I Corps (Pakistan)

The I Corps is a field corps of the Pakistan Army headquarated in the Mangla Cantonment, Azad Kashmir in Pakistan. Formed in 1957 as one of the tenth field corps, it is a major ground formation and has seen deployments in the wars between India and Pakistan from 1965–71.

Currently, it is commanded by Lieutenant-General Nauman Zakaria.

Formations, deployments, and war service
After fighting battles briefly with the Indian Army in Kashmir during the 1947–48, there was need for discipline and control of the military units from local headquarters than the Army GHQ in Rawalpindi.

Initially, it was established in Abbottabad Cantonment in 1957 with Lt-Gen. Azam Khan becoming its first field commander with an objective to maneuver the ground formations more effectively against the larger opposing force. Later headquartered in Mangla Cantonment in Kashmir to strengthen the national defense lines, it is the first field corps in order of precedence of the Pakistan Army.

In 1965, the I Corps, under Lt-Gen. Bakhtiar Rana, was deployed and fought against the approaching Indian Army's advances during the war in 1965, almost commanding the entire Pakistan army's troops in Punjab and Kashmir.

In 1971, the I Corps, now under the command of Lt-Gen. Irshad Ahmed, saw its military deployments in Shakargarh sector and was supported with two infantry divisions and an armored brigade to support the defenses of Pakistan's eastern border, the Punjab. The 15th Infantry Division was on the left side of the Corps' frontage around Sialkot with the 8th Infantry Division on the right, and 8th Armored Brigade in support. Further back,the Corps was additionally supported by the Pakistan Army Reserves, enforced by the 6th Armored Division and 17th Infantry Division. The Indian Army planned a major attack in the sector, which was managed by I Corps, but when the war broke out, the lead Indian Army's formation, 54th Infantry Division, only managed to advance a few kilometers– a total of 8 mi in two weeks of operations.

Meanwhile, while the Indian army's attacks went on, the reserve formations did very little to respond tp such attack with the 6th Armored Division remained near Pasrur waiting for orders, while 17th Infantry Division had significant detachments sent off to 23rd Infantry Division on the left and IV Corps on the right.

Yet the fighting in Shakargarh, while ultimately successful as the Indian army's aims were thwarted, resulted in 8th Armoured Brigade's heavy loss of armour and some territory was also lost. As a result, its commander, Lt-Gen. Irshad Ahmed, was recommended for court martial and, later dismissal from his service.

After the 1971 war with India, the I Corps has not seen military actions, and has been stationed in Mangla ever since and is well trained for forest warfare techniques. As Pakistan's military strategic reserve, it was also not sent on overseas deployments under the United Nations with the allies.

Structure
Since 1971, the I Corps has not seen the military action but has supported through its units to enforce the Line of Control, on secondment to Northern Command. The I Corps is an integral in forming the Pakistan Army Reserves, and the other military units in supporting the I Corps are organized in formation known as the Army Reserves North.

Its order of battle (ORBAT) is: