11th Infantry Division (Pakistan)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=Pakistani 11th Infantry Division
country=PAK
type=Division
dates=July 1965 to present
specialization=Infantry
command_structure=IV Corps
size=20,000 men (though this may vary as units are rotated)
current_commander= Maj-Gen Raheel Sharif
garrison=Lahore
ceremonial_chief=
nickname=Battleaxe
colors=Navy Blue and Blood Red
mascot=
battles=Battle of Lahore, Battle of Khem Karan, Battle of Husseinwala
notable_commanders= Maj-Gen Abdul Hamid Khan
Maj-Gen Shafaatullah Shah
Maj-Gen Nadeem Taj

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.

History

The division was formed just before the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. Prior to this, the army chief at the time, Musa Khan, had been calling for raising two new divisions; [Pakistan Army War 1965, Shakuat Riza, ISBN 8185019606] 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. [ [http://orbat.com/site/history/index.html Orders of Battle - Orders of Battle ] ] 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. [ [http://orbat.com/site/history/index.html Orders of Battle - Orders of Battle ] ] Initially called the 20th Infantry Division, the name was changed upon the request of the formation's first GOC, Major General Abdul Hamid Khan. [History of Indo-Pak War of 1965. Lt Gen Mahmud Ahmed (ret) ISBN 969-8693-01-7 ] The Division was then assigned to the defence of Lahore.

1965 War

The Division as a whole first went into action at the Battle of Lahore, 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. [ Brian Cloughy, A History of Pakistan Army, Wars and Insurrections, Third Edition, ISBN 13:978-0-19-547334-6 ]

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 International Border, this time capturing the areas surrounding Husseinwala. One of the famous features that the formation captured was the Qaisar-e-Hind Fort.

Present

The division is at present deployed around Lahore and has the following composition

*21st Inf Brigade, Lahore
*52nd Inf Brigade, Lahore
*106th Inf Brigade, Lahore

ee also

* Indo-Pakistan Wars
* Pakistan Army
* Battle of Lahore
* Nadeem Taj

References

External links

* [http://www.pakdef.info/pakmilitary/airforce/quotes.html A Collection of newspaper reports about the capture of Khem Karan]
* [http://www.ispr.gov.pk/Multimedia/1965/images/5%20d_jpg.jpgA 11th Infantry Division Soldier in Khem Karan]
* [http://www.ispr.gov.pk/Multimedia/1965/pages/3g_jpg.htm A tank belonging to the division advances. '65 War]