Gilgit Scouts

Gilgit Scouts
Insignia of the Gilgit Scouts
Active	1913–1975
Allegiance	Jammu and Kashmir (1913–1947) Dominion of Pakistan (1947–1956) Islamic Republic of Pakistan (1956–1975)
Type	Paramilitary
Nickname(s)	Northern Battalion
Engagements	First Kashmir War 1947 Gilgit Rebellion Battle of Jaglote Bunji Action Action at Tsari Battle of Thorgo Siege of Skardu
Commanders
Notable commanders	Major William Brown Brigadier Aslam Khan

The Gilgit Scouts was a paramilitary force within the Gilgit-Baltistan region in northern Pakistan. They were raised by the British Raj in 1913, to assist the Gilgit-based British Political Agent in managing Gilgit Agency which formed the northern frontier of British India. The force had a strength of almost 600 composed of local men recruited by British commanders.

Not only Gilgit Tehsil, which had been leased to the British Raj for 60 years starting in 1935 by Hari Singh the ruler of Jammu & Kashmir but the whole of Gilgit Agency which was under British control was ceded to Hari Singh on 1st July 1947.

Following Jammu & Kashmir's accession to India on 26th October 1947, the Gilgit Scouts under the command of Major William Brown, staged a rebellion and overthrew the Governor of Gilgit. In a matter of days the 6th Battalion of Jammu & Kashmir in Bunji was routed by a Gilgit Scouts force under command Captain Mathieson the deputy commandant and Assistant Political Agent operating out of Chilas. The Muslim element of the State Forces based at Bunji joined the Gilgit Scouts in their war of liberation.

After Major Brown and Captain Mathieson left Gilgit, Major Aslam Khan (who took on the nom de guerre of Colonel Pasha) was given command of the Gilgit Scouts. Men from 6th J&K were amalgamated into Gilgit Scouts.in early January 1948. Major Aslam who had intimate knowledge of the area having served earlier in Rattu and Bunji as part of Jammu & Kashmir forces, organised the enlarged Gilgit Scouts now numbering around 1600 into three groups, namely Ibex, Tiger and Eskimo forces.

The Gilgit Scouts combined force conquered all of Baltistan, and had taken Kargil, Dras in early May 1948 and Zojila in July 1948 and were threatenung Leh under command Lieutenant Colonel Mian Ghulam Jilani after Major Aslam Khan had been posted to GHQ. General Thimayya recaptured Zojila on 1st November 1948 using Stuart light tanks and in a matter of weeks the Indian Army linked up with Leh also gaining control of Kargil. The territories retained by Gilgit Scouts as of 31 December 1948 gave rise to the present day Gilgit-Baltistan.^[1]

The force was continued by Pakistan till 1975 when it was integrated into the Northern Light Infantry of the Pakistan Army.