| 2nd Battalion (Guides) The Frontier Force Regiment | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1846 - Present |
| Country |  British India Pakistan |
| Branch |  British Indian Army Pakistan Army |
| Type | Mechanized Infantry |
| Size | Battalion |
| Nickname(s) | Guides Paltan |
| Motto(s) | Rough & Ready |
| Uniform | Drab; faced scarlet red |
| March | Advance Khaki |
| Mascot(s) | CG |
| Anniversaries | 14 December |
| Engagements | North West Frontier of India Second Sikh War 1848-49 India Mutiny 1857-58 Second Afghan War 1878-80 First World War 1914-18 Third Afghan War 1919 Second World War 1939-45 Kashmir War 1948 Indo-Pakistan War 1965 Indo-Pakistan War 1971 Operation Zarb-e-Azb |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel of the Regiment | Lt Gen Muhammad Aqeel, HI(M) |
| Notable commanders | Lt Gen Sir Harry Lumsden, KCSI, CB Gen Sir Sam Browne, VC, GCB, KCSI Gen Sir Henry Daly, GCB, CIE Gen M Iqbal Khan, NI (M), SBt Maj Gen Mustafa Anwar Hussain Maj Gen Waheed Arshad Gejial Maj Gen Bilal Ahmed Lt Gen Mumtaz Gul, HI(M) Brig Yasub Ali Dogar, SI(M), S Bt, Sitara e Eisaar Lt Gen Syed Sabahat Husain, HI(M) Lt Gen Hassan Azhar Hayat, HI(M) Lt Gen Inayat Husain, HI(M) Maj Gen Aneeq Ur Rehman Malik, HI(M) Maj Gen Mazhar Nazir, HI(M) Brig Nadeem Rahmatullah Khan, SI(M) |
The Guides Infantry, or 2nd Battalion (Guides) The Frontier Force Regiment, is an infantry battalion of the Pakistan Army. It was raised in 1846 as part of the famous Corps of Guides, a highly mobile force to act as guides to troops in the field and gather intelligence beyond the borders of British India. The corps recruited men from various backgrounds, with Pathans, Punjabi Muslims, Sikhs, and Dogras forming the majority of their manpower. Under the leadership of Lieutenant Harry Burnett Lumsden, the Guides gained a formidable reputation and introduced the dust-colored "khaki" uniforms, later adopted by the British Army in India. The corps became part of the Punjab Frontier Force, known as Piffers, which maintained order on the Punjab Frontier for fifty years.
The Guides participated in numerous frontier operations, earning recognition for their gallantry and resilience. They fought in the Second Sikh War, played a crucial role in the suppression of the Indian Mutiny in Delhi, and served in the Second Afghan War, where they defended the British Residency in Kabul. During World War I, the Guides raised additional battalions and fought in Mesopotamia and Palestine. Following the war, the Corps of Guides was reorganized, with the cavalry and infantry becoming separate units. In the Second World War, the Guides Infantry served in Iraq and Iran.
The Guides Infantry demonstrated their valor in the Indo-Pakistan wars of 1948 and 1965. In 1948, they defended the Kishenganga Valley in Kashmir, and in 1965, they established a bridgehead for the 1st Armored Division across the India-Pakistan border. The Guides Infantry also participated in the Rann of Kutch Conflict in 1965, capturing Indian positions and earning several awards for their bravery. Throughout their history, the Guides Infantry played a vital role in frontier operations and earned a reputation as a brave and dependable force.