the Gilgit Agency
Gilgit Agency
The Gilgit Agency was a political unit of British India, which administered the northern half of the Princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Gilgit Agency was created in 1877 and was overseen by a political agent of the Governor-General of British India. The seat of the agent was Srinagar...
, located within the territory of the Princely state of Kashmir and Jammu.
History
In 1891, the force fought against forces from HunzaHunza (princely state)
Hunza was a princely state in the northernmost part of the Northern Areas of Pakistan until 1974. The state was also known as Kanjut. The state bordered the Gilgit Agency to the south, the former princely state of Nagar to the east, China, to the north and Afghanistan to the northwest. The state...
in the battle of Nilt, part of the Hunza-Nagar Campaign. In 1913, the force was reorganized on a company
Company
A company is a form of business organization. It is an association or collection of individual real persons and/or other companies, who each provide some form of capital. This group has a common purpose or focus and an aim of gaining profits. This collection, group or association of persons can be...
basis and became known as the "Gilgit Scouts", joining the Frontier Corps
Frontier Corps
The Frontier Corps is a federally-controlled paramilitary force of Pakistan, recruited mostly from the tribal areas along the western borders and led by officers from the Pakistan Army...
.
When the Gilgit Scouts were raised, its strength was 582. The recruitment in the Gilgit scouts was based on the recommendation of Mir
Mir (title)
Mir is a title which is derived from the Arabic title Emir or Amir . It was adopted in many languages under Islamic influence, such as Persian , Pashto, Sindhi and Urdu, meaning leader of a group or tribe in Iran, Afghanistan, India and Pakistan.-Title:In Iran, mir has also been formally used as a...
s and Raja
Raja
Raja is an Indian term for a monarch, or princely ruler of the Kshatriya varna...
s of the area. Close relatives of Mirs and Rajas were given direct Viceregal
Governor-General of India
The Governor-General of India was the head of the British administration in India, and later, after Indian independence, the representative of the monarch and de facto head of state. The office was created in 1773, with the title of Governor-General of the Presidency of Fort William...
commissions in the corps of Gilgit scouts.
After the Partition of India
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
, the Gilgit Scouts joined with the forces of the Pakistan Army
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...
in attacks against forces of the erstwhile princely state during the First Kashmir War. According to British Major William Brown, one-time commanding officer, there was a secret plan among the Gilgit Scouts to set up a "Republic of Gilgit
Gilgit District
Gilgit District is one of the districts of the federal territory of Gilgit-Baltistan in northern Pakistan. It was formed in 1970 when Gilgit-Baltistan was federally administered as the "Northern Areas". It is bounded by the Wakhan Corridor to the north; Xinjiang to the northeast and east; Skardu,...
-Astor(e)
Astore District
Astore is one of the six districts of the Gilgit Baltistan. The district contains the Astore Valley and is bounded to the west by Diamer District , to the north by Gilgit District, to the east by Skardu District and to the south by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Neelum District of Azad Kashmir...
" when they ousted the armed forces of the Maharajah of Kashmir
Hari Singh
Maharaja Hari Singh was the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir in India.He was married four times...
on November 1, 1947, but on November 2, the Pakistani flag was raised in Gilgit
Gilgit
Gilgit is a city in northern PakistanGilgit may refer to other terms related with the area of the city:* Gilgit River* Gilgit Valley* Gilgit District* Gilgit Agency * Gilgit Airport...
. After conclusion of the war, the Gilgit Scouts operated as a paramilitary force in the Northern Areas
Northern Areas
Gilgit-Baltistan , is the northernmost political entity within Pakistan. It borders Pakistan's Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province to the west, Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor to the north, China to the east and northeast, Azad Kashmir to the southwest, and Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir to the...
, until 1975, when it became amalgamated into the Northern Light Infantry
Northern Light Infantry
The Northern Light Infantry is a Light Infantry Regiment of the Pakistan Army. Headquartered in Gilgit, the capital of Northern Areas, Pakistan, it is the main force protecting the strategically important northern areas of Pakistan. The majority of this regiment's personnel come from native...
Regiment.