Bolan Scouts, Request for Information

[NEAL HANLEY]

Greetings and Salutations,
I am a new member to the forum and a military history enthusiast. I recently read Major (Retd) Mohammad Nawaz's book 'The Guardians of the Frontier, The Frontier Corps NWFP', and was wondering if anyone knew where I could find information on the Balochistan Frontier Corps? Especially the Bolan and Panjgur (sp) Scouts. Do any of the individual Corps have web sites? Many thanks in advance and congratulations on 60 years of Independence. Best regards, Neal

 

[NEAL HANLEY]

OK, I'M NOT SURE THIS IS GOING TO WORK, BUT I FOUND A COUPLE OF PHOTOS OF THE CAP BADGE AND REGIMENTAL FLAG OF THE BOLAN SCOUTS. INFORMATION CAME FROM A GRADUATION CEREMONY BOOKLET FROM THE FRONTIER CORPS BALUCHISTAN. HOPE THE ATTACHMENTS CAN BE OPENED. CHEERS, NEAL

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[NEAL HANLEY]

For those who are interested, this is all I could find on the newly formed Panjgur Rifles. Anyone out there who has a picture of a Panjgur Rifles cap badge, I would love to see what it looks like. Best regards, Neal
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[Keysersoze]

Sorry neal no info as yet......I will ask amongst our more well connected members re this.....

 

[F.O.X]

Here is to lillte info i got.:

The 'Frontier Corps (FC) are a Federal paramiltary force manned mostly by people from the tribal areas and officered by officers from the Pakistan Army. The FC Stationed in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Balochistan Province, are known as FC NWFP and FC Balochistan, respectively. Both distinct provincial groups are run traditionally by an Army officer of at least major-general rank.

With a total manpower of approximately 80,000. The task of these forces is to help local law enforcement in the maintenance of law and order when called upon to do so. Border patrol and anti-smuggling operations are also delegated to the FC. Lately, these forces have been increasingly used in military operations against insurgents in Balochistan and militants in the Federally Administered Tribal areas.

The Militias and Scouts of the Frontier Corps are:

NWFP

1. Chitral Scouts
2. Khyber Rifles
3. Kurram Militia
4. South Waziristan Scouts
5. Tochi Scouts
6. Mahsud Scouts
7. Mohmand Rifles
8. Shawal Rifles

Balochistan

1. Zhob Militia
2. Chaghai Militia
3. Sibi Scouts
4. Kalat Scouts
5. Makran Militia
6. Kharan Rifles
7. Pishin Scouts
8. Maiwind Rifles
9. Ghazaband Scouts
10. Bambore Rifles
11. Loralai Scouts

i hope it will be enough for you.

Regards
Wilco

 

[fatman17]

wilco - u r great!. is it possible to get jpegs of their badges/insignias?

 

[F.O.X]

wilco - u r great!. is it possible to get jpegs of their badges/insignias?

Tnx, i'll see to it.


Regards
Wilco

 

[NEAL HANLEY]

This is what I could find on Frontier Corps Peshawar Cap Badges. Neal

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[NEAL HANLEY]

BEST I COULD DO ON THE CAP BADGES FOR THE FC BALUCHISTAN MINUS THE BOLAN SCOUTS AND PANJGUR RIFLES. REGARDS, NEAL
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[fatman17]

thx Neal - i am trying to get names of authors who have written books on the various scouts and militias of the NWFP but u need to be patient on this.
regards,

 

[khan5036]

Also there is Dir and Bajaur Scouts (part of FC NWFP)

 

[sparten]

What do you want to know? Bolan Scouts are the militia regiment for Bolan district, recruitment is unlike army and like the Indians exclusivly from that region. Dir Scouts IIRC are decendants of the Dir State forces who along with Chitral and Swat forces were the first in Kashmir in '48 and thus are considered the first Pakistani military forces (not army, at the same time we had multiple military forces, we did not have a fully integrated army till 2000).
Bajaur Scouts are from FC of British era.

Anything else.

 

[NEAL HANLEY]

Sparten, Khan5036.
Many thanks for the info. Are the Bolan Scouts a relatively new unit of the Frontier Corps Balochistan? How long have they been around? Same with the Panjyur Rifles, haven't read much about them as well. Do they have cap badges? Unit symbols etc. Many thanks in advance for all you help. Best regards

 

[sparten]

Not sure. I know that of FC Balochistan the Zhob Militia is considered the closest to the regulars, they have fought in all of Pakistans wars. You also should consider that the regiments are raised and reraised, for example the present Khybar Rifles date from 1947, the old Khybar Rifles were disbanded in 1920. Occasionally the flag is the same, as with the above example, on other occasions like with the Mekran Scouts only the name is the same,

 

[NEAL HANLEY]

I have just read several fasinating books on or about Pakistan's Frontier Corps. Are they any web sites hosted by the Frontier Corps or the Frontier Corps Headquarters in Peshawar or Quetta that one can go to for current information and/or publications? Many thanks in advance.