II Corps (Pakistan)

The II Corps, known as II Strike Corps or Army Reserve South, is army corps of Pakistan Army stationed in Multan, Punjab Province of Pakistan. The II Strike Corps is one of Pakistan's four heavy armoured corps. Also known as Army Reserve South, the corps is currently active in Pakistan's theater in War on Terror where its administrative divisions and brigades led numerous operations in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. The Corps is currently commanded by 3-star general Lieutenant-General Abid Pervaiz as Corps Commander. The Corps longest-serving Commander was then Lieutenant-General Rahimuddin Khan.

History
II Corps was formed in 1971 as the winds of war began to blow in the sub-continent. It was responsible for the defense of all of Pakistan south of Multan; a huge undertaking, as well as the launching of counterattacks against India itself. As war came its units would be heavily involved in the first task.

1971 War
The Corps was commanded by Tikka Khan during the war. Controversially one of its divisions; the 18th Infantry Division, was taken out of II Corp's command and sent on an ill-fated offensive towards Ramgarh; which led to the debacle at the Battle of Longewala, the fact it was under GHQ rather than II Corps, spared the corps of any blame, but was latter deemed one of the causes of failure. A major Indian attack towards Umerkot would be defeated by two of the corps divisions; the 18th after its return from Ramgarh and to II Corps command, and the 33rd Infantry Division, a task for which they were commended, after the war. In the final analysis its performance in the war; while commended by many parties, would be controversial, since at no time was its most powerful formation, 1st Armoured Division, committed to action.

War in North-West Pakistan
As a heavy armour and mechanised formation, it was unsuited for the mountain warfare that characterised the army's commitments over the next three decades in Kashmir, Siachen and Kargil, although it a few units did see action attached to other corps. As Pakistan's main strategic reserve, it was also not sent on overseas operations under the UN and with allies (such as Gulf War I and Somalia) which the army was ordered to undertake.

It would not be until 2008 when the elements of the corps would see action again. As the war in FATA heated up and militant activity increased to a hitherto unseen level, the government responded by launching a massive operation (code-named Operation Zalzala meaning earthquake) against the militant strongholds South Waziristan. The operation would be spearheaded by 14th Infantry Division of II Corps, and would succeed in evicting the militants from their stronghold. On December 26, 2008, elements of the 14th Infantry Division, are currently being redeployed to the Indian border.

List of commanders

 * 1) Lt Gen Tikka Khan, September 1971 – March 1972
 * 2) Lt Gen Muhammad Shariff, March 1972 – 1975
 * 3) Lt Gen Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, 1975 – March 1976
 * 4) Lt Gen Rahimuddin Khan, September 1978 – March 1984
 * 5) Lt Gen Raja Saroop Khan, March 1984 – March 1988
 * 6) Lt Gen Shamim Alam Khan, March 1988 – May 1989
 * 7) Lt Gen Hamid Gul, May 1989 – August 1991
 * 8) Lt Gen Jehangir Karamat, 1992–1994
 * 9) Lt Gen Salahuddin Tirmizi, February 1996 – October 1998
 * 10) Lt Gen Yusaf Khan, October 1998 – August 2000
 * 11) Lt Gen Syed Mohammad Amjad, August 2000 – April 2002
 * 12) Lt Gen Shahid Siddiq Tirmizey, April 2002 – September 2003
 * 13) Lt Gen Mohammad Akram, September 2003 – October 2004
 * 14) Lt Gen Afzal Muzaffar, October 2004 – May 2005
 * 15) Lt Gen Syed Sabahat Hussain, May 2005 – April 2006
 * 16) Lt Gen Sikander Afzal, April 2006 – November 2009
 * 17) Lt Gen Shafqaat Ahmed, November 2009 – November 2012
 * 18) Lt Gen Abid Pervaiz, November 2012 – present

Order of battle
The Corps order of battle is:


 * HQ II Corps; Multan
 * 1st Armoured Division; Multan
 * 14th Infantry Division; Okara
 * 40th Infantry Division; Okara