Bajaur Scouts

The Bajaur Scouts is a paramilitary regiment of the Frontier Corps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (North) in Pakistan, primarily recruited from the local population of Bajaur District. The force was established in April 1961 by merging units of the Khyber Rifles and Chitral Scouts. Initially known as the Bajaur Levies, it operated in Bajaur, Swat, and Dir tribal areas. In recent years, the Scouts have been involved in anti-drug operations, with drug testing kits provided in 2011-2012 to aid their efforts against smuggling.

The regiment played a significant role in Operation Sherdil launched on August 7, 2008, alongside other Frontier Corps troops and an Infantry Brigade of the Pakistan Army. The operation aimed to eliminate Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan's influence in Bajaur, which had been under militant control since 2002 and served as Al-Qaeda's command center for activities in Afghanistan. During the operation, Commandant Colonel Nauman Saeed led a successful rescue mission after Inspector-General Frontier Corps Major-General Tariq Khan's convoy was ambushed on September 9, 2008. Colonel Saeed's bravery earned him a government award.

The Bajaur Scouts are responsible for patrolling the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in Bajaur District, securing key installations like tunnels and dams, and safeguarding CPEC projects. They also assist law enforcement agencies in maintaining order and conduct counter-terrorism operations. In crises, they occasionally receive authority to arrest and detain criminals. The force is organized into several wings, including Headquarters Wing, 171 Wing, and others identified by numerical designations.