pakistan army make up (ethnicity)

[Karachi]

I got this from wikepedia, I am not sure how true it is:

Ethnic Composition


Traditionally, the army was a predominantly Punjabi force because of its dominant Population (Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population). In British India, three districts: Jhelum, Rawalpindi, and Campbellpur (now Attock) dominated the recruitment flows. By 2007 the percentage representation in the Pakistan Army as a whole (officers and Other Ranks or soldiers) was as follows: Punjabis: 57%,Pushtuns: 15%, Sindhis: 13.5%,, Kashmiris: 9.11%, Balochis: 3.2%, and Minorities: 0.72%. Extensive efforts have been made to bring Balochis and Sindhis on par with other ethnicities, presently the army recruitment system is enlisting personnel district-wise irrespective of provincial boundaries. This decision has given a fair chance to every citizen of Pakistan to be part of the Pakistan Army as each district possesses a fixed percentage of seats in all branches of the army, as per census records. Large numbers of men from Sind and Balochistan have joined the ranks of the army and have proved their commitment and bravery to the national cause in Kargil and the ongoing global war on terrorism.[29][30]

[Karachi]

^ I am surprised by the high number of kashmiries

[asad71]

They call it Class Composition in Pakistan Army. In the above the HM (Hindustani Muslim) class is not mentioned. HM class compose of Rangars/Kayem Khanis and other clans who had originally come from West Asia or Central Asia, and had formed the bulk of the Sultanate and Mughal Armies. They had continued to serve the British, and many had moved to Pakistan along with their regiments. Most of the HMs were settled in lower Punjab.

[Ghundal]

Who cares? They are bunch of uncle toms

[Talal]

there's been a lot of speculation on this, but truly there are no fixed numbers.

[KhalsaWarrior]

Its the officer cadre that matters more and from what I have read, its still heavily Punjabi dominated.

[Levanaye Zalmaye]

In 2001, according to the Pakistani military, they were 71% Punjabi. I wonder how they've managed to reduce that to 57% within the span of a decade...

Even amongst the officer cadre, it's the make-up of the corps commanders (the lieutenant generals) that is most important because they virtually run the country. From what I know, there's not a single Pashtun corps commander.

Furthermore, considering the fact that amongst the people that inhabit Pakistan, the Pashtuns are the only nation who have achieved military success whereas the Lahoris and the men from Jhelum have no history of military success (unlike their Sikh Punjabi cousins east of the Sutlej) but still Pashtuns have such low representation in the military. Perhaps this makeup itself proves why the Pakistani military has lost virtually all its wars, some due to Indian bullets and others due to phone-calls from American undersecretaries of state.

^ I am surprised by the high number of kashmiries

They're most men from Gilgit-Baltistan. They're recruited and selected to fight in Kashmir because they're already accustomed to the local terrain. Many thousands of them were left to freeze to death without any rations by the Pakistani army in Kargil in 1999.

[KhalsaWarrior]

In 2001, according to the Pakistani military, they were 71% Punjabi. I wonder how they've managed to reduce that to 57% within the span of a decade...

Even amongst the officer cadre, it's the make-up of the corps commanders (the lieutenant generals) that is most important because they virtually run the country. From what I know, there's not a single Pashtun corps commander.

Furthermore, considering the fact that amongst the people that inhabit Pakistan, the Pashtuns are the only nation who have achieved military success whereas the Lahoris and the men from Jhelum have no history of military success (unlike their Sikh Punjabi cousins east of the Sutlej) but still Pashtuns have such low representation in the military. Perhaps this makeup itself proves why the Pakistani military has lost virtually all its wars, some due to Indian bullets and others due to phone-calls from American undersecretaries of state.

Apart from reasons like partiality caused by Punjabi kinship, I believe education and opportunity might be factors in the dominance of the Punjabis in PA. It wouldn't be hard to say that a Punjabi would have access to better resources and would be comparatively better equipped to rise up the ladder in the army. The Pashtun may surely be a better soldier but other factors may decide if he will make a better officer. This makes the development of the KP and Tribal areas all the more essential. Having such a warrior class at your disposal, who wouldn't want them to give them all the tools they need to become even better?

They're most men from Gilgit-Baltistan. They're recruited and selected to fight in Kashmir because they're already accustomed to the local terrain. Many thousands of them were left to freeze to death without any rations by the Pakistani army in Kargil in 1999.

Yup. The Northern Light Infantry's plight in the Kargil war is pretty well documented.

[Ghundal]

Who said you need education to join the Pakistan Army?

All you need to know is how to kiss behind of the West

Look it here, we got Uncle Toms , Karzai, Zardari, Musharaf, Kayani competing with each other in backside/ behind kissing

[Smarty]

In 1857 all hindostanis (both hindus and muslims) stood up against british to earn independance. But punjabis (muslims & sikhs) sided with british instead of their fellow hindostanis. After war british recognized the fact that punjabis are their most loyal servants. They shifted recruitment areas from south to north west india, before 1947 punjabis were making more than 60% of army of british india. Pakistan army is continuation of indian british army, so punjabis are still dominating army. During selection process prefrence is given to those candidates whose father is in army, so ethnic composition is not changing that much.

[Wahe Guru]

^ I am surprised by the high number of kashmiries

My guess is that the "Kashmiris" are not actually Kashmiris but Punjabis and Dogra/Rajput types from areas of "Azad Kashmir". eg Mirpuri's in UK go around claiming to be "Kashmiri" but they are not. They are mostly Punjabis. Mirpur district was originally part of Punjab. I think Ranjit Singh gave it as a gift to his vassal in Kashmir.

I noticed during the earthquake coverage on TV from Azad Kashmir, most of the civilians were speaking in Punjabi. I did not hear one person speaking Kashmiri. I think there are not a large number of Kashmiris in Pakistan though plenty of make-belief Kashmiris.

[hamid954]

Paki population

2009

1. Punjabis (42.15%) 70.7 million
2. Pashtuns (17.42%) 35.2 million
3. Sindhis (14.1%) 24.8 million
4. Seraikis (10.53%) 14.8 million
5. Muhajirs (7.57%) 13.3 million
6. Balochs is (3.57%) 6.3 million
7. Others (4.66%) 11.1 million