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Pakistani paramilitary unit From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Gilgit−Baltistan Scouts, are a federal paramilitary force in Pakistan, tasked with law enforcement in the nominally autonomous territory of Gilgit-Baltistan and border guard duties. The force was formed in 2003 under the control of the Interior Ministry of Pakistan, but it claims a tradition dating back to the Gilgit Scouts formed during the British Raj era.[2] However, the earlier Scouts unit is now a full infantry regiment of the Pakistan Army (see Northern Light Infantry Regiment, which mostly operates in the same region as the current Scouts.
Gilgit Baltistan Scouts گلگت بلتستان سکاؤٹس | |
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Common name | GB Scouts |
Motto | مدافع الجبل Defenders of the North |
Agency overview | |
Formed | 2003 |
Preceding agencies | |
Annual budget | Rs. 2.1 billion (2020)[1] |
Jurisdictional structure | |
Federal agency | Pakistan |
Operations jurisdiction | Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan |
Governing body | Ministry of the Interior |
General nature | |
Specialist jurisdictions |
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Operational structure | |
Overseen by | Pakistan Army |
Headquarters | Gilgit, Gilgit-Baltistan |
Elected officer responsible |
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Agency executive |
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Parent agency | Civil Armed Forces |
Website | |
www |
The older Gilgit Scouts was raised by British India in 1913 to defend the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir's northern frontier. In August 1947, the Scouts along with rebels in the Jammu and Kashmir State Forces, switched allegiance to Pakistan and fought on the northern front of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948, conquering important places such as Skardu, Kargil and Drass (the latter two were subsequently recaptured by the Indian Army). In 1949, the Gilgit Scouts were split into two forces, with the wing under the original name 'Gilgit Scouts' designated for internal security operations, and a second wing, named the 'Northern Scouts', designated for major external operations. In 1964, the Northern Scouts were further bifurcated with the raising of the 'Karakoram Scouts' based in Skardu. All three forces were brought together again in 1975, under the banner of the Northern Light Infantry (then a paramilitary force). Following the 1999 Kargil War with India, where the Northern Light Infantry saw extensive combat, the force was converted into a regular regiment of the Pakistan Army. The present force of Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts was created in 2003 to fill the internal security role previously carried out by the Northern Light Infantry.[3][4][5]
The force is composed of a headquarters, a training centre and six manoeuvre wings (each approximately the size of a battalion). About 40 platoons have been tasked with law enforcement within Gilgit-Baltistan, including seizure of unauthorised weapons.[6] The Scouts went through an expansion phase in 2014, with more than 1,500 new personnel being recruited to help with law enforcement on critical infrastructure projects such as the Karakoram Highway. A sixth wing was also added, charged with protecting the building of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam[7]
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Gilgit−Baltistan Scouts |
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Brigadier بریگیڈیئر |
Colonel کرنل |
Lieutenant colonel لیفٹیننٹ کرنل |
Major میجر |
Captain کیپٹن |
Lieutenant لیفٹنینٹ |
Second lieutenant سیکنڈ لیفٹیننٹ |
Rank group | Junior commissioned officers | Non commissioned officer | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Gilgit−Baltistan Scouts |
No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Subedar-Major صوبیدار میجر |
Subedar صوبیدار |
Naib Subedar نائب صوبیدار |
Havildar حوالدار۔ |
Naik نائیک۔ |
Lance Naik لانس نائیک۔ |
Sepoy سپاہی۔ |
The formal headwear of the scouts are somewhat similar to the ones worn by the Pakistan Rangers (Punjab).
The Force has been performing both operational and Internal Security tasks since its raising. The Special Composite Task Force formed for the protection of Karakoram Highway is commanded by the Gilgit−Baltistan Scouts. The Force also took part in recent operations in Waziristan.
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