Introduction

South Asia makes up almost one-fifth of the world's human population. And the Indian Army is the fourth largest in the world. The organizational ethos and manpower policy of the postcolonial states’ militaries to a great extent remain similar to that of the colonial army. The basic building block for both Indian and Pakistan armies remain the regimental structure of the British-Indian Army. Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) continue in the armies of both independent nations. However, it would be wrong to argue that independence did not usher any changes in the military machines of India and Pakistan. White officers were replaced by the brown officers. And instead of serving British imperial interests, the armies of India and Pakistan started fighting each other immediately after they were born.

Partition and the First India–Pakistan War, 1947–8

In 1947, after the partition of the subcontinent, India received 260,000 soldiers and Pakistan's share was 140,000 men. The Pakistan Army was organized in six infantry divisions and an armoured brigade. The basic structure of the Indian and Pakistan armies are more or less similar. A Pakistan Army division is commanded by a major-general and a brigade by a brigadier. The infantry division comprises infantry, artillery, engineers, signals, communications, supply and other support services required for sustained combat. An infantry division has three to four brigades and each brigade has three regiments. An Indian Army infantry division has three brigades and each brigade has three battalions. An infantry battalion has four rifle companies.