Balochistan to get representation in Pak Army as per population share: COAS

[Last Hope]

GWADAR, April 18 (APP): Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said on Monday that youths of Balochistan would be recruited in Pakistan Army according to percentage of their province’s share in the total population of the country.He said this while addressing a ceremony of Gwadar Institute of Technology here.He said that 4000 Baloch youths had completed their training and joined the Pakistan Army while during the current year more 5000 youths would be recruited in the Army. The recruitment process has already been started in this regard, he added.He said that the rules and regulations in connection with the recruitment process, would be relaxed for youths of Balochistan so that maximum people could join the Pakistan Army from this province.
The COAS said that the Balochistan Chief Minister was responsible for maintaining peace in the province and Balochistan Frontier Corps would soon be replaced with the Army battalion, deployed in Sui area of Dera Bugti district.
He said there was no military operation being carried out in any part of the province.
“Development and integrity of Pakistan links with the progress and prosperity of Balochistan as this province is rich with natural resources of natural gas, oil, coal and minerals,” Gen. Kayani said adding that there was a need of technology and skilled manpower to get benefits from these natural resources.
He said the Pakistan Army with collaboration of the Government of Balochistan, had established technical and vocational training institutes in the province to equip the local youths with knowledge of latest technology.
He said that about 4500 youths of Balochistan had completed their vocational courses at the institutes being run under the supervision of the Pakistan Army, adding that more 3600 youths of the province would join their classes at these technical institutes from this year.
He said the Pakistan Army was going to establish Army Medical College, Institute of Mineralogy and Cardiac Treatment Center in Quetta in order to equip the Balochistan’s youths with higher education in relevant fields.
He said the Army Medical College would be established besides Combined Military Hospital Quetta where students would get admission to four-year MBBS.
“During my recent visit to Taxila Heavy Complex, I was informed that 150 students hailing from Balochistan and FATA have been getting technical education there,” he recalled.
He said that students of Balochistan and FATA studying at the Army-run institutes would be provided jobs in National Logistic Cell, FWO and other Armed Forces’ institutions.
He said the Army had been playing its role in Chamalang coal project, Kasa Hill marble project and others in order to put the economy of the country and the province of Balochistan on track of development and to make the local people prosperous.
He hoped the Balochistan government would extend its cooperation to the Pakistan Army to improve natural mines and mineral resources of Dukki and Musakhail areas.
“No defense of a country can be strengthened and made undefeatable until its people cooperate with their Armed Forces in letter and spirit,” he observed.
Highlighting the features of the Gwadar Institute of Technology, he said that about 90 students of the province would get admission to four-month courses including boat manufacturing, auto-mechanic, carpenter and auto-electrician at TCC Wing of the institute.
He said that at GIT Wing of the institute, about 80 students of Balochistan would start their three-year courses including Industrial Electronics and Food Preservation Processing.
“These students will be given free of cost facilities including hostel, food and monthly Rs 2000 stipend,” he added.
Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Aslam Khan Raisani, Commander Southern Command Lt. Gen. Javed Zia, Balochistan Ministers including Tahir Mehmood Khan, Cap (retd) Abdul Khaliq Achakzai, and Mir Shah Nawaz Marri and other officials were present on the occasion.


Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan's Premier NEWS Agency )

 

[GUNNER]

The most important statement made by the COAS during his trip was that ' military will return to barracks from all operational duties in Balochistan within two months'.

 

[HAIDER]

GWADAR: Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani said on Monday that in the future no operation will take place in Balochistan without the permission of the provincial government, DawnNews reported.

During an address in Gwadar, Kayani said that efforts are being made to bring Balochistan into the national mainstream. In regards to this, he stated that 5,000 Baloch youth will become a part of the Pakistan army later this month.

The army chief also said that the Pakistan army plays a role in the country’s economic stability as well.
DAWN.COM

 

[air marshal]

No PR93/2011-ISPR
Rawalpindi - April 18, 2011:

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani visited Gwadar and Sui in Balochistan today.

At Gwadar, He inaugurated Institute of Technology, established by Army with the investment of Balochistan Government, to provide technical education to the local youth. In his address COAS highlighted various projects initiated by Pakistan Army for socio-economic uplift of the people of Balochistan. He also promised establishment of Balochistan Institute of Mineralogy, at Quetta in near future. The purpose of establishing these institutes was to create a workforce that can exploit local resources for the benefit of common man. Nawab Mohammad Aslam Khan Raisani, Chief Minister of Balochistan inaugurated Technical Training Centre at the occasion. In his speech, the Chief Minister appreciated efforts by the Army for development of the Province.

Later COAS visited Military College Sui, Balochistan and attended opening ceremony of its first entry. The college was inaugurated on 3rd January 2011 to provide quality education particularly to the students of Dera Bugti District and Balochistan. COAS appreciated establishment of the college in a record period and hoped that the college will soon join the ranks of top educational institutions of the Country.

At both occasions, COAS reiterated that not even a single Army unit was conducting any operation in the province. He also expressed his intent to pull out the troops presently stationed at Sui soon, after the responsibilities there are taken over by Frontier Corps Balochistan. Speaking to the elders and public representatives, at both places, he underscored the significance of National harmony for strong defence of the Country. Elaborating the concept of comprehensive security, he emphasized the vital requirement of unified national support to the armed forces, without which no force can fulfill the mission of defending a state / nation. He said that people’s support was real strength of the Army.

Earlier on arrival, COAS was received by Commander Southern Command, Lieutenant General Javed Zia.

 

[air marshal]

Chief Minister of Balochistan, Nawab Mohammad Aslam Khan Raisani, and Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani inaugurating Technical Training Centre at Gwadar on Monday. (18-4-2011) - Photo ISPR

Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani addressing to the occasion during his visit to Gwadar on Monday. (18-4-2011) - Photo ISPR

 

[Mutee]

Ohh a very very very very positive devolepment fir our country soo happy to hear that news I feel balochs pol are highly neglected in Pakistan that's why they don't like the rest of Pakistan but it's goid that attempts are being made to win their hearts and mind

 

[@rrows]

It is indeed a very good positive step from the Government and Army to get confidence of Baloch people in the
constitution of Pakistan. Keep it up army/government

 

[waz]

Nearly 10,000 Baloch Jawan in a few years, that is impressive. Needless to say the BLA will be having nightmares by now.

 

[Last Hope]

The people of Balochistan are kept under the complex that they are not being treated like normal Pakistanis and have been a target of unfair discrimination. This can only be overcome with love, showing them how they are a part of us, and by opening the arms.

Also there were news to start with. We will induce around 20,000 Balochi Pakistani youth in Pakistan Armed Forces.

ISLAMABAD: Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has introduced major reforms in the Pakistan Army despite many financial problems, with a major shift in the profile of who will be recruited more than others.

The Army has started decreasing the number of Punjabis and Pashtuns in fresh recruitments and adopted the policy of encouraging Baloch, Sindhis and religious minorities for making an ethnic balance.

The Pakistan Army has a total number of 480,000 troops. Currently, the percentage of Punjabis in Pakistan Army is 55.82 per cent, Pakhtuns 15.42 per cent, Baloch 2.34 per cent, Sindhis 15.09 per cent and people from Azad Kashmir/Gilgit-Baltistan are 8.48 per cent. The number of non-Muslims in the Pakistan Army is just 0.43 per cent.

The GHQ has set a new target of decreasing the number of Punjabis from 55.82 per cent to 54.50 per cent, number of Pashtuns will come down to 14.50 per cent from 15.42 per cent while the number of Baloch will increase from 2.34 per cent to 4 per cent, Sindhis will increase from 15.09 percent to 17 per cent and recruits from Azad Kashmi/Gilgit-Baltistan will increase to 9 per cent from 8.48 percent by the year 2011. The number of non-Muslims will also increase from 0.43 per cent to 1 per cent by the next year.

This year, 3,350 Baloch got commission in the Army and 5,000 more Baloch are ready to get fresh commissions. The GHQ has especially relaxed many terms and conditions only for Baloch so that they may easily join the Army. General Kayani will inaugurate a new cadet college in Sui early next year. The geographical location of this new cadet college will not only facilitate the Baloch but will also help the young Sindhis and Seraikis from south Punjab to join the Pakistan Army.

It has been learnt that there is a sharp rise in the number of youngsters who applied for getting a commission in the Pakistan Army in the last two years, which indicates that this institution improved its reputation in recent years. The Pakistan Army played an important role in the last two years in defeating the Taliban in Swat and helping victims of floods a few weeks back.

Currently, more than 147,000 troops are deployed on western borders, including tribal areas, 100,000 troops are guarding areas bordering India, 10,000 troops are busy in the UN duties outside Pakistan, and 16,000 troops are busy in training while only 62,600 troops are enjoying rest in cantonments.

According to some observers, the Army is already over stretched and it needs some expansion but defence sources claimed that the overall size of the Army would not be increased. Many people think that salaries of Army soldiers and officers were increased recently and therefore, the Army had once again become very attractive for the lower and middle class youth but in reality increase in salaries had created many problems for the GHQ.

Few people are aware that the defence budget is on the decrease. It was 19 per cent of the GDP in 2006-7 but it is 16 per cent of the GDP in the financial year of 2010-11. The Pakistan Army is getting 46.83 per cent of the total defence budget while the rest is going to Air Force, Navy and the Ministry of Defense. The total defence budget was 3.9 billion dollars in 2003-4 but this year only 2.7 billion dollars were allocated for defence spending.

Last year, the Army was spending 56 per cent on establishment and salaries, 17 per cent on military operations, 44 per cent on sustenance and 10 per cent on maintenance. When the government increased the salaries without increasing the overall defence budget, the GHQ was forced to decrease its spending on sustenance and maintenance and this year the Army is spending 62 per cent on establishment and salaries.

This burden clearly created problems for the operational capabilities of the Army. This is one of the reasons that Pakistan Army is reluctant in starting a new operation in North Waziristan despite the fact that a big number of troops are already deployed in that area.

Sources claimed that the US and Nato forces had decreased their troops from areas of Paktia, Paktika and Kunar bordering North Waziristan and Bajaur. Pakistan Army commanders think if they start a new operation, the militants will easily get refuge in Afghanistan and there will be no use of spending money on a big operation.

An Indian national was arrested by the Pakistan Army on November 25 from the Janikhel area, which is very close to North Waziristan. He entered the NWA from Afghanistan very easily and there are apprehensions that militants active in the NWA are getting indirect help from the Indians based in eastern Afghanistan.

It is also interesting to note that Pakistan received more than 10 billion dollars from the US between 2002 and 2008 but the Pakistan Army received only 1.6 billion dollars. The government of Pervez Musharraf gave more money to civilian authorities than the Army.

Pakistan received 2.8 billion dollars after April 2008 from the US out of which the Army received just half the amount. According to defence experts, Pakistan is spending 7,818 dollars annually on one Army soldier while India is spending 27,171 dollars on each soldier. India has no major deployments on the borders of China and Bangladesh. The major chunk of the Indian Army is deployed along Pakistan borders, which is a matter of serious concern for the Pakistan Army commanders who have been forced by the US to focus more on the western borders rather than the eastern borders.

Here is another picture of Balochi Pakistanis in Army: