# Force Command Northern Areas

Force Command Northern Areas is a division size formation of the Pakistan Army. It commands the troops deployed in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. It is a component of X Corps of the Pakistan Army. In contrast to the general belief that it is a corps sized formation, it is a division sized force commanded by a major general. Its coat of arms is a snow leopard on a black background.

## Origins of FCNA

After the war of 1971 and the loss of territory in the Turtuk area (including three villages of Turtuk, Thang and Tyakshi), need was felt to hold the area more strongly included permanent presence of the army instead of leaving it to the care of Karakorum and Northern Scouts. Consequently, Force Command Northern Area was raised in 1972 as a brigade sized formation responsible for defense of Line of Control in what was then called Northern Areas. The formation was upgraded to a division sized formation in 1975 commanded by a Major General.

## Present Day Order of Battle

| Brigades | Location |
| 80th Infantry Brigade | Astor |
| 150th Infantry Brigade | Gilgit |
| 323rd Infantry Brigade | Karakoram-Dansam |
| 62nd Infantry Brigade | Skardu |
| 61st Infantry Brigade | U/I Location |
| Independent Engineering Brigade | U/I Location |
| Independent Signal Brigade | U/I Location |
| 5 Aviation Squadron | U/I Location |
Commanders of Force Command Northern Areas (incomplete list) :
| Rank and Name | Date Assumed Command | Notes |
| Brig Safdar Hussain Khan | 15 Aug 1972 | |
| Brig Muhammad Asghar | 13 Jul 1973 | Later a politician and MNA, formed his own faction of Pakistan Muslim Leagure - Junejo |
| Brig Agha Zulfikar Ali Khan | 16 April 1974 | |
| Brigadier Abdul xxxx Malik | 23 Nov 1974 | |
| Maj Gen Muhammad Riaz Khan | 15 Jun 1975 | |
| Maj Gen C A Majid | 16 Jun 1976 | Later Lt Gen |
| Maj Gen Nishat Ahmad | Jan 1978 | |
| Maj Gen Muhammad Aslam Shah | July 1979 | Later Lt Gen |
| Maj Gen Imtiaz Warraich, SJ | June 1980 | Later Lt Gen |
| Maj Gen Pirdad Khan, SJ | June 1982 | Later Lt Gen |
| Maj Gen Safdar Ali Khan | May 1984 | |
| Maj Gen Humayun Khan Bangash | July 1986 | Later Lt Gen |
| Maj Gen Ayaz Ahmad | Nov 1987 | Later Lt Gen |
| Maj Gen Irshadullah Tarrar | Mar 1989 | |
| Maj Gen Zahir ul Islam Abbasi | May 1991 | Launched the disastrous operation Chullung operation in Aug 1992 leading to huge losses by 1 AK and killing of Brigade Commander |
| Maj Gen Fazal Ghafoor | | |
| Maj Gen M Aziz Khan | | Later General and Chairman Joint chiefs of Staff Committee |
| Maj Gen Ali Jan Aurakzai | | Later Lt Gen and Governor of NWFP |
| Maj Gen Javed Hassan | | Commander during the Kargil War 1999 |
| Maj Gen Safder Hussain | | Later Lt Gen |
| Maj Gen Nadeem Ahmed | | Later Lt Gen |
| Maj Gen Tahir Mahmood | | |
| Maj Gen Mohsin Kamal | | Later Lt Gen |
| Maj Gen Muzzamil Hussain | | Later Lt Gen |
| Maj Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa | | Later General and Chief of Army Staff |
| Maj Gen Ikram-ul-Haq | | Later Lt Gen |
| Maj Gen Hafiz Masroor Ahmad | | |
| Maj Gen Syed Asim Munir | | Later General and Chief of Army Staff |
| Maj Gen Saqib Mahmood Malik | | Later Lt Gen |
| Maj Gen Ehsan Mahmood | | |
| Maj Gen Jawwad Ahmed Qazi | | |
| Maj Gen Kashif Khalil, SJ | | Earned Sitara-e-Jurrat in 1999. |
| Maj Gen Syed Imtiaz Hussain Gillani | September 2024 | |