History and Organization
The Pakistan Army's history in covert operations dates back to 1948 when tribesmen from the northern areas of Pakistan raided the Kashmir valley with the intent of wresting the control of the valley from its Hindu ruler. These raids, although a failure in achieving their absolute goal, were successful in bringing the disputed status of the Kashmir valley to the forefront of world affairs.
As a result of close study of the special operations conducted during the WWII by the allies and Germans alike, added to the insight gained during the raids conducted by the Pathan tribesmen, the Army realized the benefits of having a force that could operate behind enemy lines and sabotage the war efforts of its adversary.
Thus, as the relations between Pakistan and the United States cemented, Pakistan Army wasted little time in getting help with the formation of a proper Special Forces unit. In 1953-54, Pakistan Army was able to raise a battalion of Special Forces within the existing Baloch Regiment (Regt). It was however simply designated as the 10th Battalion as to make it as inconspicuous as possible.
In 1956, this formation was firmly established as the 19th battalion of the Baloch Regt and was moved to its new headquarters at Cherat, about 40 miles from Peshawar, where it is based to this day. Its first Commanding Officer (CO) was Lieutenant Colonel Abu Bakr Osman Mitha (later Maj Gen). At the time of its inception, the 19th Baloch consisted of approximately 6 companies.
In March of 1964, some members of CIA’s Covert Action Team, together with the U.S. Army's 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) came to Pakistan as part of a mobile training team to help the Pakistani army setup its first airborne school at Peshawar. Four US Special Forces riggers came to help train SSG members for airborne operations. This assistance was part of the US ‘Military Aid to Pakistan’ (US MAP) program. Additionally Pakistani SSG officers were sent to Fort Bragg and Fort Benning for advanced training. The training imparted upon the Pakistani officers included basic and jumpmaster courses allowing the 19th Baloch to become fully airborne qualified. This capability came just in time for the Pakistani Special Forces to get their baptism under fire during the 1965 Indo-Pak War.
In 1965, the 19th Baloch was officially designated as the Special Service Group (SSG). There was a single battalion of the SSG at the time and it consisted of companies specialized in different roles including desert, mountain, ranger, marine warfare, demolition/sabotage and intelligence gathering operations. The desert companies trained with the US 10th SF Group in 1964 and conducted desert survival training for the participating USSF in the Sibbi area.
These types of training exercises and operational relationship with US Special Forces continued and was further strengthened during the length of the cold war and later on during the Afghan war. As a result of this close interaction, Pakistani Special Forces have mirrored their American counterparts in many training concepts and operational doctrine. However it should be noted that over time, the SSG doctrine and tactics have evolved quite independently of the influences of any of the worlds’ other prominent SF outfits.
In 1966, after their less than favorable operations against the Indian Army in the September war, SSG went under a major reorganization and expansion. Two new battalions were raised. Cherat was maintained as the HQ, and the Attock Fort as a secondary base for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Commando Battalions (Cdo Bns) of the SSG. Each battalion comprised of 700 men led by a Lieutenant Colonel. In 1970, the SSG formed an independent combat diver unit by re-designating the old scuba company which was known as the Musa Company. This company was given the task of operating within Pakistani riverine areas while Pakistani Naval SSG undertook the responsibility of coastal operations to minimize overlap in their taskings.
In 1980, a decision was made to incorporate a combat diver company within each of the SSG battalions. This allowed the Musa Company to be relegated to a new anti-terrorism role which came up as a result of increases in terrorist incidents world wide. For this new role, advisors from the British Special Air Service (SAS) helped train the Musa Company operators.
On May 29th 1989, SSG suffered the tragic loss of its commanding officer, Brigadier Tariq Mahmood as a result of parachute failure. The incident happened during a demonstration jump from a helicopter when both his main and reserve chutes failed to deploy. The Brigadier was the commander SSG during the operations against hijackers of Air India flight in Lahore as well as the Pan Am flight in Karachi.
The Pakistan Army's history in covert operations dates back to 1948 when tribesmen from the northern areas of Pakistan raided the Kashmir valley with the intent of wresting the control of the valley from its Hindu ruler. These raids, although a failure in achieving their absolute goal, were successful in bringing the disputed status of the Kashmir valley to the forefront of world affairs.
As a result of close study of the special operations conducted during the WWII by the allies and Germans alike, added to the insight gained during the raids conducted by the Pathan tribesmen, the Army realized the benefits of having a force that could operate behind enemy lines and sabotage the war efforts of its adversary.
Thus, as the relations between Pakistan and the United States cemented, Pakistan Army wasted little time in getting help with the formation of a proper Special Forces unit. In 1953-54, Pakistan Army was able to raise a battalion of Special Forces within the existing Baloch Regiment (Regt). It was however simply designated as the 10th Battalion as to make it as inconspicuous as possible.
In 1956, this formation was firmly established as the 19th battalion of the Baloch Regt and was moved to its new headquarters at Cherat, about 40 miles from Peshawar, where it is based to this day. Its first Commanding Officer (CO) was Lieutenant Colonel Abu Bakr Osman Mitha (later Maj Gen). At the time of its inception, the 19th Baloch consisted of approximately 6 companies.
In March of 1964, some members of CIA’s Covert Action Team, together with the U.S. Army's 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) came to Pakistan as part of a mobile training team to help the Pakistani army setup its first airborne school at Peshawar. Four US Special Forces riggers came to help train SSG members for airborne operations. This assistance was part of the US ‘Military Aid to Pakistan’ (US MAP) program. Additionally Pakistani SSG officers were sent to Fort Bragg and Fort Benning for advanced training. The training imparted upon the Pakistani officers included basic and jumpmaster courses allowing the 19th Baloch to become fully airborne qualified. This capability came just in time for the Pakistani Special Forces to get their baptism under fire during the 1965 Indo-Pak War.
In 1965, the 19th Baloch was officially designated as the Special Service Group (SSG). There was a single battalion of the SSG at the time and it consisted of companies specialized in different roles including desert, mountain, ranger, marine warfare, demolition/sabotage and intelligence gathering operations. The desert companies trained with the US 10th SF Group in 1964 and conducted desert survival training for the participating USSF in the Sibbi area.
These types of training exercises and operational relationship with US Special Forces continued and was further strengthened during the length of the cold war and later on during the Afghan war. As a result of this close interaction, Pakistani Special Forces have mirrored their American counterparts in many training concepts and operational doctrine. However it should be noted that over time, the SSG doctrine and tactics have evolved quite independently of the influences of any of the worlds’ other prominent SF outfits.
In 1966, after their less than favorable operations against the Indian Army in the September war, SSG went under a major reorganization and expansion. Two new battalions were raised. Cherat was maintained as the HQ, and the Attock Fort as a secondary base for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Commando Battalions (Cdo Bns) of the SSG. Each battalion comprised of 700 men led by a Lieutenant Colonel. In 1970, the SSG formed an independent combat diver unit by re-designating the old scuba company which was known as the Musa Company. This company was given the task of operating within Pakistani riverine areas while Pakistani Naval SSG undertook the responsibility of coastal operations to minimize overlap in their taskings.
In 1980, a decision was made to incorporate a combat diver company within each of the SSG battalions. This allowed the Musa Company to be relegated to a new anti-terrorism role which came up as a result of increases in terrorist incidents world wide. For this new role, advisors from the British Special Air Service (SAS) helped train the Musa Company operators.
On May 29th 1989, SSG suffered the tragic loss of its commanding officer, Brigadier Tariq Mahmood as a result of parachute failure. The incident happened during a demonstration jump from a helicopter when both his main and reserve chutes failed to deploy. The Brigadier was the commander SSG during the operations against hijackers of Air India flight in Lahore as well as the Pan Am flight in Karachi.