PAKISTANI ARMORED REGIMENTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84T00171R000201090001-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 24, 2012
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: September 1, 1983
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/24: CIA-RDP84T00171 R000201090001-0
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imagery analysis report
Pakistani Armored Regiments (S)
WNINTEL
Z-12093/83
IAR-0050/83
SEPTEMBER 1983
Copy 4 0
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PAKISTANI ARMORED REGIMENTS (S)
1. This report is an imagery-derived order of battle for Pakistani armored regiments as of
July 1983. It further contributes to the satisfaction of information needs for more comprehensive
Pakistani order-of-battle listings as stated in the community all-source assessment on Pakistan. The
report contains one map, one table, and two annotated prints. (S/WN)
2. Imagery has confirmed the presence of 32 armored regiments at 12 locations in Pakistan
(Figure 1 and Table 1). The heaviest concentration of armor is deployed in the flatlands of East-
central Pakistan, near the Pakistani/Indian border. Armor is also deployed to a lesser degree in
the south and in the northwest along the Pakistani/Afghan border. None has been identified in
the Pakistani/Iranian border area, where only small security units are currently deployed. (Figure
1). (S/WN)
3. The armored regiments are subordinate to armored divisions, independent armored bri-
gade groups, and infantry divisions. In addition, two of the 32 regiments, designated armored
reconnaissance regiments, are reportedly directly subordinate to the armored division command-
ers.
ARMOR SUBORDINATION'
Major Unit Subordinate Units
Armored Division Two armored brigades with two
armored regiments each
One armored reconnaissance
regiment
Independent Armored Brigade Group Three armored regiments
Infantry Division One armored regiment
Imagery has confirmed armored regiments with 12 of the 16 Pakistani infantry divisions. The full
complement of three armored regiments has been confirmed, on imagery, only with the inde-
pendent armored brigade group at Karachi Malir; the brigade groups at Lahore and Multan have
two regiments; the brigade group at Kharian has only one.2 (S/WN)
4. A Pakistani armored regiment is authorized 50 armored vehicles and consists of three
armored squadrons with 14 tanks each, three armored recovery vehicles (ARV), three tank dozers,
and one headquarters element with two tanks. However, since the Pakistani armor inventory is
currently low, most regiments number only 30-35 tanks. The armored reconnaissance regiments
are authorized 67 armored vehicles, which include 35 tanks, three ARV's, three tank dozers, and
26 armored personnel carriers.' (S/WN)
5. The Pakistanis have two types of main battle tanks in their active inventory: the United
States (US)-manufactured M48, and the Chinese-built Type-59. M48s are deployed with the regi-
ment at Sialkot (Figure 2), and Type-59s are deployed with the independent armored brigade
group at Multan (Figure 3). US-manufactured M47s, M4 Shermans, and M24s, and Soviet-built T-
54/55s are also in the Pakistani inventory. However, they are obsolete and probably are not in
NnFnR L
(Continued p. 4)
WNINTF. L
Z-12093/83
SECRET IA R-0050/83
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FoW
Sandema
Pakistan
International boundary
Province boundary
National capital
Province capital
Railroad
Road
f ,aI.istan
0 100 200 KNOmaten
0 100 200MIha
KHARIAN
Sargodh
FIGURE 1. LOCATION OF PAKISTANI ARMORED REGIMENTS
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SECRET
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Table 1
Armored Regiments Deployed in Pakistan
(Items keyed to Figure 1)
Sialkot Army Barracks and
Headquarters
Units/Equipment
Observed*
One regt/32 Type-59
One regt/20 Type-59
One regt/28 Type-59
One regt/20 probable
Type-59
One regt/1 7 probable
Type-59
One regt/20 Type-59
One regt/9 Type-59
One regt/32 M48
One regt/32 M48
Lahore Bks Corp Div
A Bde Hq
One refit/20 Type-59
One regt/18 Type-59
Lahore Bks Area
SE Walton
Type Subordination**
Storage
Open Regt probably subordinate to
23rd Inf Div, 10th Corps
Open Five regts subordinate to
Open/Shed 6th Arm Div , 1st Corps (two
Shed each to 7th and 9th Arm
Shed Bde's, one armored recon
refit)
Shed One regt subordinate to
8th Ind Arm Bde Grp, 1st
Shed Corps
Shed One regt probably subordinate
to 17th Inf Div, 1st Corps
Open One regt subordinate to
Open 15th Inf Div, 1st Corps
One regt probably subordinate
to 8th Inf Div, 1st Corps
Shed Two regts subordinate to 3rd
Shed Ind Arm Bde Grp, 4th Corps
One regt subordinate to
10th Inf Div, 4th Corps
Open One regt subordinate to
11th Inf Div, 4th Corps
12 Nowshera Barracks A
Mil Schools
Lahore Bks A Stor
Area E
Multan Bks Corps Div
Bde Hq A Ord Dpo
One regt/21 Type-59
One regt/21 Type-59
One refit/15 Type-59
One regt/22 Type-59
One regt/6 Type-59
Shed
Shed
Shed
Shed
Shed
Open
Open
Five regts subordinate to 1st
Arm Div, 2nd Corps (two each
to 4th and 5th Arm Bde's,
one armored recon regt)
Two regts subordinate to
10th Ind Arm Bde Grp, 2nd
Corps
Units/Equipment
Observed*
One regt/20 Type-59
One regt/40 M48
One regt/35 Type-59
One regt/28 Type-59
11 Peshawar Mil Cantonment
A Bde Hq
Type
Storage
Open
Open
Open
Open
Open
Shed
Open
One regt subordinate to
35th Inf Div, 2nd Corps
One regt, subordination
unknown
Regt probably subordinate to
18th Inf Div, 5th Corps
Three regts subordinate to
2nd Ind Arm Bde Grp, 5th
Corps
One regt subordinate to
33rd Inf Div, 12th Corps
One regt probably subordinate
to 16th Inf Div, 12th Corps
Regt probably subordinate to
9th Inf Div, 11th Corps
Regt probably subordinate to
7th Inf Div, 11th Corps
Installation functions as a
school. Regt probably for
training and not considered
operational
"Numerical unit designations are derived from reference document 2. Specific regiments cannot be identified by numerical designator on
imagery when more than one regiment is present at an installation.
This table is classified
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SECRET
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use.2 Imagery has confirmed that the M48 and Type-59 tanks have been deployed in regiments as
follows:
No. of Regiments Type Tank*
21 Confirmed Type-59
2 Probable Type-59
9 Confirmed M48
*The remaining tanks in the Pakistani inventory are either in depot storage or obsolete and not in use.
(S/WN)
6. Pakistan is currently attempting to upgrade its armed forces in response to potential
threats from India and Soviet-controlled Afghanistan. To achieve this goal, the Pakistanis have
signed a major arms agreement with the United States. This agreement includes the purchase of
200 M48A5 tanks. At least 100 of these tanks have been delivered through June 1983. Some may
have been deployed to Hyderabad Barracks Area and Bahawalpur Barracks and Brigade Head-
quarters, where M48-equipped armored regiments were newly identified on imagery of Septem-
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ber and December 1982, respectively. In both cases, the M48 replaced older Type-59 tanks.
However, the Type-59 regiment at Bahawalpur was still present when last imaged in February
1983. In addition, the Pakistanis are reported to be negotiating with the Chinese for an additional
250 to 400 Type-59 tanks.3.4 (S/WN)
All applicable imagery between July 1981 and vas used in the preparation of this report.
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(S/WN)
1.
DIA. DIA Report, Armor Organization, Oct 78 (CONFIDENTIAL/NOFORN*)
2.
DIA. DDB-1100-PK-81, Ground Order of Battle: Pakistan, (U), Mar 81 (SECRET/NOFORN/NOCON-
TRACT/WN INTEL**)
3.
CIA.I I, Recommended Military Talking Points for President Zia During his Visit
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to China, (S/WN) 7 Nov 82 (SECRET/NOFORN/NOCONTRACT/WNINTEL**)
4. CIA.I Pakistan Request to China for Military Equipment, (S/WN) 21 Sep 82
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(SECRET NOFORN NOCONTRACT/WNINTEL**)
*Extracted information is
**Extracted information is
Comments and queries regarding this report are welcome. They may be directed to
Third World Forces Division, Imagery Exploitation Group, NPIC,
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Z-12093/83 SECRET
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Secret
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