Mr Azad was a junior leader in the student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami party in 1971 and a member of the Razakar Bahini, an auxiliary force set up to help the Pakistani army by rooting out local resistance.

BBC: Asia

Such shadowy groups, plus organisations more openly loyal to the supreme leader such as the Revolutionary Guards, veterans' clubs and the Basij, an auxiliary force of youthful zealots with branches in mosques, schools and universities, are also known for more peaceful political work.

ECONOMIST: Iran's presidential choice

"The U.S. military ... still mainly sees the police as an auxiliary security force rather than an enforcer of the law, " the International Crisis Group concluded in a report posted Thursday on its Web site.

CNN: Report: Afghan police should focus on crime, not militants

"This investment will support an increase in our reserve forces to a trained strength in the Army Reserve of 30, 000, the Maritime Reserve of 3, 100 and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force of 1, 800, all by 2018, " said Mr Hammond.

BBC: Army reservists overhaul outlined by Philip Hammond

In addition, seven Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships and four support aircraft, consisting of Nimrod maritime patrol and Hercules transport planes will be part of the force.

CNN: Raiding role for British troops