Strategic Plans Division Force
SPD Force | |
---|---|
Country | Pakistan |
Type | Security Force |
Size | 20,000+[1] |
Part of | Strategic Plans Division |
Garrison/HQ | Joint Staff Headquarters, Chaklala, Rawalpindi |
Strategic Plans Division Force (or SPD Force) is Pakistan's agency responsible for protection of Pakistan's nuclear and strategic assets.[2][3] It is security arm of Strategic Plans Division,[4] which oversees Pakistan's strategic organizations such as, KRL, PAEC, NESCOM and SUPARCO and is different from Pakistan Army's strategic forces.
Role
The force's primary task is provision of security to country's strategic infrastructure such as nuclear[5] and missile research and production sites, space installations etc.
Organization
The force is commanded by serving Lieutenant General of Pakistan Army who acts as Director General of Strategic Plans Division.[6] There are four security directorates for each strategic organization and each directorate is led by Brigadier.[7]
Initially, manpower for security of country's strategic assets was provided by Pakistan's Armed Forces[7] but now SPD has started hiring its own personnel. The selection standards in terms of intelligence and physical standards for these candidates are even higher than army due to very sensitive nature of their duty. At start, these recruits were trained at Pakistan Army's training centers[7] but since 2012 SPD has been training these recruits in its own academy known as Pakistan’s Centre of Excellence for Nuclear Security (PCENS)[8][9] located in Chakri near Rawalpindi.[10] This training facility is modeled on US National Nuclear Security Administration's academy.[7]
Special Response Force
Special Response Force (SRF) is the special forces unit[11] of SPD Force with the strength of 1000 personnel.[12]
Weapons
SPD Force's primary weapons are G3 rifles and Type 56 and Type 81 assault rifles.
References
- ↑ Release, Press. "No PR136/2012-ISPR". www.ispr.gov.pk. ISPR. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
- ↑ Release, Press. "No PR71/2013-ISPR". www.ispr.gov.pk. ISPR. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
- ↑ confidence, COAS (November 13, 2015). "COAS reposes full confidence in Pakistan’s nuclear security regime". ARY News. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
- ↑ retires, kidwai (December 18, 2013). "Kidwai to retire as head of Pakistan's n-programme caretakers". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
- ↑ Join, Trainees (November 7, 2011). "700 trainees join SPD security force". The Nation. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
- ↑ Training, Abottabad (April 23, 2013). "1,000 SPD Security Soldiers complete training in Abbotabad centers". Samaa. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 "Nuclear Learning in Pakistan Since 1998" (PDF). School of Social Sciences, University of Western Australia. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
- ↑ Visits, COAS. "ISPR Hilal Magazine - Nuclear Security is a Sacred Responsibility: COAS". www.hilal.gov.pk. ISPR. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ↑ visit, coas. "COAS expresses confidence in Pakistan's nuclear security". www.dawn.com. DAWN. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ↑ Release, Press. "INAUGURATION CEREMONY of SPD TRAINING ACADEMY". www.ispr.gov.pk. ISPR. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
- ↑ Ceremony, SSF. "Wing Award Ceremony (SRF), Passing Out Parade (SSBC) & Expo at SPD Training Academy Rawalpindi". www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
- ↑ Release, Press. "No PR99/2013-ISPR". www.ispr.gov.pk. ISPR. Retrieved 8 November 2015.