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Pakistan's Special Operations Forces: SSG | SSGN | SSW | SOW | SOG

Pakistan Special Service Group


Mandeep Singh Bajwa

V.1 November 18, 2000


Editor's note: Additional information regarding historical background, training, qualification, and uniforms is available at called specialoperations.com. This site can be accessed through www.specialoperations.com/foreign/Pakistan . It also has graphics of the Pakistan Naval SSG including uniform and badges. As we have not yet obtained permission from the website to duplicate some of their material, we request readers to proceed directly to the site. Because there are some differences between information provided on the specialoperations.com website and this article, we have listed the main differences. With all respect to the authors of the specialoperations.com article, who appear to be Pakistani, the information provided by Mr. Bajwa is more accurate when there is a conflict.

Mr. Bajwa writes:

Background and History
The Pakistani Army’s special forces were raised as the Special Service Group in 1956 using the cadre of 19 (Para) Baloch. [Editor's note: Pakistan now calls the Baluch Regiment the Baloch Regiment. The former spelling is the British version, and reflects a slight difference in pronunciation.] Their first CO was Lt. Col. (later Maj. Gen.) Abu Bakr Osman Mitha.

[specialoperations.com says that the SSG consisted of 24 companies at the time it was designated as such. This is an extraordinarily high figure. Mr. Bajwa reports that the SSG had six companies and this is more likely.]

Their initial training and orientation as regards tactics was based on the US Special Forces pattern with whom they co-operated closely in the Cold War years. Later Chinese training, tactics, weapons, and equipment were also introduced.

After a few preliminary operations on the Afghan border, the nascent SSG’s first test came during the 1965 war. Around 100 officers and men were dropped on the night of 6/7 September near the Indian airbases of Adampur, Pathankot and Halwara in an ill-conceived operation to destroy Indian combat aircraft and put the bases out of action. Badly planned, lacking any solid intelligence, and even more badly executed the operation ended in a disaster. The SSG commandos fell easy prey to hastily gathered Indian troops and adventurous civilians. Only a handful made it back to their own country after numerous travails. No Indian planes were damaged or casualties inflicted on Indian troops.

By 1971, the SSG boasted of 3 battalions with one permanently stationed in East Pakistan. Their performance in the 1971 war was much better with 1 Commando Battalion making a spectacular raid on an Indian artillery regiment and disabling several of their guns besides inflicting casualties. 3 Commando Battalion in Bangladesh performed creditably in a normal infantry role. The SSG’s role in the Afghan War was highly commendable and much of the credit for the spectacular successes of the Mujahideen goes to them.

Likewise, they have fought well in Siachen though in one or two instances taking heavy casualties. In the preliminary stages of the 1999 Kargil Operations the SSG performed well, infiltrating relatively deep into Indian territory undetected. Subsequently being used as stock infantry troops to hold posts/defensive positions, they took heavy casualties and suffered the mortification of being ‘denied’ by their own country.

In 1980, an anti-terrorist role was given to Musa Company, which was originally formed in 1970 as a combat diver unit. This company was subsequently trained by British SAS advisers in mid-1981. In 1980 however each battalion was given a diver unit. The battalion in East Pakistan earlier had a frogman platoon with which it was planned by Gen. A.A.K. Niazi (GOC Pakistan Eastern Command) to attack the Indian Farakka Barrage. This emphasis on frogmen, however, means that the Indian Army can expect underwater attacks on its combat bridges in case of a conventional war.

Deployment
At present, there are three Commando battalions, a frogmen company, and an anti-terrorist company. The whole is controlled by a Group HQ commanded by a Brigadier. The battalions normally rotate around one in training and one on operations in
Kashmir/Afghanistan with a third on stand-by. 2 companies are normally deployed on the Siachen Glacier.

[specialoperations.com says two battalions rotate through Cherat and one is divided between "the border" and protection of vital installations like the Tarabela Dam and Pakistan nuclear weapons establishments. Mr. Bajwa's information is far more accurate. Given the situation between India and Pakistan, we can understand why Pakistan sources would prefer to pass lightly over the SSG's combat deployments.]

The SSG also provide Close Protection Teams for the security of the President, Prime Minister, COAS, and nowadays the Chief Executive.

Recruitment and Training
Personnel for the SSG are volunteers from all arms and services and normally serve a tenure of 3-5 years before going back to their parent units. Their training centers are at Attock and Cherat. The SSG’s badge is a commando dagger flanked on either side by a bolt of lightning

The SSG does not have any class composition and all classes are eligible to join. The training is rigorous and the accent is on training soldiers as individual commandos capable of taking independent initiative. The ‘buddy’ system beloved of the US Special Forces and the SAS is encouraged.

The SSG regularly sends students to the US for special warfare and airborne training. The training programs in China are not so well documented however given the closed nature of its society and obsession with security. For specialized training specific to Siachen a Snow and High Altitude Warfare School has been established at Khappalu.

Uniforms
Combat uniforms were previously the standard Khaki of the Pakistan Army. From 1972, a new disruptive pattern combat tunic was introduced for the entire Army. This was phased out beginning 1979. The SSG uses the US woodland pattern camouflage combat dress. The ubiquitous symbol of parachute forces, the maroon beret, is worn with a cap badge in a light blue square.
[Other uniform details can be found on the specialoperations.com website]

Doctrine
The operational doctrine of the SSG is a mixture of US, Chinese and British SAS tactics and philosophy with a great deal of experience from the Afghan War, Siachen, Kashmir and Kargil thrown in. They are formidable opponents and easily rank as one of the finest special forces in the world. The SSG cut quite a dash at the recent the ceremonial Pakistan Day parade in Islamabad marching past the saluting dais in the double time; a very tiring procedure.

Overseas Operations
The Pakistan Government has also used the SSG as an instrument of influence. The SSG has a presence in a large number of Arab/Muslim countries through its training/advisory teams. Basic training in CI Ops and VIP security is imparted to the armed forces of these countries. In 1986, alarmingly for India, the SSG began large-scale training of the Sri Lankan Commando Regiment. The SSG is also involved in covert operations in Afghanistan and India. Air Marshals have been provided for Pakistan International Airlines.


Organization

Group HQ
Commander: Brigadier
Staff: 5 officers

Three GSO 2s - Operations, Intelligence and Training DAA & QMG – Logistics and Personnel assisted by a Staff Captain (A/Q). An Establishment Officer and an Administration Officer (Finance) (presumably to finance covert operations in other countries)

A HQ company services the Group HQ.

Paratroopers Training School (Peshawar)
3 Officers
23 JCOs (Junior Commissioned Officers are the same as Non Commissioned Officers.)
54 ORs

Akbar Company (Frogman Unit)
4 Officers
4 JCOs
60 ORs

Musa Company (Anti-Terrorist Unit, always on operational stand-by.
3 Officers
4 JCOs
90 ORs

Iqbal Company (Signals Unit)
3 Officers
3 JCOs
100 ORs.

Commando Battalion

Battalion HQ
CO
2IC
Adjutant
Intelligence Officer
HQ and clerical staff

HQ Company (1 Officer, 1 JCO, 59 Ors)

Signal Platoon
MT Platoon
Administrative Platoon

Each battalion has 4 - 5 Commando Companies

Company HQ
1 Officer
1 JCO
21 ORs

3 Platoons, each:
1 Officer
1 JCO
43 Ors
Platoons are large because they conduct independent operations

Company supporting weapons
18 x MGs
3 x RPG-7s
3 x 60mm Mors
1 x 106mm RCL


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All content © 2002 Ravi Rikhye.
 
China hails its "Sirius" Special Forces' training with Pakistan

Northwest China's special operation force "Sirius"


A special operation force in northwest China wearing the wolf-head badge on one arm is acclaimed as “Sirius” for being smart, courageous, indomitable and combat-effective.

Under the leadership of the regiment commander Wang Junxian, the troop unit has explored into new areas and created a series of miracles.

Outstanding achievements on foreign land

An anti-terrorism live-ammunition drill was officially launched by special operation forces from China and Pakistan in the Mangla Training Base of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on November 24, 2011.

After a roar, two large-scale transport aircraft from Kashgar of China flew across the Khan River surrounded by hills and “spit” out 46 white parachute flowers from the 1,000-meter-high sky.

It was an airdrop conducted on a foreign land without weather forecast, ground information and landing guide. It was a makeshift measure of projecting troops during wartime.

When preparing for landing, the servicemen of the special operation force put the three points of foot, knee and ankle together and steered the parachute skillfully. After a quick assembly, the servicemen immediately conducted a peripheral blockade of the terrorists’ camp.

Looking at the well-trained Chinese special operation force, General Farouk, commander of the Pakistani special operation force, had a smile on his face and stuck up his thumb to Wang Junxian, commander of a regiment of the Xinjiang Military Area Command (MAC) of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) who was standing next to him.

Farouk is a Pakistani counter-terrorism expert in mountainous regions who used to lead the No. 22 special operation brigade, the trump card of the Pakistani military, to participate in various actual anti-terrorism actions.

Farouk heard a lot of talking about the extraordinary skills of the Chinese special operation force at the very beginning of the joint training, acclaiming them as being adept in free fighting, emergency shooting, demolition blasting and climbing.

What really astonished Farouk was the shooting ability demonstrated by the Chinese soldiers.

On the very day of the shooting, 8 soldiers of the Chinese special operation force attacked from 150 meters away. Within 90 seconds after repeated changing of positions, they accurately destroyed 72 targets.

The drill went on.

The Chinese and Pakistani joint force began to impose a clean-up operation on terrorists. The Chinese special operation force acted swiftly and collaboratively and approached the “enemies” quietly, which reminded Farouk of the cunning, smart, indomitable and courageous wolf.

Gazing at the Chinese special operation force running swiftly in the smoke, Farouk suddenly understood the reason why every soldier of the northwest China’s special operation force is wearing an armband engraved with a wolf head and why the special operation force is acclaimed as “Sirius”.

Forging ‘Sirius’ troop unit

Wang Junxian, commander of “Sirius”, is a legendary figure in the Chinese special operation force. He can fly a delta-winged aircraft high into the sky, jump with 6 types of parachutes, drive all sorts of vehicles skillfully, be good at firing with dozens of light and heavy arms, swim different strokes with weapons, and dive in the lake on plateau. He is the free fighting champion of 55 kg class and the sharpshooter in the theater to which he belongs…

Wang Junxian’s secret in training soldiers is boiled down to one word “ruthlessness”. He always leads the soldiers to the riskiest field and trains them with the most arduous training programs. As a result, everyone in the regiment can make a parachute jump, fire live ammunition, conduct demolition blasting and master at least one set of special skills.

The higher authorities require the winter survival training be restricted to less than three days. However, Wang Junxian extended it to ten days during which his officers and men must bear a heavy load of 35 kg to march on a mountain road for 80 kilometers. During the cold night when temperature dropped to -20, his officers and men would only pitch a one-man tent and sleep in the open snowfield.

For 10 days in a row, his officer and men only had 3 hot meals. In order to appease their hunger, they plucked the seeds of camel thorns to cook congee and used shovel to fry some steamed buns. Even so, Wang Junxian still ordered them to conduct training on such subjects as forced march for 40 kilometers during night at the edge of a narrow and rough cliff.

In recent years, Wang Junxian extended the special training field to the “Forbidden Zone for Life”. At an elevation of 5,200 meters on the Kunlun Mountains, Wang Junxian led officers and men to live in an earth pit and eat wild vegetables for over 100 days in order to test the tactical and technical parameters of more than 100 pieces of light and heavy weaponry in the plateau region.

Leading the special operation force onto the 4,200-meter-high snow-capped mountain last summer, Wang Junxian took the lead to dive into the bone-chilling plateau lake and parachute on the plateau, and successfully organized the flight training of the tactical formation of delta-winged aircraft, setting three records in the history of the Chinese special operation force.

In addition, Wang Junxian created new application modes of weaponry and equipment. He was the first to combine the use of commanding software with the Beidou navigation positioning system, to combine the aerial photography with the delta-winged aircraft in order to conduct dynamic transfer and command of long-range ground targets, and to integrate parachuting at a low altitude of 300 meters with wing-parachute high-altitude long-range airdrop to achieve secret penetration to different places.
 
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How is Musa company Anti-terrorist? Isn't it a frogman company and Zarrar the ATU?
 
fellows,

I red somewhere,
the our SSG also use arrow & bow ?
is this the part of training ?
 

I stand corrected, however they wear a similar camouflage so its confusing - SEALs wear black gear most of the time. The guy on the far right with sun glasses is from the Special Forces. Then you have the Chief of Naval Staff wearing the same uniform. Few folks behind may well be from the Marines.

Yup... these guys are marines... the maroon beret is SSGN...

SSGN wear woodland camo just like the SSG...although the badges,ranks,insignia,patches etc are different..


5lney8.jpg


Pic from Naseem Al Bahr X ex... between Pak n Saudi naval forces.
 

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