Baloch Regiment

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= The Baluch Regiment


caption=
dates= 1956 - Present
country= Pakistan
allegiance=
branch= Army
type=Line Infantry
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size=
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garrison=Abbottabad
garrison_label=Regimental Centre
equipment=
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nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
colors_label= War Cry
march=
mascot=
battles=
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=
current_commander=
current_commander_label=
ceremonial_chief=
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colonel_of_the_regiment=
colonel_of_the_regiment_label=
notable_commanders=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=Regimental Insignia
identification_symbol_2= [http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb309/hammersfan_01/Tartans/Fitzgerald.gifFitzgerald]
identification_symbol_2_label=Tartan

The Baluch Regiment is an infantry regiment of the modern Pakistan Army. It was established in April 1956 from an existing unit of the same name, merged with the 8th Punjab Regiment and the Bahawalpur Regiment. Newly raised additional units brought the strength of the Regiment to nearly 50 battalions.

Origins

Under British rule the Indian Army included the 124th Duchess of Connaught's Own Baluchistan Infantry (raised 1820), the 126th Baluchistan Infantry (raised 1825), the 127th Queen Mary's Own Baluch Light Infantry (raised 1844 as the Scinde Baluchi Corps), the 129th Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis (raised 1846 as the 2nd Baluch Battalion) and the 130th King George's Own Baluchis (raised 1858 as Jacob's Rifles). Following World War I all five units were merged into a single large regiment: the 10th Baluch Regiment, which became part of the Pakistan Army in 1947.

The Baluch regiments earned battle honours for service in Afghanistan, East Africa, China, Persia, Aden, Central India, Abyssinia, Hyderabad and Burma. Until 1914 their full dress uniforms included red trousers worn with rifle green or drab tunics and turbans.

Modern Regiment

The Regimental Centre is located in Abbottabad, North West Frontier Province, Pakistan.

The badge of the Baluch Regiment depicts crossed swords within a crescent, under a Muslim star, appearing above a title scroll. All ranks wear a rifle green beret with a cherry coloured backing to the badge. Bandsmen wear the traditional green and red full dress of the old Bombay Army Baluch regiments, as described above.

The current Colonel-in-Chief of Baluch Regiment is General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, who is also the Chief of Army Staff. The Colonel Commandant of the regiment is Lt General Shafaatullah Shah who was installed as the 16th colonel commandant on 26 April, 2008. [ [http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C04%5C27%5Cstory_27-4-2008_pg7_17 "Shafaatullah appointed Colonel Commandant"] "Daily Times", April 27, 2008] Previous colonel commandants have included Ashfaq Kayani, [ [http://www.dawn.com/2005/05/22/top2.htm "Kayani installed as 15th colonel commandant"] "Daily Dawn", May 22, 2005] Lt General Syed Parwez Shahid, [ [http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_21-4-2003_pg7_54 "S.P. Shahid new colonel commandant"] "Daily Times", April 21, 2003] and Lt General Jamshaid Gulzar Kiani, [ [http://www.presidentofpakistan.gov.pk/PRPressReleaseDetail.aspx?nPRPressReleaseId=470&nYear=2007&nMonth=4 "New colonel commandant"] "President of Pakistan", April 28, 2003] who were the 15th, 14th, and 13th colonel commandants respectively.

References

reflistpss major syed naseem haider rizvi laid down life during 1965 war he was recommended NH.

Bibliography

*Sons of John Company: John Gaylor 1992 ISBN 0-0946771-98-7
*Indian Infantry Regiments 1860-1914: Michael Barthorp ISBN 0-85045-307-0.