Based on their extensive experience in the local production and assembly of the BAE Systems, Ground Systems Division (previously United Defense) M113 series of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), as well as a number of locally developed variants, the Heavy Industries Taxila facility developed and placed in production a new armoured personnel carrier called the Talha.

Early in 2006 it was revealed that the Multi-National Security Transition - Command - Iraq had placed a contract with HIT late in 2004 that covered the supply of 44 Talha APC, 60 Al Mohafiz (4 × 4) internal security vehicles and 300 Aahan armoured guard posts. These were delivered in 2006.

The hull of the Talha is of all-welded aluminium armour construction that provides the occupants with protection from small arms fire and shell splinters. It has a crew of two, driver and commander/machine gunner and can carry 11 fully equipped infantry.

The overall layout of the Talha is almost identical to the M113 with the engine compartment at the front right and the driver seated at the front left.

The driver is provided with a single circular hatch cover that opens to the right and in front of this are three day periscopes, the centre one of which can be replaced by a passive periscope for night driving.

The power pack consists of a Detroit Diesel 6V-53T turbocharged diesel developing 275 hp coupled to an Allison TX 100-1A fully automatic three-speed transmission with a differential or pivot brake steering.

The diesel fuel tanks are positioned one either side of the rear ramp which saves valuable space inside of the hull, as well as reducing the risk of fire.

The vehicle commander's cupola is in the centre of the hull to the rear of the driver's position and this is provided with periscopes and a single-piece hatch cover. A 12.7 mm machine gun can be fitted for air defence and local protection. On the prototype no protection is provided for the gunner from small arms fire and shell splinters. This could however be fitted if required.

The troop compartment is at the rear of the hull and the troops enter and leave via a power-operated ramp at the rear and there is also a roof hatch that opens left and right.

The upper parts of the roof of the rear troop compartment slope inwards on either side of the hull and in this are firing ports and associated vision devices. These allow some of the troops to fire their weapons from within the troop compartment.

Suspension is of the torsion bar type with either side having five dual rubber tyred road wheels, with the drive sprocket at the front and the idler at the rear. The track has rubber pads, with the left side having 67 shoes and the right side 68 shoes.

There are no track return rollers and the upper part of the suspension is covered by a rubber cover to improve the amphibious characteristics of the vehicle.

The vehicle is fully amphibious being propelled in the water by its tracks. Before entering the water a trim vane is erected at the front of the hull and the bilge pumps are switched on.

For a higher level of battlefield survivability additional bolt on passive armour is available. Other options include an NBC system and various night vision aids.

In addition to the Detroit Diesel/Allison transmission power pack, Heavy Industries Taxila also offer an alternative power pack consisting of a Ukrainian UTD-20 four stroke diesel developing 330 hp. This would be coupled to a hydromechanical transmission with six forward gears and one reverse.

It has been revealed that Pakistan has developed a six road wheeled version called Saad. This has a 400 hp engine and can carry 13 troops. The first prototype of this was completed in late 2005 under the name Saad. Details are given in a separate entry. As far as it is known this remains at the prototype stage as of mid-2007.