The Command and Staff College (Urdu: اادارہَِ سالاری و عمال عسکری) is the military staff college for the Pakistan Army and its sister services officers, and the international military officers. Established in 1905 as Army Staff College in Deolali, it was later shifted to its present location in 1907 and has been an alma mater of many renowned international soldiers.

Foundation of the staff college was felt when the former British Indian Army officers had to commit to a lengthy travel to the Great Britain to continue their graduate studies at the Staff College in Camberley but staff college was insufficient to provide accommodation due to increased enrollment. With the reorganization of the British Indian Army, Field Marshal Lord Kitchener, then-Commander-in-Chief in India, exacerbated and proposed a similar staff college to be set-up in India which created more staff appointments.

The Command and Staff College is the oldest and senior service college including the Navy's Naval War College and the Air Force's Air War College. In addition, the Pakistan's Ministry of Defense operates the Armed Forces War College at the National Defence University (NDU).

Before the foundation and establishment of the Command and Staff College (CSC) in 1905, the former British Indian Army officers had to travel to Great Britain to continue their post-graduate studies on defense studies at the Staff College in Camberley, England. With the increased enrollment and active recruitment from the Indian Military Academy, the Staff College in Camberley was unable to provide accommodations for the needs for the army officers from British Army and the Indian Army altogether.

This problem was exacerbated by and stressed when the reorganization of the former British Indian Army was carried out under Field Marshal Lord Herbert Kitchener, then-Commander-in-Chief of British Indian military in India, who created more staff appointments to manage the infrastructure of the British Indian Army. Lord Kitchener successfully submitted a proposal to set-up the college with similar curriculum to Camberley in India. Initially, the India Command and Staff College was based in the "Musketeer School" in Deolali, a small hill station in Bombay Presidency, which is now Maharashtra, in 1905.

The British Army in India moved the Command and Staff College to Kuetta, Baluchistan when the new campus buildings, academic centers, and dormitories were erected and built in 1907. After the British partition of India, the British Army staff who did not want to stay in Pakistan moved to Wellington Cantonment in India to formed the Defence Services Staff College for the newly formed Indian Army.

At present, the Command and Staff College is located in Quetta Cantonment in Balochistan and it is staff college is situated at the entrance to the Urak valley. To the north, south-east and south-west stand the Takatu, Murdarghar, and Chiltan mountain ranges, rising to heights of 930–1,020 metres (3,050–3,350 ft). Lower than the Murdarghar and closer to the Command and Staff College, is the mountain known as the "Sleeping Beauty", which takes its name from its uncanny resemblance to a lady in repose. She is at her best when the first winter snow throws her in sharp contrast against the skyline.

A scroll runs through the swords on which are inscribed the Persian words Pir Sho Biyamooz – Saadi. Its literal translation is Grow old learning – Saadi, who was a famous Persian poet. When paraphrased, it means, "Go on learning and acquiring knowledge until you are old." Until 1950 the college used the Latin motto "Tam Marte Quam Minerva" - loosely, "By the pen as much as by the sword". The old emblem included an owl, commonly known as a symbol of learning and wisdom, perched on crossed swords, in several variants. In 1979 the owl was replaced by an epithet more appropriate for an Islamic country, Iqra, over the swords. Iqra literally means "Read!", but it is a reference to the 96th surah of the Qur'an.

The college is headed by a commandant who is a major general, and is organised into two wings, namely, the Headquarters Wing and the Instructional Wing. The Instructional Wing, headed by a Chief Instructor (a Brigadier), is the mainstay of the college. The Senior Instructor Training (a Colonel) is responsible for curricular management and programming of all related activities, he is assisted General Staff Officer Grade 2, training 1. The faculty of research and doctrinal studies, commonly known as FORADS, is headed by a director of the rank of Colonel or Brigadier with four research sections and one IT and media wing, each being managed by a Directing Staff / Colonel member.

The Instructional Wing has four instructional divisions, each under a Senior Instructor of the rank of Colonel. The Headquarters Wing provides administrative support to the Instructional Wing.

It is a well-reputed seat of learning for warfare and allied staff aspects with a student body of approximately 400 officers, which include nearly 30 officers from over 23 allied nations. The Allied Officers form an important segment of the college community, adding color and giving a cosmopolitan touch to life at the college. There are about 52 members on the faculty at any one time making an instructor to student ratio of about 1:8, which is amongst the highest in the world.

At the end of the year, the graduate should:

• Possess an insight into the employment of forces in tactical operations under the battlefield environment.
• Be able to handle operational and administrative staff functions and prepare his outfit to perform its peace and wartime roles.
• Be able to discern the place of tactical plans within the ambit of operational strategy and joint services warfare.
• Be able to apply leadership and management skills within the socio-religious setting.
• Be able to research issues of professional import.
• Be able to comprehend international and regional political order.
• Develop the skill to identify the central issue of military problems, and present options for their resolution.

The Command and Staff College is a post-graduate military staff college where predominantly army officers are given admission. However, the admission to the Command and Staff College is not restricted but the admissions have been allowed and given to the navy and air force officers. Interagency federal officials concerned with national security issues are also given admission to the Command and Staff College.

The Pakistani military officers who attend the course must meet the following requirements:

• Rank/Service: at least at OF-4 rank with 8–12 years service.
• Courses: required Bachelor of Arts/Science degree and respective service mid-career courses and leadership promotion examinations.
• Selection Criteria: based on merit list of a competitive examination, service record and professional standing.
• Civilians: preferably Bachelor of Arts/Science to qualify for the award of Master of Science degree in Art and Science of Warfare from the National Defence University, Islamabad.

Field Marshals

• The 1st Earl Wavell
• The 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein
• The 1st Viscount Slim (United Kingdom)
• Sir Claude Auchinleck
• Ayub Khan (Pakistan)
• Sam Manekshaw (India)
• KM Cariappa (India)
• Thomas Blamey (Australia)

Generals

• Musa Khan, Yahya Khan, Gul Hassan Khan, Tikka Khan, Rahimuddin Khan, Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, Mirza Aslam Beg, Asif Nawaz and Pervez Musharraf who all, later, became Pakistan Army's Chiefs or Chairmen Joint Chiefs
• General M. A. G. Osmani, Supreme Commander of Bangladesh Forces during the Bangladesh Liberation War
• Lieutenant General Ziaur Rahman, Bir Uttom, former President and 2nd Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh, and commander of the Z Force and BDF Sector 1 and Sector 11 in the Bangladesh Liberation War. For his role as a company commander in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 at Khemkaran Sector he was awarded the Hilal-i-Jur'at.
• Major General Raza Muhammad
• Brigadier General Daniel Austin
• General Tan Sri Mohammad Ghazali Che Mat, Chief of Malaysian Armed Forces from 1985 to 1987

The Citadel is a publication of the Command and Staff College, Quetta. It provides a forum for the expression of thoughts on doctrinal and conceptual issues and other matters of professional import, or those related to national security and interest. It was instituted in 1984, as an exclusively professional magazine, on the directions of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, then President of Pakistan and Chief of the Army Staff. The name denotes both the territorial and ideological moorings. Prior to this, articles of such nature were published (regularly since 1947) in the college year-book, known at various times as Owl Pie (1921), The Owl (1922–78) and The Review (1979–83).

Associated clubs include:

Shikar (Shooting) Club There is good shooting club within motoring distance of the college. Shikar trips are occasionally organized by the club.

Saddle Club The college has 30 ponies for officers interested in riding. Membership of the club is also open to ladies and children above eight years of age. Interested officers are expected to bring their own riding kit. Traditionally, the club is extensively patronized by the allied officers community.

Polo Polo is played with enthusiasm, even if sometimes without matching skills, and the season extends from April to November.

Al-Nisa Club The college traditionally runs a very active ladies club which is known for its colourful and interesting activities. Meetings are normally held once a fortnight.

Allied Officers Cell This cell functions under the Senior Instructor Training and deals with all matters related to guidance and welfare of Allied Officers. A member of the faculty and a Pakistani student officer is assigned to each Allied Officer to make his stay pleasant and comfortable.

A number of outdoor facilities are provided inside the college campus and in the foothills of the mountains. Barki Park not only provides entertainment for children but also a soothing relief for the students and their families, especially with traditional live Rabab music every weekend. The entertainment facilities include a pizza and coffee shop, skating arena, zip line, rock climbing arena, lush green lawns with water oscillators, various shades of all weather roses and a lot more. Uplifting of the park, Project Green, was outsourced to Mr. Saadat Nabi Sherwani and Co. Project Green has been completed with a lot of Horticultural innovations by the designer.

Libraries The Command and Staff College has a Main and a Fiction Library. The Fiction Library has a good selection of weekly and monthly magazines in addition to books that offer a variety of light readings. The Main Library houses books, mainly professional in nature. A large number of international newspapers and magazines on professional and general subjects are also available in the Main Library.

Museum The college has a small museum, which was inaugurated on 16 May 1979. This Museum houses various items of interest and historical value pertaining to the college.

Officers Mess The Officers Mess is lodged in a building with an interior decor in traditional style. Most of the formal functions are held in the Mess. The Mess premises are also used for hosting private parties in accordance with the Mess Instructions. A snack bar, next to the Mess, functions in the evening. It was reconstructed in 1939.

Children's Schooling The college runs an English-medium secondary School and College, the Iqra Army Public School and College, for the benefit of children of the student officers and the faculty.

Name	tenure
Brigadier-general A. W. L. Bayly	Apr 1905 – Mar 1906
Brig-gen T. Capper	Mar 1906 – Jan 1911
Brig Gen W. P. Braithwaite	Jan 1911 – Aug 1914
closed during First World War	Aug 1914 – Jun 1919
Maj Gen Sir L. R. Vaughan	Jun 1919 – Jan 1923
Maj Gen Sir Gerald F. Boyd	Jan 1923 – Jan 1927
Maj Gen C. A. C. Goodwin	Jan 1927 – Dec 1927
Maj Gen E. T. Humphreys	Jan 1928 – Aug 1931
Maj Gen R. C. Wilson	Sep 1931 – Oct 1934
Maj Gen G. C. Williams	Oct 1934 - Apr 1937
Maj Gen A . B. Haig	Apr 1937 - Mar 1940
Brig A. F. P. Christison	Mar 1940- Feb 1941
Brig C. A. Osborne	Feb 1941 - Apr 1942
Brig G .C. Evans	Apr 1942 - Aug 1943
Brig B. H. Chappel	Aug 1943 - Jun 1944
Brig H. V. Collingridge	Jun 1944 - Mar 1945
Maj Gen S. F. Irwin	Mar 1945 - Mar 1947
Maj Gen H. L. Davies	Apr 1947 - Aug 1947
Maj Gen S. F. Irwin	Aug 1947 - Feb 1948
Maj Gen I. C. A. Lauder	Feb 1948 - Mar 1952
Maj Gen A. Tilly	Apr 1952 - Aug 1954
Maj Gen M. A. Latif Khan	Aug 1954 - Jul 1957
Maj Gen M. G. Jilani	Jul 1957 - Dec 1958
Maj Gen S. A. A. Bilgrami	Dec 1958 - Dec 1962
Maj Gen Sahabzada Yaqub Khan	Jan 1963 - Sep 1965
Period without Commandant	Sep 1965 - May 1966 Indo-Pak War
Maj Gen Akhtar Hussain Malik	May 1966 - Jun 1967
Maj Gen Abrar Hussain	Aug 1967 - Mar 1968
Maj Gen Muhammad Shariff	May 1968 - Jan 1970
Maj Gen Azmat Bakhsh Awan	Feb 1970 - Feb 1972
Maj Gen Riaz Azim	Feb 1972 - Dec 1974
Maj Gen S. Wajahat Hussain	Jan 197 5 - Jul 1977
Maj Gen Muhammad Iqbal	Jul 1977 - Sep 1979
Maj Gen Ahmed Shamim Khan	Sep 1979 - Aug 1982
Maj Gen Muhammad Safdar	Aug 1982 - Sep 1985
Maj Gen Rahim Dil Bhatti	Sep 1985 - May 1988
Maj Gen Amin Khan Berki	May 1988 - May 1990
Lt Gen Syed Tanwir Husain Naqvi	Jun 1990 - Dec 1991
Maj Gen Ali Kuli Khan Khattak	Feb 1992 - Jun 1993
Maj Gen Saeed uz Zafar	Jul 1993 - Dec 1995
Maj Gen Syed Mohammad Amjad	Dec 1995 - Dec 1998
Maj Gen Javaid Afzal Khan	Dec 1998 - Nov 1999
Maj Gen/Lt Gen Tariq Waseem Ghazi	Feb 2000 - May 2001
Maj Gen Malik Arif Hayat	May 2001 - May 2002
Maj Gen Mohsin Kamal	May 2002 - April 2005
Maj Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha	Apr 2005 - Apr 2006
Maj Gen/Lt Gen Khalid Nawaz Khan	May 2006 - May 2010
Maj Gen/Lt Gen Khalid Rabbani	May 2010 - Nov 2011
Maj Gen Sohail Ahmad Khan	Nov 2011 - Jan 2014
Maj Gen Shahid Baig Mirza	Jan 2014 - May 2015
Maj Gen/Lt Gen Aamir Abbasi	May 2015 - Dec 2017
Maj Gen Sarfraz Ali	Jan 2018 - Oct 2018
Maj Gen / Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum	Nov 2018 - Dec 2020
Maj Gen Amer Ahsan Nawaz	Dec 2020 - Sep 2023
Maj Gen Naseem Anwer	Sep 2023 -

• General Joyanto Nath Chaudhuri Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army from 1962 to 1966 and the Military Governor of Hyderabad State from 1948 to 1949.
• Lt Gen Agha Ibrahim Akram
• Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery.
• General Qamar Javed Bajwa

• PAF Air War College
• Pakistan Naval War College

• The Staff College, Quetta. The First Fifty Years of The Staff College Quetta, 1906–1955. (Quetta: The Staff College, 1962). 80 pages.

• Official website
• Former website at the Wayback Machine (archived 2009-04-06)

30°13′18″N 67°03′36″E / 30.2218°N 67.0600°E / 30.2218; 67.0600