12 Corps / XII Corps / Desert Corps

With two combat divisions on the order of battle of Southern Command and increasing operational importance of the desert sector, by January 1987, a Corps Headquarters was sanctioned. HQ 12 Corps was raised at Jodhpur under Lt Gen A K Chatterjee in February 1987, during the volatile days of Operation Trident.

In late 2004, it appeared that if the Finance Ministry gave the green signal for creation of the South-Western Command [which it did], the area between Abohar-Fazilka and Jammu will be looked after by the Chandimandir-based Western Command, and the area south of Ranjitsinh Pura, that includes the Desert Corps, would come under the Pune-based Southern Command.

In early 2008 Defence Minister, Mr AK Antony visited the forward areas of the desert sector. He was accompanied by the Chief of the Army Staff, Gen Deepak Kapoor, Lt Gen Noble Thamburaj, GOC-in-C, Southern Command and Lt Gen SN Handa, GOC of the Desert Corps. During his visit, the Defence Minister visited the border area in Tanot Sector and was briefed by Lt Gen SN Handa on operational and border management aspects. Thereafter, he witnessed a demonstration of the 'Battle of Laungewala' fought in 1971, during which the Pakistani onslaught with armour and infantry was stopped dead in its tracks by a company of 23 Punjab and the Indian Air Force. The grit and determination exhibited by the Indian Army during the Battle of Laungewala is a shining example of valour and sacrifice of our soldiers in the face of the enemy. In addition to his interaction with Senior Commanders and officers of the Desert, the Minister addressed a large gathering of troops of the Desert Corps. In his address, Mr Antony commended the troops for their high state of operational readiness to meet any eventuality and called upon all ranks to continue their good performance. He exhorted the troops of the Desert Corps to emulate the valiant acts of bravery displayed by those defending Laungewala Post. Later, Mr AK Antony joined the troops for a barakhana.

XII Corps			Jodhpur	26°17'N	73°01'E
		4 Armored BDE	U/I Location	__°__'N	__°__'E
		340 Mech BDE	U/I Location	__°__'N	__°__'E
		U/I Artillery BDE	U/I Location	__°__'N	__°__'E
	11 Infantry Division Golden Katar		U/I Location	__°__'N	__°__'E
	12 Infantry Division		Jodhpur	26°17'N	73°01'E