Northern Light Infantry

Following the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, the United States, United Kingdom, Pakistan and Israel launched Operation Cyclone, in which they financed and armed the Afghan mujahideen to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a Soviet satellite state and subsequently threaten Pakistan (a U.S. ally in the Cold War). Here, with primarily Saudi Arabian and American financing, the Northern Light Infantry trained Afghan mujahideen fighters in Gilgit-Baltistan before sending them back to Afghanistan with state-of-the-art armaments to fight the Soviet Army.

India's seizure of the Siachen Glacier (an area of Kashmir that was uninhabited and not controlled by any parties to the Kashmir conflict) in 1984 resulted in the renewal of high-level tensions with Pakistan until a mutual ceasefire agreement was brought into effect in 2003. During this period of intermittent fighting in the Siachen conflict, the NLI's 1st battalion performed defence and support work.[1][6]

In response to India's offensive operation and subsequent seizure of the entire Siachen Glacier, Pakistan began operations to occupy key Indian forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC), sparking the Kargil War. It was reported that the Pakistan Army had launched forces exclusively from the Northern Light Infantry during this conflict. These included the 5th, 6th, 8th and 12th battalions in full strength and some elements of the 3rd, 4th, 7th and 11th battalions with the paramilitary Chitral and Bajaur Scouts deployed for logistical support.[1]

Due to their inclination to the surrounding environment and regular training, troops of the Northern Light Infantry are generally less prone to the altitude sickness and cold temperatures that accompany mountain warfare. For this reason, they were chosen as the bulk force against the Indian Army in Kargil. Small infantry units belonging to the Northern Light Infantry slipped past Indian fortifications along the LoC and promptly assaulted strategic high security points. After taking control, they used these important points to maintain their position and repel any incoming Indian troops.[1] Heavy diplomatic pressure from the United States coupled with a massive Indian counterattack forced Pakistan to begin a withdrawal after months of intense fighting. Casualties during this conflict, like those of other Indo-Pakistani conflicts, remain disputed and unconfirmed. International sources (such as those from the U.S. Department of Defense) place Indian casualties at around 527+ whereas casualties for the Pakistani side numbered at around 700+.[7][8][9][10][11]

Following the end of the fighting, the Northern Light Infantry was commended for successfully taking control of Indian positions across the LoC and holding out against multiple elements of the Indian Army. In recognition of their performance in the Kargil conflict, the entire regiment was amalgamated into the Infantry Corps of the Pakistan Army with the status of a regular infantry regiment, and awarded with the Presidential Colours. After this, the NLI ceased to function as a paramilitary force and began anew as a regular infantry regiment in the Pakistan Army.[1]