| Pakistan Armed Forces | |
|---|---|
| پاکستان مسلح افواج | |
.png) Inter-Services Emblem of the Pakistan Armed Forces | |
 Inter-Services Flag of the Pakistan Armed Forces | |
| Founded | 14 August 1947; 78 years ago (1947-08-14) |
| Service branches |  Pakistan Army Pakistan Navy Pakistan Air Force |
| Headquarters | Joint Staff Headquarters (JSHQ),Rawalpindi,Punjab |
| Website | ispr |
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-Chief |  PresidentAsif Ali Zardari |
| Prime Minister |  Shehbaz Sharif |
| Minister of Defence |  Khawaja Asif |
| Defence Secretary | Lt Gen(R)Hamood Uz Zaman |
| Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff |  GeneralSahir Shamshad Mirza |
| Personnel | |
| Active personnel | 660,000[1] (ranked 6th) |
| Reserve personnel | 550,000 |
| Deployed personnel |  Saudi Arabia — 2,600[2] Qatar — 650[3] |
| Expenditure | |
| Budget | US$9 billion(2025)[4][5] |
| Percent of GDP | 2%(2025)[4][5] |
| Industry | |
| Domestic suppliers | |
| Foreign suppliers | |
| Annual exports | US$416 million (2023)[6] |
| Related articles | |
| History | |
| Ranks | Army ranks and insignia Naval ranks and insignia Air Force ranks and insignia |
ThePakistan Armed Forces (Urdu:پاکستان مسلح افواج;pronounced[ˈpɑːkˌɪstaːnmʊˈsəlˌle(ɦ)əfˈwɑːd͡ʒ]) are themilitary forces ofPakistan. It is theworld's sixth-largest military measured byactive military personnel and consists of three uniformed services—theArmy,Navy, and theAir Force, which are backed by several paramilitary forces such as theNational Guard and theCivil Armed Forces.[7] A critical component to the armed forces' structure is theStrategic Plans Division Force, which is responsible for the maintenance and safeguarding of Pakistan'stactical andstrategicnuclear weapons stockpile and assets.[8] Thepresident of Pakistan is thecommander-in-chief of the Pakistan Armed Forces and thechain of command is organized under theChairman of theJoint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC) alongside the respectivechiefs of staff of theArmy,Navy, andAir Force.[8] All branches are systemically coordinated during joint operations and missions under theJoint Staff Headquarters (JSHQ).[8]
Since the1963 Sino-Pakistan Agreement, the Pakistani military has hadclose relations with China, jointly working to develop theJF-17, theK-8, and various other weapon systems. As of 2025,[update]China was the largest foreign supplier of military equipment to Pakistan in major arms.[9] The military cooperation between the ChinesePeople's Liberation Army and Pakistan have accelerated the pace of jointmilitary exercises, and their increasingly compatible weapon supply chains and network communication systems have accelerated the integration of defense capabilities between the two sides.[10] Both nations also cooperate on the development of theirnuclear andspace technology programs.[11][12][13] Alongside this, the Pakistani military also maintainsrelations with the United States in history, which gave Pakistanmajor non-NATO ally status in 2004. Pakistan procures the bulk of its military equipment from China and its owndomestic suppliers.[9]
The Pakistan Armed Forces were formed in 1947, when Pakistan gainedindependence from theBritish Empire.[14] Since then, they have played a decisive role in themodern history of Pakistan, most notably due to fightingmajor wars with India in1947–1948,1965 and1971. The armed forces haveseized control of thegovernment on several occasions, consequently forming what analysts refer to as adeep state referred to as "The Establishment".[14] The need forborder management led to the creation of theNational Guard and theCivil Armed Forces to deal withcivil unrest in theNorth-West, as well as the security of border areas inPunjab andSindh by paramilitary troops. In 2024, the Pakistan Armed Forces had approximately 660,000 active personnel, excluding 25,000+ personnel in theStrategic Plans Division Forces and 291,000 active personnel in the various paramilitary forces.[15] The military has traditionally had a large pool of volunteers, and thereforeconscription has never been brought into effect, although both theConstitution of Pakistan and supplementary legislation allow for conscription in a state ofwar.[16]
Accounting for 18.3% of national government expenditure in 2021, after interest payments, Pakistan's military absorbs a large part of the country's annual budget.[17] The armed forces are generally highly approved of inPakistani society.[18][19] As of April 2021,[update] Pakistan was the sixth-largest contributor toUnited Nationspeacekeeping efforts, with 4,516 personneldeployed overseas.[20] Other foreign deployments have consisted of Pakistani military personnel serving asmilitary advisers in variousAfrican andArab countries. The Pakistani military has maintained combat divisions and brigade-strength presences in some Arab states during theArab–Israeli Wars, aided American-led coalition forces in the firstGulf War againstIraq, and actively taken part in theSomali andBosnian conflicts.
The Pakistani military traces its roots directly back to theBritish Indian Army, in which manyBritish IndianMuslims served duringWorld War I andWorld War II, prior to thePartition of India in 1947.[21] Upon Partition, military formations with a Muslim-majority (such as theIndian Army'sinfantry Muslim regiments) were transferred to the newDominion of Pakistan,[21] while on an individual basis, Indian Muslims could choose to transfer their allegiance and service to the Pakistan Armed Forces (consisting of thePakistan Army,Royal Pakistan Navy andRoyal Pakistan Air Force) or remain serving in theIndian Armed Forces of theDominion of India. Significant figures who opted for the former includedAyub Khan (British Indian Army),Haji Mohammad Siddiq Choudri (Royal Indian Navy) andAsghar Khan (Royal Indian Air Force).[21] Many of the senior officers who would form the Pakistan Armed Forces had fought withBritish forces inWorld War II, thus providing the newly created country with the professionalism, experience and leadership it would need in its future wars against neighbouringIndia.[22] In a formula arranged by theBritish, military resources were to be divided betweenIndia and Pakistan in a ratio of 64% going to India and 36% going to Pakistan.[23]
The Pakistani military largely retained British military traditions and doctrine until 1956, when theUnited States dispatched a specializedMilitary Assistance Advisory Group to Pakistan to build its military; from this point onward,American military tradition and doctrine became more dominant within Pakistan's armed forces.[24] In March 1956, theorder of precedence of the Pakistani military's three formal services changed from "Navy-Army-Air Force" to "Army-Navy-Air Force".[25][non-primary source needed]
Between 1947 and 1971, Pakistan fought three direct conventionalwars against India, with theIndo-Pakistani War of 1971 witnessing thesecession ofEast Pakistan as the independent state ofBangladesh.[26] Rising tensions withAfghanistan in the 1960s (primarily over theDurand Line dispute) and anindirect proxy war fought against theSoviet Union throughout the 1970s and 1980s in theSoviet–Afghan War with American,British andIsraeli assistance led to a sharp rise in the development of the Pakistan Armed Forces.[27][28][29][30] In 1999, an extended period of intense border-skirmishing with India, the so-calledKargil War, resulted in a massive redeployment of forces inKashmir.[31] As of 2014,[update] the military has been conductingcounter-insurgency operations along theborder areas of Afghanistan, while continuing to participate in severalUnited Nationspeacekeeping operations.[32][33]
Since 1957, the armed forces have taken control from thecivilian government in variousmilitary coups—ostensibly to restore order in the country, citing corruption and gross inefficiency on the part of the civilian leadership. While manyPakistanis have supported these seizures of power,[34] others have claimed that the rampant political instability, lawlessness and corruption in Pakistan are the direct consequence of consistentmilitary rule.[35][36][37] The budget allocation for the Pakistan Armed Forces at over 20% of the annual budget of Pakistan. Elected officials and the lawmakers have been forced to come under military rule for over 30 years of Pakistan's existence.[38]
Leadership of the Pakistan Armed Forces is provided by theJoint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC), which controls the military from theJoint staff Headquarters (JS HQ), adjacent to theAir HQ,Navy HQ, andArmy General HQ (GHQ) in the vicinity of theRawalpindi Military District, Punjab.[14] The Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee is composed of theChairman Joint Chiefs, theChief of Army Staff, theChief of Air Staff and theChief of Naval Staff.[14]
At the JS HQ, it forms with the office of theEngineer-in-Chief,Navy Hydrographer,Surgeon-General of each inter-service, director of JS HQ, andDirector-Generals (DGs) ofInter-Services Public Relations (ISPR),Inter-Services Selection Board (ISSB),Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and theStrategic Plans Division Force (SPD Force).[39][clarification needed]
Following military failures in theIndo-Pakistani War of 1971 andBangladesh Liberation War, federal studies oncivil–military relations were held by a commission led byHamoodur Rahman,Chief Justice of Pakistan.[8][39] Recommendations of theHamoodur Rahman Commission helped establish the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee to co-ordinate all military work and oversee joint missions and their execution during operations.[39][40]
The chairmanship of the JCSC rotates among the three main service branches, with appointment by theprime minister confirmed by thepresident.[39] The chairman outranks all other four-star officers; however, he does not have operational command authority over the armed forces.[41] In his capacity as chief military adviser, he assists the prime minister and the minister of defence in exercising their command functions.[41]
Technically, the JCSC is the highest military body; and its chairman serves as the principal staff officer (PSO) to the civilian prime minister,Cabinet,National Security Council (its adviser), andpresident.[39] The JCSC deals with joint military planning, joint training, integrated joint logistics, and provides strategic directions for the armed forces; it periodically reviews the role, size, and condition of the three main service branches; and it advises the civilian government on strategic communications, industrial mobilisations plans, and formulating defence plans.[39] In many ways, the JCSC provides an important link to understand, maintain balance, and resolve conflicts between military andpolitical circles.[39] In times of peace, the JCSC's principle functions are to conduct planning of civil–military input; in times of war, thechairman acts as principal military adviser to theprime minister in the supervision and conduct ofjoint warfare.[41]
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After thepartitioning of British India in 1947, the Pakistan Army was formed by Indian Muslim officers serving in theBritish Indian Army.[42] The largest branch of the nation's military, it is a professional, volunteer fighting force, with about 560,000 active personnel and 550,000 reserves (though estimates vary widely).[15] Although, the Constitution provides a basis for theservice draft, conscription has never been imposed in Pakistan.[43] A single command structure known asGeneral Headquarters (GHQ) is based atRawalpindi Cantt, adjacent to theJoint staff HQ.[39] The army is commanded by theChief of Army Staff (COAS), by statute a four-star army general, appointed by the president with the consultation and confirmation of the prime minister.[44] As of 2022,[update] GeneralAsim Munir was the chief of army staff.[45] Army GeneralSahir Shamshad Mirza is the current Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.[46] The army has a wide range of corporate (e.g.:Fauji Foundation), commercial (e.g.:Askari Bank), and political interests, and on many occasions hasseized control of thecivilian government to restore order in the country.[47]
TheArmy Aviation Corps reportedly operates about 250 aircraft, including approximately 40AH-1 Cobra combat helicopters. TheArmy Strategic Forces Command operates a wide range of missile systems in its arsenal.[48] In spite of thePressler amendment enforced in the 1990s, the army has been focused on development of land-based weapon systems and production of military hardware.[49] Domestic innovation resulted in the successful development ofG3A3 rifles,Anza missile systems, andAl-Zarrar andAl-Khalidmain battle tanks (MBTs).[49]
Since 1947, the army has wagedthree wars with neighboring India, and severalborder skirmishes with Afghanistan.[50] Due toPakistan's diverse geography, the army has extensive combat experience in a variety of terrains.[51] The army has maintained a strong presence in theArab world during theArab–Israeli Wars, aided theCoalition Forces in the firstGulf War, and played a major role in combat in theBosnian War as well as rescuing trapped American soldiers inMogadishu,Somalia in 1993. Recently, major joint-operations undertaken by the army includeOperation Black Thunderstorm andOperation Rah-e-Nijat, against armed insurgents within Pakistan. The army has also been an active participant inUN peacekeeping missions.[52]
Brought into existence in 1947 with the establishment of thePakistan Air Force Academy, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is regarded as a "powerful defence component of the country's defence."[citation needed] The prefix "Royal" was added in 1947, but dropped when Pakistan became anIslamic republic in 1956.[53] The PAF is the seventh-largest air force and the largest in theMuslim world, with about 943 combat fighter jets and over 200 trainer, transport, communication, helicopter, and force-multiplier aircraft. A single command structureAir Headquarters (AHQ) is based atIslamabad. The air force is commanded by theChief of Air Staff (CAS), by statute a four-star air chief marshal, appointed by the president, with the consultation and confirmation of the prime minister.[44] As of March 2021,[update] Air Chief MarshalZaheer Ahmad Babar is the CAS.[54]
In many important events in Pakistan's history, the air force has played a pivotal, influential, and crucial role in the nation's defence and national security, and promoted a sense of security in civil society.[55][56][57][58] Its military significance and importance in public perception contribute to the PAF's dominance over the other major service branches.[59] The PAF officially uses the slogan: "Second to None; fully abreast with the requisite will and mechanism to live by its standards in the coming millennium and beyond."[60]
Historically, the air force has been heavily dependent on U.S., Chinese, and French aircraft technology to support its growth, despite impositions of the Pressler amendment.[53] WhileF-16s continue to be a backbone of the air force,[61] the local development and quick production of theJF-17 have provided an alternative route to meet its aerial combat requirements.[62] According to PAF accounts, the air force plans to retire several of its ageing French-licensedMirage III andMirage 5 fighter jets.[63]
Joint production with theChinese Air Force of a light-weightmulti-role combat aircraft and further avionics development of the JF-17 is ongoing at thePakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC). As of 2016, 70 JF-17s are operational and have replaced 50 Mirage IIIs and F-7Ps. The PAF plans to replace all F-7Ps and Mirage III/5 aircraft by 2020.[64][65][66] The F-7PG will be replaced later, and the JF-17 fleet may eventually be expanded to 300 aircraft.[67] Realizing the importance offifth generation fighter aircraft, the PAF successfully negotiated for the procurement of approximately 36 ChineseFC-20 fighter jets – a deal worth around US$1.4 billion, signed in 2009.[68][69] It was expected that the FC-20s would be delivered in 2015.[70] In close co-ordination withTurkish Aerospace Industries, the PAC engaged in a mid-life update (MLU) program of itsF-16A/Bs, approximately 26 of which are in service.[71] In 2010, the air force procured at least 18 newly builtF-16C/D Block 52s under the Peace Gate-II[clarification needed] by the United States.[72]
In 2009, the PAF enlisted two types ofairborne early warning and control (AEW&C) systems aircraft: fourErieye-equippedSaab 2000s from Sweden, and a Chinese AWACS based on theShaanxi Y-8F cargo aircraft.[73] FourIlyushin Il-78 aerial tankers, capable of refueling F-16, Mirage III, Mirage 5, JF-17, and FC-20 fighters, have been acquired second-hand from Ukrainian surplus stocks.[74][75][76] The fleet ofFT-5 andT-37 trainers is to be replaced with approximately 75K-8 Karakorum intermediate jet training aircraft.[citation needed] Other major developments continue to be under development by the local aerospace industries;[77] some of its electronic systems were exhibited inIDEAS 2014 held inKarachi.[78][relevant?] Since the 1960s, the PAF has held regular combat exercises, such asExercise Saffron Bandit and Exercise High Mark, modelled on theUSAF Weapons School; many authors believe the PAF is capable of mastering the methods of "toss bombing" since the 1990s.[79][80]
The Pakistan Navy was formed in 1947 by the Indian Muslim officers serving in theRoyal Indian Navy. The prefix "Royal" was soon added but dropped in 1956 when Pakistan became anIslamic republic.[81] Its prime responsibility is to provide protection of nation's sea ports,marine borders, approximately 1,000 km (650 mi) of coastline, and supporting national security and peacekeeping missions.[82] With approximately 30,000 active duty personnel andcommissioned warships, its operational scope has expanded to greater national and international responsibility in countering the threat of sea-based global terrorism, drug smuggling, and trafficking issues.[83]
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A single command structure known asNaval Headquarters (NHQ) is based at theRawalpindi Cantt, adjacent to the Joint Staff HQ. The navy is commanded by theChief of Naval Staff (CNS), who is by statute a four-star admiral, appointed by the president, with the required consultation and confirmation of the prime minister.[44] As of October 2020,[update] AdmiralMuhammad Amjad Khan Niazi is thechief of naval staff.[84]
Navy Day is celebrated on 8 September to commemorate its service in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.[citation needed] According to authorTariq Ali, the navy lost one-half of its force in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.[85] The Navy heavily depended on American-built naval technology and operated a large infrastructure from 1947 to 1971.[81] ThePressler amendment forced an embargo in the 1990s, during which the navy developedair independent propulsion (AIP) technology purchased from France and built theAgosta-class submarines; two of these (as well as one of the new frigates) were built at Pakistan's facilities in Karachi.[86] The navy's surface fleet consists of helicopter carriers,destroyers,frigates,amphibious assault ships,patrol ships, mine-countermeasures, and miscellaneous vessels.[87] Established in 1972, theNaval Air Arm provides fleet air defence, maritime reconnaissance, and anti-submarine warfare capability. Mirage 5 aircraft donated by the PAF are flown by the Navy, equipped withExocet anti-ship missiles.[87] The Navy's fleet ofP-3C Orion turboprop aircraft, equipped withelectronic intelligence (ELINT) systems, play a pivotal role in the Navy's gathering of intelligence.[88] Since 2001, the navy has emphasised its role and expanded its operational scope across the country with the establishment ofNaval Strategic Forces Command, based inIslamabad.
In the 1990s, the navy lost its opportunity to equip itself with latest technology and negotiated with theRoyal Navy to acquire ageingTariq-class destroyers in 1993–94, which continue to be extensively upgraded.[87] During the same time, the Navy engaged in a process of self-reliance and negotiated with China for assistance.[87] This ultimately led the introduction ofF-22PZulfiquar-class frigates, which were designed and developed at theKarachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KSEW); at this same time, theAgosta-90B submarines were also built.[87]Pakistan's role in the War on Terror led to a rapid modernisation, which saw the induction of thePNSAlamgir anti-submarine warship in 2011.[89] The submarines remain to be backbone of the navy,[90] which has been developing anuclear submarine.[91] Since 2001, media reports have been surfaced that the Navy has been seeking to enhance its strategic strike capability by developing naval variants of the nuclearcruise missile.[92] The Babur cruise missile has a range of 700 kilometres (430 mi) and is capable of using both conventional and nuclear warheads.[93] Future developments of Babur missiles include capability of being launched from submarines, surface ships, and a range extension to 1,000 kilometres (620 mi). An air-launched version,Ra'ad, has been successfully tested.[93]
Since the 1990s, the navy has been conducting jointnaval exercises and has participated in multinational task forces such asCTF-150 andCTF-151.[94]
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Recommended by the Navy, based onRoyal Marines, thePakistan Marines were established on 1 July 1971 to undertakeriverine operations inEast Pakistan.[96] The Marines saw their first combat actions inamphibious operations during theBangladesh Liberation War, fighting against the Indian Army.[97] Due to poor combat performance in the war, high losses and casualties, and inability to effectively counter the Indian Army, the Marines were decommissioned by 1974. However, Marines continued to exist in its rudimentary form until 1988 to meet fundamental security requirements of Pakistan Navy units.[citation needed] In 1990, the Marines were recommissioned under Commander M. Obaidullah.[96]
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The Marines are the uniform service branch within the Navy whose leadership comes directly from the Navy.[97][98] It shares theNavy's rank code, but conducts its combined combat training with army atPakistan Military Academy Kakul and School of Infantry in Quetta.[96][99]
Its single command structure is based at theManora Fort inQasim Marine Base inKarachi and the Marines are under the command of the Commander Coast (COMCOAST), by statute a two-star rear-admiral.[100] According to the ISPR, the Marines are deployed at the southeastern regions of Pakistan to avoid infiltration and undercover activities from the Indian Army.[98]
A small number of Marine Battalions are deployed at theSir Creek region[101] to deter the Indian Army, and coordinated the relief efforts in the2010 Pakistan floods.[102] Almost an entire combat contingent of Marines were deployed inSindh andSouthern Punjab to lead the flood-relief operations in 2014.[103][104]
For intelligence purposes, the army immediately raised the combat battalion of the Marines, from the officers of the Navy, in 1999.[105] Major intelligence activities are gathered from the Sir Creek region by the Marines, where an entire battalion is deployed to conduct reconnaissance.[96][105]
TheCivil Armed Forces (CAF) of Pakistan comprise several paramilitary organizations, separate and functionally distinct from the regular Pakistan Armed Forces. Operating under the purview of the Ministry of Interior in peacetime, the CAF shoulders the crucial responsibility of maintaining internal security. This encompasses assisting civilian law enforcement agencies in tasks like crime prevention, border control and public order maintenance. The CAF additionally plays a vital role in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations, along with tackling anti-smuggling activities. During natural disasters, the CAF collaborates closely with the military to provide relief and support. In times of war, the CAF falls under the direct command of theMinistry of Defence and the Pakistan Armed Forces. Estimates from 2024 place the strength of the CAF at approximately 291,000 personnel.[106] With the exception of the Frontier Constabulary, command positions within the CAF are typically filled by officers on secondment from the Pakistan Army.
Pakistan National Guard is amilitary reserve force and a component of thePakistan Army. Functioning as a "second line of defense" alongside the Pakistan Army Reserve and theCivil Armed Forces, the National Guard's primary roles include internal security, disaster relief and wartime support for the regular army. Established on 1 January 1948, it comprises approximately 185,000 personnel with its headquarters at theGeneral Headquarters (GHQ) inRawalpindi.[107]
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As of 2024,[update] estimations by national and international bodies were that approximately 660,000 people[15] were on active duty in the three main service branches, with an additional 291,000 serving in paramilitary forces[15] and 550,000 in reserve.[citation needed] It is an all-volunteer military, butconscription can be enacted at the request of the president with the approval of theparliament of Pakistan.[108] The military is the sixth largest in the world and has troops deployed around the globe in military assistance and peacekeeping operations.[52]
Pakistan is the only predominantly Muslim country in whichwomen serve as high-ranking officers and in combat roles, and a sizeable unit of female army and air force personnel has been actively involved in military operations against Taliban forces.[109][110][111]
Members of the Pakistani military hold a rank, either that ofofficer orenlisted, and can be promoted.[112]
The following table summarizes current Pakistani military staffing:
| Service | Total active-duty personnel | Total reserve | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Army | 560,000 | 550,000 | [15] |
| Navy | 30,000 | 5,000 | |
| Air Force | 70,000 | 8,000 | |
| National Guard | 185,000 | None | |
| Civil Armed Forces | 291,000+ | None | |
| SPD Force | 25,000+ | Unknown | |
From 1947 to the early 2000s, Pakistan's military uniforms closely resembled those of their counterparts in theBritish armed services.[113] TheArmy uniform consisted of plain yellowishkhaki, which was the standard issue as both thecombat uniform (ACU) and theservice uniform (ASU).[citation needed] ThePakistan Air Force (PAF) uniform was primarily based on theRoyal Air Force uniform, with bluish-grey as its reporting colour markings.[113] TheNavy uniform was likewise based on theRoyal Navy uniform, with predominant colours of navy blue and white.[citation needed]
In 2003, the service uniforms for each major service branch were revised and orders were made to issue new uniforms roughly based on theAmerican military.[citation needed] WithMarines reestablished in 2004, theUniversal Camouflage Pattern (UCP) uniforms are now worn by each service in respect to their colours; theflag of Pakistan patch worn on the shoulder became compulsory.[114]
In the military, theservice dress, however, remains yellowish khaki for the Army; plain white service dress for the Navy (excluding the Marines).[115] The Air Force abandoned its rank and uniform structure in 2006, and introduced its own uniform insignia which closely resembled that of theTurkish Army.[115] Army service uniform consists of a round shoulder patch of army's insignia. Prior to becoming a republic; the shoulder patches were of the pattern inherited from the British Indian Army, and resembled the shape of the Crusader shields. In 1956, the Pakistan Army decided to adopt a round shape that reflected Islamic Heritage.[116]
The Army's standard UCP is based on apixelated version of the region's arid desert patterns.[115] The army's UCP varies depending on the type of missions and deployment it is being used for.[115] The Navy's UCP is based on a design that incorporates sparse black and medium grey shapes on a light grey background.[115] The Marines have awoodland pattern featuring light brown, olive green and dark blue shapes on a tan or light olive background.[115] Slight colour variations have been noted. Other than a greenishflight suit and a standard service dress, the Air Forces'sAirman Battle Uniform (ABU) camouflage features a variation of the six-colour desert pattern.[115] In each service's UCP, the name of the service branch, rank, and gallantry badges are worn on the chest; insignia are worn on the shoulders with the compulsory flag-of-Pakistan patch.[114]
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As Pakistan became independent, theBritish military ranks and insignia were initially commissioned by the armed forces as part of a legacy ofBritish colonialism.[117] Within a few months of its founding in 1947, the military had inherited all professional qualifications of the British military in India.[112][118]
In respect to theBritish Indian military, theMinistry of Defence (MoD) authorised the threejunior commissioned officer (JCO) pay grades between theenlisted ranks andcommissioned officers.[119] The JCO grades are equivalent to the civil bureaucracy's pay scales for those who rise by promotion from among enlisted recruits. The JCO grades in the Pakistani military are a continuation of the formerViceroy of India's commissioned pay grades during theBritish colonial period.[120] Promotion to the JCO, however, remains a lucrative and powerful incentive for the enlisted military personnel; thus, if JCO ranks are ever phased out, it will probably be a slow process.[120]
It is estimated that approximately 60–70% of Pakistan's military personnel are deployed along theIndo-Pakistani border.[121] In the aftermath of the United Statesinvasion of Afghanistan, more than 150,000 personnel were shifted towards theTribal Areas adjacent to Afghanistan.[122] Since 2004, Pakistan's military forces have been engaged inmilitary efforts againstal-Qaeda extremists.
In comparison withmultinational and US forces, Pakistan's military has suffered the highest number of casualties in the war on terror, both in confrontations with al-Qaeda and duringborder skirmishes with the United States. After the2008 Mumbai attacks and the subsequent standoff with India, several combat divisions were redeployed to Eastern andSouthern Pakistan.
In addition to its military deployments, the armed forces also assist the government in responding to natural disasters such as the2005 Kashmir earthquake and thenationwide floods of 2010.
A large number of Pakistan Armed Forces personnel are deployed overseas as part of the United Nations' peacekeeping missions. As of May 2019, 5,083 personnel were serving abroad, making Pakistan the sixth-largest contributor of personnel to UN peacekeeping missions.[20]
China's relationship with Pakistan holds great importance for both countries in terms of common interest and geopolitical strategy. The alliance was initially formed to counter the regional influence and military threat posed by India and the Soviet Union. In recent years, with the strategic cooperationbetween the United States and India has deepened further, China and Pakistan have signed several military cooperation agreements.[123]
China has been a steady source ofmilitary equipment and has cooperated with Pakistan in setting-up weapons production and modernisation facilities. According toStockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Pakistan is China's biggest arms buyer, counting for nearly 63% of Chinese arms exports. According to SIPRI, 81% of Pakistan's arms imports between 2019 and 2024 came from China.[9] The two countries are actively involved in several joint projects to enhance each other's military needs, including development and production of theJF-17 Thunder fighter jet, theK-8 Karakorum advanced training aircraft, theAl-Khalid tank,airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) systems, and many other projects. The two countries have held several joint military exercises to enhance co-operation between their armed forces.[124] A 2023 report by theUnited States Institute of Peace argues that China and Pakistan's military relationship has "advanced from an episodic partnership to a threshold alliance", Pakistan "increasingly sourced from China, especially the higher-end combat strike and power projection capabilities; and Pakistan continues to retire older U.S. and European origin platforms". But both sides need to do more to make this threshold relationship a full-fledged ally.[125]
Prior to 1971, Pakistan's military had a strong presence inEast Pakistan and an activetheatre-level military command. After Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan, full diplomatic relations were not restored until 1976.[126] Relations improved considerably under theBangladesh military governments ofPresidentLieutenant GeneralZiaur Rahman and Lieutenant GeneralHussain Muhammad Ershad, as Bangladesh had grown distant from its former war ally, India.[126][127] Common concerns over India's regional power have influenced strategic co-operation, leading to a gift of severalsquadrons ofF-6 fighter aircraft to theBangladesh Air Force in the late 1980s.[128]
After being condemned by India, Great Britain, and the United States between 2004 and 2006 for repressing democracy, theNepalese monarchy developed military ties with China and Pakistan, who offered extensive support, arms, and equipment for the monarchy's struggle to stay in power in the face of aMaoist insurgency.[129]
When India proved reluctant to supplySri Lanka with weapons, the insurgency-plagued island nation turned to Pakistan. In May 2000, with separatistTamil Tiger rebels about to recapture their former capital ofJaffna, Pakistan PresidentMusharraf provided millions of dollars of much-needed armament to the Sri Lankan government.[130] In May 2008, Lt-Gen Fonseka of theSri Lanka Army held talks with his Pakistan Army counterparts regarding the sale of military equipment, weapons, and ammunition. The sale of 22Al-Khalid main battle tanks to the Sri Lanka Army was finalised during these talks, in a deal worth over US$100 million.[131] In April 2009, Sri Lanka requested $25 million worth of 81 mm, 120 mm and 130 mm mortar ammunition, to be delivered within a month, which proved decisive in the defeat of the Tamil Tigers.[132]
Since the 1970s, Pakistan andNorth Korea have cooperated extensively on the development of ballistic missile and nuclear weapons technologies. Pakistan's strong alliance with China and the legacy of a major scandal linking the Pakistani military to North Korea's nuclear program have prevented Islamabad from joining UN efforts to diplomatically isolate the DPRK.[133]
Throughout its history, Pakistan has had a fluctuating military relationship with the United States.[134] During times of co-operation, U.S. military funding and training have enhanced the Pakistan Armed Forces; in contrast, severing of U.S. support at critical junctures has led to bitter disillusionment. The Pakistani military, which generally prefers a balance with China or America, is not ready to sever ties with the United States,[135] despiteleaked Pentagon intelligence suggesting that Pakistani diplomats are negative about ties with it.[136]
In support of the United States'2001 invasion of Afghanistan, Pakistan's armed forces received large amounts of military aid, funding, and training. According toMinistry of Finance calculations, in the three years prior to the11 September attacks, Pakistan received approximately $9 million in American military aid; in the three years after, the amount increased to $4.2 billion.[137]
Pakistan has maintained military-to-military relations with the30 member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).[138] NATO regards its relations with Pakistan as "partners across the globe."[138] With the support of US Secretary of StateColin Powell, Pakistan was designated a "major non-NATO ally" in 2004.[139][140][141][142] However, afterthe United States troops withdraws Afghanistan in 2021, U.S. "clearly distanced" itself from Pakistan,[143] and all U.S. military aid has been canceled.[144]
Since the 2000s, military relations have improved between the Russian armed forces and the Pakistan armed forces.[145][146] Russia and Pakistan have held Joint Tactical Exercise Friendship since 2016.[147]
Pakistan's close ties to the nations of the Middle East, based on geography and shared religion, have led to periodic military deployments since the 1960s. TheArab world countries – many of them wealthy but with small populations and limited militaries – have historically depended on regional armies to provide a protective umbrella and military muscle in times of instability and crisis.[148] The Pakistani military has retained a particularly close relationship withSaudi Arabia which has been a sporadically generous patron: much of the military equipment bought from the United States by Pakistan in the 1980s was paid for by Saudi Arabia. TheUnited Arab Emirates (UAE) andKuwait also have been important sources of financial support.[149]
Pakistani military personnel have been posted as military advisers and instructors to the militaries ofSaudi Arabia,Jordan,Syria,Libya,Kuwait, and theUAE. Pakistan Air Force, Navy, and Army personnel played crucial roles in building theUAE military. Many Arab military officials have been educated at Pakistan's military staff colleges and universities. A combat division commanded by Major-GeneralZia-ul-Haq was instrumental in putting down the PalestinianBlack September revolt against King Hussein inJordan in the early 1970s.
Pakistan has enjoyed strong military co-operation with theIranian military since the 1950s. Iranian leaderMohammad Reza Shah provided free fuel to PAF fighter jets in theIndo-Pakistani War of 1965, allowing Pakistani planes to land atIranian Air Force bases, refuel, and take off. The military relationship continued even after theIranian revolution, as Pakistan was among the first countries to recognise the new Iranian government. In the aftermath of thehostage crisis inTehran, the United States severed its ties with Iran, leading Iran to send its military officers and personnel to be educated at Pakistani military academies. Relations became difficult following theSoviet–Afghan War, when hundreds of foreign fighters (mostly Sunni Arabs) arrived in Pakistan to take part in theAfghan Jihad. Pakistan PresidentZia-ul-Haq's military administration policy reflected extremist views towards theShiites and causedreligious tensions to rise betweenSunni and Shiites in Pakistan, much to the discomfort of Iran. During theIran–Iraq War, theArab countries and the United States, who weresupporting Iraq, pressured Pakistan to discontinue its covert support and military funding for Iran.
The 1980s were a difficult time in military relations for both countries, as Iran was blamed for the rising ethnic tensions between Sunnis and Shiites in Pakistan. The relationship further deteriorated in the 1990s when theTaliban, with Pakistan's support, begantheir rule of Afghanistan. In 1998, Iran and Afghanistan were on the verge of war over theassassination of Iranian diplomats. Iran's relations with India improved during this time, with both supporting theNorthern Alliance against the Taliban.
The situation began to normalise in 2000, with Pakistan and Iran reinstatingtrade relations. In the wake of the11 September attacks in the United States and the fall of the Taliban government in Afghanistan, the two countries began rebuilding their military ties. Over the years, diplomatic delegations have been exchanged, and Pakistan has agreed to sell military equipment to Iran. In addition, Pakistan has maintained strong military-to-military ties withTurkey, and would like to use these, as well as its Iranian connections, as a bridge to the new Muslim states of Central Asia.
Bilateral relations deteriorated after Pakistan refused to participate in theSaudi-led intervention in Yemen, but it subsequently participated in the "Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition" (IMCTC) alliance in 2015.[150]
After theIndo-Pakistani War of 1947, recommendations for establishing an elite commando division within the army were accepted.[citation needed] Commissioned in 1956 with help fromUS Army Special Forces, the Pakistan Army'sSpecial Services Group (SSG) is an elite special operations division; its training and nature of operations are roughly equivalent to BritishSpecial Air Service (SAS) and US Army Special Forces andDelta Force.[citation needed] Tentative estimates of the division's size are put at four battalions but the actual strength is kept highly classified.[citation needed]
With the successful commissioning of Special Services Group, the Pakistan Navy accepted recommendations for commissioning its own special operational unit shortly after theIndo-Pakistani War of 1965.[151] Established asSpecial Service Group Navy (SSGN) in 1966, it is an elite and secretive commando division whose training and combat operations are similar to the Royal Navy'sSpecial Boat Service and US Navy'sSpecial Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU) and Sea, Air, Land (SEAL) teams.[151] Operatives' identities and actual static strength are kept secret and classified.[151] Very few details of their missions are publicly known.[151]
A small unit ofPakistan Marines have, since 1990, operated reconnaissance units to deter theIndian Army's actions in theSir Creek region.[152][153] Other battalions of Marines are trained to carry out operations with airborne, heliborne, submarine, and waterborne insertions and extractions.[154]
TheSpecial Service Wing (SSW) is the newest special operations force, re-established by the Pakistan Air Force in 2004, in the wake of challenges posed by theAfghanistan war.[155] The unit was active earlier by the name of Special Air Warfare Wing and had seen action during theIndo-Pakistani War of 1965 and1971.[156] The SSW is designed to execute difficult aerial and land operations, serving as equivalent to the US Air Force'sSpecial Tactics Squadron units.[155] Following the secretive tradition of its counterparts in other services, the actual number of its serving personnel is kept classified.
In 2009, Pakistan was the single largest contributor of UN peacekeeping forces, with more than 11,000 Pakistani military personnel serving in UN peacekeeping operations worldwide.[157]
The table below shows the current deployment of Pakistani Forces in UN Peacekeeping missions.
| Start of operation | Name of operation | Location | Conflict | Contribution | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) |  | Democratic Republic of Congo | Second Congo War | 3,556 Troops.[158] |
| 2003 | United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) |  | Liberia | Second Liberian Civil War | 2,741 Troops.[159] |
| 2004 | United Nations Operation in BurundiONUB |  | Burundi | Burundi Civil War | 1,185 Troops.[160] |
| 2004 | United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) |  | Ivory Coast | First Ivorian Civil War | 1,145 Troops.[161] |
| 2005 | United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS) |  | Sudan | Second Sudanese Civil War | 1,542 Troops.[162] |
| Staff/observers | 191 observers.[163] |
According to the views of British scholarAnatol Lieven, the Pakistan Armed Forces play a vital role in keeping the Pakistani state together, promoting a spirit of unity and nationhood, and providing a bastion of selfless service to the nation.[26] As an institution, the armed forces have been integrated into Pakistani civil society since the establishment of the country in 1947.[164] The military has been involved in building much of the country's infrastructure (such asdams, bridges, canals,power stations, andenergy projects) and civil–military input from all sections of the armed forces has helped to build a stable society and professionalism in the armed forces.[164]
In times of natural disasters such asfloods andearthquakes, army engineers, medical and logistics personnel, and the armed forces generally have played a major role in rescue, relief, and supply efforts.[165] In 2010, armed forces personnel donated one day of salary for their flood-effected brethren.[166]
In 1996, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, GeneralJehangir Karamat, described the Pakistan Armed Forces' relations with civilian society:
In my opinion, if we have to [have a] repeat of past events, then we must understand that military leaders can pressure only up to a point. Beyond that, their own position starts getting undermined, because the military is, after all, a mirror image of the civil society from which it is drawn.[167]
According to 2012 reports of theNational Reconstruction Bureau (NRB), around 91.1% of civilian infrastructure in theFederally Administered Tribal Area was built by the armed forces in a policy based on sustainable development plans, to improve the livelihood of ordinary people of the region.[168] According to Air Force statistics, the air force conducted approximately 693 relief operations in Pakistan and abroad during the fiscal period 1998–2008.[169] The Air Force carried and distributed thousands of tons of wheat, medicines, emergency shelters, and provided assistance to rehabilitate the disaster-effected areas of the country.[169]
During the wave offloods from 2010 to 2014, the Navy launchedrelief operations nationwide and provided healthcare, medicines, relief efforts, and coordinated the distribution of food in the flood-effected areas.[170] In the Navy's own admission, it had provided 43,850 kilograms (96,670 lb) of food and relief goods to flood victims; this included 5,700 kg of ready-to-cook food, 1,000 kg of dates and 5,000 kg of food dispatched to Sukkur. The Pakistan Naval Air Arm had air dropped more than 500 kg of food and relief goods in Thal, Ghospur, and Mirpur areas.[171]
Engineering units of the Navy built more than 87 houses distributed to the localinternally displaced persons (IDPs). About 69,000 affected IDPs were treated in Navy medical camps.[172]
In Pakistan,Pakistan Army,Pakistan Air Force,Pakistan Navy, and someintelligence agencies are considered as part of Pakistani military. Over the years, the military has been criticized for its past and present actions. Most of the criticism is levelled againstPakistan Army who is the most dominant branch of Pakistan's military. It has been criticized for eroding democratic processes inPakistan, for being the largestbusiness conglomeration in the country, for excessive control over the domestic and foreign policies of Pakistan, forwar crimes, role inBengali genocide, and corruption within the institution.[173][174]
Criticism of military is generally considered as a no-go area and fierce critics are treated brutally by the military from enforced disappearances to extrajudicial killings. Some of the critics ofPakistan Army, such ashuman rights activistManzoor Pashteen, have been jailed while others likeAhmad Noorani andTaha Siddiqui have been forced to flee the country.[175][176]
The Army runs theFauji Foundation which sold Khoski Sugar Mill in 2004 for PKR 300 million despite receiving the highest bid of PKR 387 million.[177][178] In 2005, a corruption case was filed in theNational Accountability Bureau (NAB) against thenmanaging director Syed Muhammad Amjad who was involved in the corruption.[179]
In 2010, a corruption scandal was unearthed that involved twoPakistan Army generals, (Maj Gen Khalid Zaheer Akhtar and Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal), and caused a loss ofRs. 1.8 billion to theNational Logistics Corporation through speculative investments between 2004 and 2008.[180][181] In 2015, both of them were convicted by the military court of Pakistan.[182]
ThePakistan Air Force runs theShaheen Foundation which founded Shaheen Insurance in 1995 as ajoint venture with a South African insurance company,Hollard Group.[183] Later, Hollard's management was dissatisfied with the investment, citingcorruption as a major impediment to their investment's success.[183]
Pakistan Navy's officials were found guility of corruption inKarachi affair. Commissions of 6.25% of the contract, approximately €50 million, were paid out to the lobbying firms in Pakistan and France.[184] Some €50m were allegedly paid as"sweeteners" to various senior Pakistan Navy admirals and officers as well as the political leaders. In 1996–97, theNaval Intelligence led by itsDirector-General,Rear-AdmiralTanvir Ahmed, secretly launched its investigations into this matter and began collecting physical evidence that eventually led to the exposure ofChief of Naval Staff,AdmiralMansurul Haq, in receiving massive monetary commissions in 1997.[185] Massivemedia coverage and the news of the dismissals of one andtwo-star admirals tarnished the image of the Navy, with AdmiralFasih Bokhari, who took over the command of the Navy from Admiral Mansurul Haq, forced to attempt damage control of the situation.[186][187]
TheYoum-e-Difa (English: Defence Day) – Pakistan's day in remembrance of fallen soldiers of theIndo-Pakistani war of 1965 – is observed on 6 September.[188] Memorial services are held in the presence of Pakistan's top military and civil officials.[189] Wreaths of flowers are laid on the graves of the fallen soldiers and ceremonies are held across the country.[190] The change of guard ceremony takes place atMazar-e-Quaid, where the cadets of inter-services academies present Guard of Honour and take the charge.[188] Additionally, theYoum-e-Fizaya (Air Force Day) is celebrated on 7 September, and theYoum-e-Bahriya (Navy Day) on 8 September.[191]
The Pakistan Armed Forces parades take place on 23 March, which is celebrated asYoum-e-Pakistan (Pakistan Day). All main service branches parade onConstitution Avenue inIslamabad, where the weapon exhibitions are televised.[192]
Pakistan's development ofnuclear weapons began in 1972, following theIndo-Pakistani War of 1971, with the government adopting apolicy of deliberate ambiguity which was practised and observed from 1972 to 1998.[193] Amid pressure built afterIndia's nuclear test in 1998, Pakistan successfully conducted its first publicly announced nuclear tests in 1998:Chagai-I andChagai-II.[39] With these tests, Pakistan became the seventh nation to achieve the status of a nuclear power.[194]
Under a public policy guidance, strategic weapons and projects are researched and developed entirely by civilian scientists and engineers, who also develop a wide range of delivery systems. On military policy issues, Pakistan issues directives towards "first use"[195] and maintains that itsprogram is based onnuclear deterrence, to peacefully discourage attack by India and other countries with large conventional-force advantages over Pakistan.[196] According to United States military sources, Pakistan has achieved survivability in a possiblenuclear conflict throughsecond strike capability.[197] Since the early 1990s, Pakistan's nuclear strategists have emphasised attaining "second strike" capability in spite of their "first use" policy.[198] Statements and physical actions by Pakistan have cited the survivability through a second strike, forming a naval-basedcommand and control system to serve as "the custodian of the nation's second-strike capability."[199]
In January 2000, the head of United States Central Command, GeneralAnthony Zinni, toldNBC that longtime assumptions that India had an edge in the South Asian strategic balance of power were questionable at best. Said Zinni: "Don't assume that the Pakistanis' nuclear capability is inferior to the Indians".[200]
Despite international pressure, Pakistan has refused to sign either theNuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or theComprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Initiatives taken towards consolidating strategic infrastructure led to the establishment, in 2000, of theNational Command Authority (NCA), which oversees the policy, military control, development, and deployment of the country's tactical and strategic nuclear arsenals. The command and control of the strategic arsenal are kept under an inter-service strategic command[clarification needed] which reports directly at theJoint staff HQ.[53]
Since its establishment in 2000, the chairperson of the NCA has been the Prime Minister of Pakistan.[201] The NCA supervises and forms a tight control of the strategic organisations related to the research and development inWeapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).[201] Pakistan has an extremely strictcommand and control system over its strategic assets, which is based onC4ISTAR (Command, Control, Communications, and Computing of Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance).[201] Pakistan's strategic command structure has a three-tier system which forms by combining theNational Command Authority, Strategic Plans Division and each of three Inter-Services strategic force commands. The SPD's own force calledSPD Force is responsible for security of nuclear weapons while the strategic forces commands of theair force,army, andnavy exercise the deployments and eventual usage of the WMDs.[201] However, the executive decisions, operational planning's, and controls over the WMDs remains vested with the NCA under thePrime Minister of Pakistan.[201]
Traditionally, the bulk of intelligence work in Pakistan has been carried out by theInter-Services Intelligence (ISI),Intelligence Bureau (IB),Military Intelligence (MI) and theFederal Investigation Agency (FIA) as well as the others in thePakistani intelligence community. To provide better co-ordination and eliminate competition, theNational Intelligence Coordination Committee was established in 2020.[202]
The military academies are:
There are also a number of engineering, professional, andhigher education military institutes:
Pakistan's military justice system rests on the inter-services administratedJudge Advocate General Branch (JAG); all military criminal cases are overseen by the high-ranking officials of joint tribunals of the military.[203] Each major service branch has its own service law:Army Justice Act, promulgated in 1952; thePAF Justice Act, established in 1953; and theNavy Ordinance, enacted in 1961.[204] The identities of active-duty uniformed JAG officials are kept classified and no details of such individuals are made available to media.[203]
All three sets of service laws are administered by the individual major service branches under the central reporting supervision of theMinistry of Defence (MoD).[204] The army has a four-tier system while the air force and navy have three-tier systems.[204] The two top levels of all three-tier systems are the general court-martial and district court-martial; the third level comprises the field general court-martial in the army, air force, and navy. The fourth-level tier of the army comprises the summary court-martial.[204] The differences in tier levels reflect whether their competence extends to officers or enlisted personnel, and the severity of the punishment that may be imposed.[204]
Pakistan'sSupreme Court and thecivilian courts cannot question decisions handed down by the military judges, and double jeopardy is prohibited.[204] In cases where a member of the military is alleged to have committed a crime against a civilian, then the MoD andMinistry of Justice (MoJ) determine the prosecution of the case to be tried, whether military or civilian courts have jurisdiction.[204] Former servicemen in civilian life who are accused of felonies committed while on active duty are liable for prosecution under the jurisdiction of military courts.[204] These courts are empowered to dispense a wide range of punishments including death.[204] All sentences of imprisonment are served in military prisons or detention barracks.[204]
Faced with defence and security issues involving much larger opponents on both its eastern and western borders, theMinistry of Defence andMinistry of Finance require a disproportionate share of the nation's resources to maintain even aminimally effective defensive stance.[204] Since 1971, the military budget of the armed forces grew by 200% in support of armed forces contingency operations.[204] During the administrations of Prime MinistersBenazir Bhutto andNawaz Sharif, approximately 50–60% of scientific research and funding went to military efforts.[204]
In 1993, Benazir Bhutto's defence budget for the year was set at PKR 94 billion (US$3.3 billion), which represented 27% of the government's circular spending and 8.9% of GDP, in calculations shown by the United States military.[204] Despite criticism from the country's influential political-science sphere,[205] the government increased the military budget by an additional 11% for the fiscal year 2015–16.[206]
During the 2024–25 fiscal year, while IMF-imposed austerity measures placed increased economic pressure on the general population, Pakistan's defence budget remained unaffected. Defence spending rose to approximately PKR 2.13 trillion, including an 11 percent year-on-year increase in military salaries and pensions. In comparison, allocations for essential public services remained significantly lower, with education receiving only 2 percent of GDP and healthcare 1.3 percent, reflecting a continued prioritization of defence over social sectors despite broader economic hardships.[207] In June 2025, following a military confrontation with India, Pakistan increased its defence spending by over 20 percent—the largest hike in a decade. The federal budget allocated 2.55 trillion rupees (approximately $9 billion) to the armed forces, representing 1.97 percent of the country's GDP, up from 1.7 percent in the previous fiscal year. This marked a significant rise in military expenditure, nearly doubling from the 1.28 trillion rupees allocated in the 2020–21 fiscal year.[208]
At the time of the creation of Pakistan, the country had virtually no military industry or production capability. In 1949–50, the contribution of the industrial sector to theGNP was only 5.8%, of which 4.8% was attributed to small-scale industries.[209] The new nation's only major heavy-industry operation was theKarachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KSEW), which was focused on civil maritime construction. All military industrial materials and weapons systems were either inherited or purchased from the United Kingdom.[209]
By 1951, Prime MinisterLiaquat Ali Khan had established thePakistan Ordnance Factory (POF) inWah Military District, with a civilian chemist, Dr.Abdul Hafeez, serving as director and senior scientist.[209] The POF was oriented towards the production of small arms, ammunition, and chemical explosives.[209] During the period of reliance on United States supply, from 1955 to 1964, there was little attention given to domestic production. Almost all military weapons and equipment were provided by the United States, as part of Pakistan's membership inSouth East Asian Treaty Organization (SEATO) andCentral Treaty Organization (CENTO).[209] By 1963, theDefence Science and Technology Organization (DESTO) was formed by POF Director Hafeez for the purposes of militaryresearch and development.[209] After U.S. military assistance was cut off in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 (followed by the disastrous 1971 War[relevant?]), Pakistan turned to China for help in expanding its military industrial and production capabilities, including the modernisation of the facilities at Wah.
During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, theUS Congress scrutinized itsmilitary aid to Pakistan despite efforts by U.S. PresidentRichard Nixon.[210] After the war, programs on self-reliance and domestic production were launched with the establishment of theMinistry of Defence Production (MoDP) in 1972, aiming to promote and co-ordinate the patchwork of military production facilities which had developed since independence.[209] New military policy oversaw the establishment ofHeavy Industries Taxila (HIT) inTaxila and thePakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) inKamra, north ofIslamabad. The militarisation of theKarachi Shipyard Engineering Works (KSEW) took place the same year. The PAC reverse-engineered severalF–6J,F–7P,Mirage III, andMirage 5 fighter jets (of the Chinese and French), built theMushshak trainer (based on the SwedishSAAB Safari), and maintained radar and avionics equipment. After the success of the Mushshak, the Super Mushshak and the state-of-artKarakoram-8 advanced training jet were produced. The MoDP includes several other specialised organizations devoted to research and development, production and administration.[209]
In 1987, the KSEW began developing submarine technology and rebuilding thesubmarine base nearPort Qasim. In the 1990s, concerns over Pakistan's secretive development of nuclear weapons led to the "Pressler amendment" (introduced by US SenatorLarry Pressler) and an economic and military embargo. This caused a great panic in the Pakistan Armed Forces and each major service branch launched its own military-industrial programs.
By 1999, the KSEW had built its first long-range attack submarine, theAgosta 90B, which featuredair-independent propulsion (AIP) technology purchased from France in 1995. By early 2000, a joint venture with China led to the introduction of theJF-17 fighter jet (developed at PAC) and theAl-Khalid main battle tank, built and assembled at HIT. Since 2001, Pakistan has taken major steps toward becoming self-sufficient in aircraft overhaul and modernisation and tank and helicopter sales.[209]
After the success of its major projects in the defence industry, theDefence Export Promotion Organization (DEPO) was created to promote Pakistani defence equipment to the world by hosting theInternational Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS), which is held biennially at theKarachi expo center. Pakistan's defence exports were reportedly worth over US $200million in 2006, and have continued to grow since.[211]
 | Nishan-e-Haider(Order of the Lion) |
 | Hilal-e-Jurat(Crescent of Courage) |
 | Sitara-e-Jurat(Star of Courage) |
 | Tamgha-e-Jurat(Medal of Courage) |
 | Imtiazi Sanad(Mentioned in Despatches)[212] |
| Order of Wear | |||
|---|---|---|---|
(Order of the Lion) | .png) |  | (Crescent of Courage) |
 (Crescent of Bravery) | |  | (Star of Courage) |
(Star of Bravery) |  |  |  (Star of Good Conduct) |
 (Star of Sacrifice) | (Medal of Courage) | (Medal of Bravery) |  |
 (Medal of Good Conduct) |  (Medal of Sacrifice) | (Mentioned in Despatches) |  (General Service Medal) |
 (War Star 1965) |  (War Star 1971) | .png) (War Medal 1965) |  (War Medal 1971) |
.png) | .png) |  (Medal of Conviction) | .png) (Medal of Service Class I) |
.png) (Medal of Service Class I) | .png) (Medal of Service Class I) | .png) | .png) |
.png) | .png) | .png) |  |
 | .png) (Republic Commemoration Medal) |  (Hijri Medal) |  (Democracy Medal) |
 (Resolution Day Golden Jubilee Medal) |  (Independence Day Golden Jubilee Medal) |  Command & Staff College Quetta Instructor's Medal |  Command & Staff College Quetta Student Medal |
Pakistan military British forces.
In a two-week war, Pakistan lost half its navy.
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{{cite news}}:|last= has generic name (help){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)The insurance company Shaheen Insurance was founded in 1995 with a view to establishing a partnership with a South African insurance company, Hollard Insurance Ltd. A partnership was finally worked out in 1997, with Hollard owning a 30 per cent share. The South African company was disappointed by the results, however. Its management felt that corruption was a big problem that dampened the prospects of their investment. It is interesting to note that the deal was brokered by an acting Air Force officer who, after retirement, got a job in the company. The South Africans asserted that the deal was negotiated on a one-to-one basis with the officer involved.
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