Lahore: Over the past few weeks, a series of attacks on Pakistan’s security forces, especially in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, have left Pakistan’s army in dismay at the scale of casualties it is suffering. Terrorist outfits, mainly the separatist group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), have claimed responsibility for many of these assaults, which have left several soldiers dead. Behind these attacks, there is a disturbing trend: Pakistani military recruitment has plummeted, and many soldiers are quitting their posts.
Kabul Frontline, in its report, quoted sources claiming that around 2,500 soldiers have defected from the Pakistani army over the last week. The growing insecurity, military casualties, and economic crises in the country were the main reasons given for this exodus. These days, a lot of soldiers seek jobs in Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE to build a better life away from war-torn situations.
Meanwhile, the situation in the Pakistani military appears to have worsened. A mood of uncertainty and violence has demoralised soldiers, many of whom are choosing to risk their lives by seeking a cheaper life abroad. Recently, a deadly assault on a military convoy in Noshki followed a train hijacking that targeted soldiers in Balochistan. All this makes security forces at risk of taking more extreme measures, and that puts more soldiers at risk as well.
Sources within the Pakistani media and military are yet to relay that soldiers have either been evacuated or resigned; however, there is a growing pattern of soldiers wanting to withdraw from the military’s demanding and perilous positions. For the Pakistani military, the exodus of troops constitutes a grave threat, especially given that Pakistan is currently confronted by some of the gravest security and terrorism dilemmas it has faced in decades, and any weakening or questioning of its strength or military effectiveness cannot be viewed lightly. Continued trends in this manner can badly impact the future operational effectiveness of the Pakistani military.