Pakistan army also has Hindu officers, the numbers will shock you

There are a good number of soldiers and high-ranking Hindu officers serving in the Pakistan army, though the number is marginal compared to the percentage of Hindu population in Pakistan.

Pakistan Army: The Pakistan Army is one of the largest standing armies in the world, boasting a strength of around 6,54,000 active military personnel. But, unlike their Indian counterparts, the Pakistan Army is not perceived as a secular institution, especially under the leadership of its radical Islamist Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.

However, despite this perception, there are a good number of soldiers and high-ranking Hindu officers serving in the Pakistan army, though the number is marginal compared to the percentage of Hindu population in Pakistan.

Hindus in Pakistan Army

In 2022, Pakistan’s current Defense Minister Khawaja Asif had informed the country’s parliament that there are over 200 Hindus in the Pakistan Army, serving on different ranks and positions.

According to 2023 census data, around 5.2 million (52 lakh) Hindus live in Pakistan, constituting approximately 2.17 percent of the country’s 247.5 million (24.75 crore) total population. Thus, according to the Pakistan government’s own data, the number of Hindus serving in Pakistan Army is far less than their share in the country’s population.

Reasons for low number of Hindus in Pakistan Army

There are several reasons behind the low numbers of Hindu soldiers and officers in the Pakistan, one of the primary ones being the religious discrimination which is faced by the minority community in the country. Other reasons include difficulties in the recruitment process, as well as limited opportunities available to minorities in Pakistan.

Notably, Hindus were not allowed to join the Pakistan Army before the year 2000, and it was only after major reforms that the minority community was granted the right to join the country’s armed forces.

Pakistan Army’s first Hindu officer

In 2006, almost half a decade after Hindus were allowed in the Pakistan Army, Captain Danish scripted history becoming the first Hindu officer in the country’s military history.

Over the years, several Hindus have risen to top ranks in the Pakistan Army, with Major Dr. Kailash Kumar and Major Dr. Anil Kumar, being elevated to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2022.