34th Light Infantry Division

34th Light Infantry Division (SSD)
Special Security Division (SSD)
ActiveSeptember 2016
Country Pakistan
Branch Pakistan Army
TypeLight infantry
RoleInfrastructure security
Size15,000 personnel[1]
Part of[CGS]
HQChilas
Commanders
General Officer CommandingMajor-General Amjad Aziz Mughal
Former commanderMajor-General Kamran Nazir Malik HI(M)

The 34th Light Infantry Division, also known as Special Security Division (SSD), is a 2-star Pakistan Army formation, raised in September 2016 as a response to major concerns over how to protect the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and its workforce from serious internal and external threats.[2][3][4][5]

SSD has also bore the brunt of attacks by Baloch and Sindhi separatists.[6][7]

Organization

34th Light Infantry Division (SSD) consists of 15,000 personnel organised into nine army infantry battalions and six paramilitary wings (from the Pakistan Rangers and the Frontier Corps), the latter funded by the Interior Ministry.[8]

The SSD is the land-based counterpart to CPEC's maritime security command, Task-Force 88, raised in December 2016, and led by the Pakistan Navy, including personnel from the Pakistan Marines and the Maritime Security Agency.[9][10]

Commanders

In 2016, SSD was formed and stationed at Chilas. Later it was renamed as 34th Light Infantry Division. And finally it is renamed into Special Security Division (SSD).

First GOC was appointed in September 2016.

  • Maj Gen Abid Rafique (September 2016 - April 2017)
  • Maj Gen (Now Lt Gen) Ahsan Gulrez (April 2017 - October 2018)
  • Maj Gen Ghulam Jafar (October 2018 - February 2020)
  • Maj Gen Kamran Nazir Malik (December 2020 - December 2022)
  • Maj Gen Muhammad Abbas (December 2022- December 2024)
  • Maj Gen Amjad Aziz Mughal (December 2024- to date)

See also

References

  1. ^ "Pakistani army chief assures full security for CPEC". Xinhuanet. 13 April 2016. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  2. ^ "Army chief vows to 'pay any price' for CPEC security". The Express Tribune. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  3. ^ "Pakistan Army raises Special Security Division for CPEC". Associated Press of Pakistan. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  4. ^ Gishkori, Zahid (22 April 2015). "Army assigned security of Chinese engineers". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  5. ^ "17,177 soldiers deployed for security of Chinese workers of CPEC". Geo News. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  6. ^ "Pakistani militants shift focus to cities in targeting of Chinese". Nikkei Asia. 27 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Convoy attack kills 14 in southwestern Pakistan". Al Jazeera. 15 October 2020.
  8. ^ "Up to Rs10b provided for civil armed forces". 2 September 2016.
  9. ^ "Pakistan Commissions 2 New 600-Ton Maritime Patrol Vessels".
  10. ^ "Pak navy's special force set up for Gwadar port security - Pakistan - Dunya News".