2/1/23, 8:35 AM Frontier Corps - Wikipedia

Contents
move to sidebar hide

(Top)
1History
2Role

3Organisation
4Personnel
5Inspectors general

6See also

7References
8External links

Frontier Corps
The Frontier Corps (Urdu: ‫فرنٹیئر کور‬, reporting name: FC), are a group of paramilitary
Frontier Corps
forces of Pakistan, operating in the provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to
maintain law and order while overseeing the country's borders with Afghanistan and Iran. ‫فرنٹیئر کور‬
There are four Frontier Corps: FC KPK (North) and FC KPK (South) stationed in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa province (formed from the previously named North-West Frontier Province
and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas), and FC Balochistan (North) and FC
Balochistan (South) stationed in Balochistan province.

Each Corps is headed by a seconded inspector general, who is a Pakistan Army officer of From left to right:Insignia of FC KPK (left)
at least major-general rank, although the force itself is officially under the jurisdiction of Insignia of FC Balochistan (North) (middle)
the Interior Ministry.[3]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frontier_Corps 1/6
2/1/23, 8:35 AM Frontier Corps - Wikipedia

With a total manpower of approximately 70,000,[1] and a budget of Rs. 3.77 billion,[4] the Insignia of FC Balochistan (South) (right)
task of the Frontier Corps is to help local law enforcement, and to carry out border patrol, Abbreviation FC
counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism and anti-smuggling operations.[5]
Agency overview
Each Corps consists of several regiments, themselves composed of one or more battalion- Formed 1878
sized wings. Some of the regiments were raised during the colonial era. These include the
Employees 70,000 personnel as of
Chitral Scouts, the Khyber Rifles, the Kurram Militia, the Tochi Scouts, the South
2017[1]
Waziristan Scouts, and the Zhob Militia. The Khyber Rifles was in fact regularised during
the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 and fought with distinction in Kashmir. Annual budget Rs. 3.77 billion (2020)
Jurisdictional structure
History Federal agency Pakistan
Operations Pakistan
The Frontier Corps was created in 1907 by Lord Curzon, the viceroy of British India, in
jurisdiction
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 Governing body Ministry of Interior
Chagai Militia, the South Waziristan Scouts and the Chitral Scouts.[3] Constituting Frontier Corps Ordinance,
instrument 1959[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 General nature Federal law enforcement
(an officer with the rank of brigadier), and the corps was expanded with the addition of
Specialist Paramilitary law
new units—the Second Mahsud Scouts (raised in 1944) and the Pishin Scouts (in 1946).[3]
jurisdictions enforcement, counter
After Pakistan and India split in 1947, Pakistan expanded the corps further by creating a insurgency, and riot
number of new units, including the Thal Scouts, the Northern Scouts, the Bajaur Scouts, control.
the Karakoram Scouts, the Kalat Scouts, the Dir Scouts and the Kohistan Scouts. British National border patrol,
officers continued to serve in the Frontier Corps up to the early 1950s. The corps was split security, and integrity.
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 Operational structure
Chaghai Militia and the First Mahsud Scouts.[3] In 1975 three units, the Gilgit Scouts, the Overviewed by Pakistan Army
Karakoram Scouts and the Northern Scouts, were merged to form a new paramilitary
Headquarters
force called the Northern Light Infantry, which is now a full infantry regiment of the Peshawar (FC KPK
Pakistan Army.[6] North)

In the mid-1970s, the Pakistani government used FC Balochistan to counter the terrorists Dera Ismail Khan (FC
in Balochistan, and the force is unpopular among some of the local population who KPK South)
associate them with human rights violations and heavy-handed operations. To improve Quetta (FCB North)
Turbat (FCB South)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frontier_Corps 2/6
2/1/23, 8:35 AM Frontier Corps - Wikipedia

the image of the corps, it has been involved in the construction of schools and hospitals, Elected officer Rana Sanaullah, Minister of
although as of late 2004, corps installations in the province were being routinely attacked responsible Interior
by terrorists.[3]
Agency Major General Noor Wali
In the late 1990s, the Frontier Corps played an important role in eliminating opium poppy executives Khan, Inspector General,
cultivation from Dir District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.[3] KPK (North)
Major General Chaudhry
In 2007, after the collapse of truce agreements between the Pakistani government and
local militants, the Frontier Corps, teamed with regular Pakistani military units, Amir Ajmal, Inspector
conducted incursions into tribal areas controlled by the militants. The effort produced a General, Balochistan
series of bloody and clumsy confrontations.[7] On August 30, about 250 Pakistani troops, (North)
mostly from the Frontier Corps, surrendered to militants without a fight. In early Major General Haroon
November, most were released in exchange for 25 militants held by the Pakistan Army.[7] Hameed Chaudhr,
Inspector General, KPK
There is a widespread consensus among United States government military and
(South)
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 Major General Kamal Anwar
understand local cultures. The United States provided more than US$7 billion in military Chaudhry, Inspector
aid to Pakistan from 2002 to 2007, most of which was used to equip the Frontier Corps General, Balochistan
because it is in the front line of the fight against the Islamist insurgents. From late 2007, (South)
the Pakistani government intended to expand the corps to 100,000 and use it more in
Parent agency Civil Armed Forces
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 Website
of a counterinsurgency training centre.[7] The US Obama policy for Pakistan was seen as a www.interior.gov.pk/index.php/hq-frontier-corps-
clear victory for the Pakistan Army lobby in the US. The $1.5  billion a year unrestricted kpk-peshawar (https://www.interior.gov.pk/inde
aid recently announced will go a long way in seeing that the Frontier Corps stay at the
x.php/hq-frontier-corps-kpk-peshawar)
height of their professional abilities due to new equipment and training.
www.interior.gov.pk/index.php/hq-frontier-corps-
The Corps has also fired occasionally on the U.S.-assisted Afghan Army.[8] balochistan-quetta (https://www.interior.gov.pk/i
ndex.php/hq-frontier-corps-balochistan-quetta)

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.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frontier_Corps 3/6
2/1/23, 8:35 AM Frontier Corps - Wikipedia

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[9] and early 2013 when the Prime Minister of Pakistan granted the FC policing
powers.[10] These temporary powers can also be extended on the orders or consent of the provincial
government or federal government or both.[11]

Organisation
The senior command posts are filled by officers seconded from the Pakistan Army for two to three years.[3]
The four Corps are divided into forty two regiments, most of which are composed of a number of battalion-
sized "wings" together with a number of training and support units. See the daughter articles for listings of
regiments.
Tochi Scouts in operations
eleven infantry and one armoured regiments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (North) against Faqir Ipi in the
ten infantry regiments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (South) 1930s
ten infantry regiments in Balochistan (North)
ten infantry regiments in Balochistan (South)

Personnel
There were a total 70,000 active personnel as of 2017 and additional wings have been raised to meet the
security challenges.[1][12] Frontier Corps units are locally recruited and are officered by Pakistani Army
officers.

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.[13][14][15]

Inspectors general A member of the Khyber

Rifles circa 1948

After independence in 1947, the Inspectors-General were as follows:

1. Brig. Ahmad Jan, MBE (1950–51)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frontier_Corps 4/6
2/1/23, 8:35 AM Frontier Corps - Wikipedia

2. Brig. K A Rahim Khan (1951–53)

3. Brig. Bakhtiar Rana, MC (1953–55)
4. Brig. Sadiq Ullah Khan, M.C (1955–58)
5. Brig. Rakhman Gul, SQA, S, K, MC (1958–63)
6. Brig. Sadiq Ullah Khan, MC (1963–64)
7. Brig. Bahadur Sher, MC (1964–66)
8. Brig. Mahboob Khan, TQA (1966–69)
9. Brig. Mahmud Jan, SQA (1969–71)
10. Maj. Gen. Shireen Dil Khan Niazi (1971–72) US DEA Administrator Karen P.
11. Brig. Iftikhar e Bashir (1972) Tandy with senior Frontier Corps
Balochistan officials and Pakistani
12. Maj. Gen. Naseerullah Babar, SJ & Bar (1972–74)
Government officials right in front of
For subsequent inspectors general, see the daughter articles. the Afghan-Pakistani border.

See also
Law enforcement in Pakistan
Civil Armed Forces
National Guard (Pakistan)
Pakistan Levies
Military history of the North-West Frontier
Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Insurgency in Balochistan

References
1. "Journey from Scratch to Nuclear Power" (https://web.archive.org/web/20170503191745/https://www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk/AWPRevi
ew/TextContent.aspx?pId=18&rnd=157#Para-Military-Forces). Pakistan Army. Archived from the original (https://www.pakistanarmy.
gov.pk/AWPReview/TextContent.aspx?pId=18&rnd=157#Para-Military-Forces) on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
2. "Frontier Corps Ordinance, 1959". Ordinance No. XXVI of 1959.
3. Abbas, Hassan (30 March 2007). "Transforming Pakistan's Frontier Corps" (https://web.archive.org/web/20080804160742/http://ww
w.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2370292). Terrorism Monitor. Washington: Jamestown Foundation. 5 (6).
Archived from the original (http://www.jamestown.org/programs/gta/single/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1056&tx_ttnews%5BbackPi
d%5D=182&no_cache=1) on 4 August 2008. Retrieved 9 September 2010.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frontier_Corps 5/6
2/1/23, 8:35 AM Frontier Corps - Wikipedia

4. "Federal Budget 2020–2021: Details of demands for grants and appropriations" (https://na.gov.pk/uploads/1591967197_724.pdf)
(PDF). National Assembly of Pakistan. p. 2531. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
5. "Miller, Greg, "U.S. military aid to Pakistan misses its Al Qaeda target" " (https://web.archive.org/web/20071105202242/http://www.lat
imes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-uspakistan5nov05,0,6337979,print.story?coll=la-home-center). Los Angeles Times. Archived
from the original (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-uspakistan5nov05,0,6337979,print.story?coll=la-home-cente
r) on 5 November 2007.
6. "Northern Light Infantry Regiment" (http://www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk/AWPReview/TextContent.aspx?pId=162). Pakistan Army.
Retrieved 9 September 2010.
7. Miller, Greg, "U.S. military aid to Pakistan misses its Al Qaeda target" (https://web.archive.org/web/20071105202242/http://www.lati
mes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-uspakistan5nov05,0,6337979,print.story?coll=la-home-center), Los Angeles Times,
November 5, 2007, accessed November 7, 2007.
8. Stockman, Farah, "Pakistan aid plan facing resistance / $300m requested for paramilitaries" (http://www.boston.com/news/world/asi
a/articles/2007/07/22/pakistan_aid_plan_facing_resistance?mode=PF), Boston Globe, July 22, 2007, accessed November 7, 2007.
9. "Balochistan unrest: FC police powers mandate gets one-month extension" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/460215/balochistan-unrest-fc
-police-powers-mandate-in-quetta-ends/). The Express Tribune. 3 November 2012.
10. "No Governor rule, army control: PM gives FC police powers in Quetta" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/493124/no-governor-rule-army-c
ontrol-pm-extends-fc-powers-in-quetta/). The Express Tribune. 12 January 2013.
11. The Newspaper's Staff Correspondent (March 2015). "Police powers for FC extended" (http://www.dawn.com/news/1166662).
Dawn.
12. (Iiss), The International Institute of Strategic Studies (14 February 2017). The Military Balance 2017 (https://books.google.com/book
s?id=Vk8-vgAACAAJ). Routledge, Chapman & Hall, Incorporated. ISBN 9781857439007.
13. "Talks with TTP on hold, operations to continue: DG ISPR" (https://www.brecorder.com/news/amp/40144946). 5 January 2022.
14. "Pakistan Army vows to make border management system with Afghanistan more effective" (https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/05-Jan-
2022/pakistan-army-vows-to-make-border-management-system-with-afghanistan-more-effective%3fversion=amp). 5 January 2022.
15. "Pak-Afghan border fencing here to stay: DG ISPR" (https://www.tribune.com.pk/story/2337264/pak-afghan-border-fencing-here-to-s
tay-dg-ispr%3famp=1). 5 January 2022.

External links
Media related to Frontier Corps at Wikimedia Commons
Frontier Corps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (https://frontiercorpskpk.com)
Frontier Corps Balochistan (https://web.archive.org/web/20180312162235/http://www.fcbalochistan.gov.pk/)

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Frontier_Corps&oldid=1133419671"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frontier_Corps 6/6