| Pakistan Marines | |
|---|---|
| بحریہَ پاکستان | |
 Official emblem of the Pak Marines at a marine base HQ | |
| Founded | 1 June 1971 (53 years ago)[1] |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Branch |  Pakistan Navy |
| Type | Marines |
| Role | Amphibious warfare, Naval infantry |
| Size | 18,000 (est.)[2] |
| Part of | Pakistan Navy |
| Headquarters | Manora Fort, Pak Marines Base in Karachi Coast, Sindh, Pakistan |
| Nickname(s) | Pak Marines |
| Motto(s) | Arabic: وَ اعْتَصِمُوْا بِحَبْلِ اللّٰهِ جَمِیْعًا وَّ لَا تَفَرَّقُوْا۪ Urdu: اور اللہ کی رسی مضبوط تھام لو سب مل کر اور آپس میں پھٹ نہ جانا (فرقوں میں نہ بٹ جانا) "And hold fast to the rope of Allah, all of you together, and do not be divided;" (Qur'an, 3:103) |
| Colors | |
| Anniversaries | Navy Day: 6 September |
| Engagements | Major conflicts and wartime operations |
| Commanders | |
| Commander-in-Chief |  President Asif Ali Zardari |
| Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff |  General Sahir Shamshad Mirza NI(M) |
| Commandant | Vice Admiral Raja Rab Nawaz HI(M) |
| Arm Badge | Marines |
| Flag |  |
The Pakistan Marines (Urdu: سمندری پاکستان or بحریہَ پاکستان)[3] or simply as Pak Marines, is an expeditionary and amphibious warfare uniform service branch within the Pakistan Navy, consisting of the naval officers and other personnel to perform their duties within the Marines.[4] Pakistan Marines are responsible for providing force protection in littorals, using the mobility of the Pakistan Navy to provide creeks defence, ground based air defence and Force protection.[5]
In the Pakistani military leadership structure, the Marines are the expeditionary and amphibious branch within the Navy, often working closely with the Pakistan Army for training, executing expeditionary operations and logistics purposes.[4]
Initially established and commissioned on 1 June 1971 in East-Pakistan, to assist Pakistan Army in riverine warfare. GHQ employed this infant force in successfully evacuating Pakistan Army units from encirclement by Indian Army. They were headquartered in PNS Bakhtiar and PNS Titumir to oversee the tactical riverine /waterborne operations. This small but valiant force soon started to make significant impact on retrograde waterborne operations of Pakistan and saved many lives. Post war scenario led to their decommissioning in 1974 due to no riverine area of operations left with Pakistan that time.[6]
On 25 November 1990, the Marines were re-organized and recommissioned under Cdr. Obaidullah–since then they have been a component of the Navy, conducting expeditionary operations with the special forces of army and the navy.[6] The Marines are primarily tasked with quick response and marine reconnaissance objectives to guard the coastal and amphibious regions of the country, and receives training at the School of Infantry and Tactics by the Pakistan Army's instructors.[4]
In 2010, Marines, in close co-ordination with the Pakistan Army, Navy, and Air Force, were working around the clock to rescue villagers trapped by the country's worst deluge in 80 years.[7]
- ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (25 February 2021). The Military Balance 2021. London: Routledge. p. 291. ISBN 9781032012278.
- ^ Waters, Conrad (2011). Seaforth World Naval Review 2012. Palo Alto, CA, USA: Seaforth Publishing. p. 200. ISBN 9781783466320. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
- ^ (Iiss), The International Institute of Strategic Studies (14 February 2017). The Military Balance 2017. Routledge, Chapman & Hall, Incorporated. ISBN 9781857439007. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- ^ "Amid the Pakistan floods: 'A village slowly drowning'". BBC News. Archived from the original on 23 January 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2018.