Why did Pakistan choose Rawalpindi for the Army Headquarters? These are 5 big reasons

Pakistan Army Headquarter History; Rawalpindi is a major city of Pakistan, where Pakistani generals sit and decide when and where to fight a war. This is the headquarters of the Pakistani army. Proxy wars are also fought from here. In such a situation, the question is why was Rawalpindi chosen as the headquarters of the Pakistani army?

 

Amidst the tension, Rawalpindi, a major city of Pakistan, is in the most trouble. The reason is that this is the city where Pakistani generals sit and decide when and where to bomb? Which terrorist to target? Who to use in what way. This is the headquarters of the Pakistani army. Proxy wars are also fought from here. The founders of the historic city of Rawalpindi would have never imagined that their land would be misused in this way by the Pakistani army.

 

Amidst the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan, it is important to know why Pakistan made Rawalpindi its army headquarters even though it had other important, big cities like Karachi, Lahore and cities of historical importance equipped with all kinds of facilities. There were many important reasons for this.

 

 

1-Rawalpindi was the northern command center of the British army

When a new country named Pakistan was added to the world map, Rawalpindi used to be the headquarters of the British Army's Northern Command. A lot of army resources were present here. Being a new country, Pakistan had to face many other challenges, so the Pakistani army strengthened itself in Rawalpindi.

 

The army chief of Pakistan, which was separated from India in 1947, was British General Sir Douglas Gracey. British officers were used to living in comforts. Being the headquarters of the British Army's Northern Command, there were ample facilities and resources available here. In such a situation, General Douglas chose Rawalpindi as the army headquarters. Time passed and the influence of the Pakistani army increased inside the country. In its decision, the army never gave much importance to the government. Their focus remained on weakening democracy.

 

That is why when Pakistan established Islamabad as the permanent capital of the country in 1960, even then the army did not shift its headquarters. Normally, the headquarters of the army and the government are at the same place in any country. Pakistan has a long history of coups. In such a situation, the Pakistani generals did not even think of removing the foundation laid by Sir Douglas, but kept strengthening Rawalpindi. From the establishment of Pakistan till the year 1960, the army's resources in Rawalpindi had increased substantially.

2- Rawalpindi was important for the army even during the British period

Even when the British ruled, Rawalpindi was an important centre for the British army. At the time of the formation of Pakistan, Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi were the three cities where Pakistan could have made its capital. Lahore and Karachi were relatively more developed and historical cities, so Pakistan chose Karachi as the immediate capital. But General Douglas did not consider it appropriate to move the army headquarters to Karachi, nor did the policymakers of Pakistan bother to choose Rawalpindi as the centre of power. Sir Douglas did not shift the army headquarters to Karachi also because it was a coastal, overcrowded city.

The army did not find it suitable from a strategic point of view, rather it was believed that Rawalpindi was already an active city for the army. On the other hand, at the time of the decision to shift the permanent capital from Karachi to Islamabad, the army had strengthened itself so much in Rawalpindi that a huge budget was needed to shift the army headquarters to Islamabad, which Pakistan did not have. Even if the government and the generals had decided to shift the army headquarters to Islamabad, the infrastructure already available in Rawalpindi would not have been used the way it is being used today.

3- This is why Rawalpindi remained important

Rawalpindi is in the northern part of Pakistan. It is not very far from the capital Islamabad. In such a situation, coordination between the army and the government was considered easy. It can be said that geographically this place is very suitable for army operations and national security. The legacy of the British Army helped the Pakistani Army to make it its headquarters.

Rawalpindi is connected to other parts of the country by road, rail and air, which is considered important for the army of any country. Since many of the army's activities are conducted peacefully, running military activities in a crowded city like Lahore-Karachi is challenging in itself. Rawalpindi was considered suitable for the army in terms of population.

4- Pakistan is only 78 years old, Rawalpindi's military history is thousands of years old

Rawalpindi was important for the army even when there was no trace of Pakistan. The British army had cantonments here even then. From the year 1850, the British army started developing it as their cantonment, which continued till the formation of Pakistan because gradually the facilities kept increasing and the army also increased its status. At the time of the formation of Pakistan, this place used to be the headquarters of the Northern Command of the British Army.

5- This is how an army post became a military headquarters

If we look at the historical aspect of Rawalpindi, we come to know that the first military post was built here by the king of Rajasthan, Bappa Rawal, in the 8th century. In 712 AD, Bappa Rawal defeated Muhammad Bin Qasim in a battle and forced him to flee from this region. After winning the battle, he established many military posts, Rawalpindi was one of them. In this way, be it the Mughals or the British or the Pakistani rulers, everyone strengthened Rawalpindi as a military centre.

History tells us that the city of Rawalpindi is also named after King Bappa Rawal. Bappa Rawal was so brave that he won wars in those times and expanded his territory to Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq. Bappa Rawal's capital used to be today's Chittorgarh. In this way, we find that there are not one but many reasons for making Rawalpindi the headquarters of the Pakistani army. One of the most important reasons is its military history.