[1] The 17th Cavalry was raised in 1857 at Muttra by Colonel CJ Robarts and was composed entirely of Afghans.

During the First World War, it dispatched a squadron to Africa where it took part in the East African Campaign.

The regimental badge consisted of a silver star and crescent over "XVII" with a title scroll below.

[2][3][4] After the First World War, the number of Indian cavalry regiments was reduced from thirty-nine to twenty-one.

[1] In 1955, the 15th Lancers was re-raised by the Pakistani Army as a Reconnaissance Regiment of the Pakistan Armoured Corps and equipped with M24 Chaffee light tanks.

During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, the regiment served with distinction in the Kasur Sector and was awarded the Battle Honour 'Khem Karan 1965.'