Editing Pakistan Armed Forces (section)

==Personnel==
[[File:Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) Shahjahan & Tippi Sultan.jpeg|thumb|[[PNS Shah Jahan (D-186)|PNS Shah Jahan]] (middle) and [[PNS Tippu Sultan (D-185)|PNS Tippu Sultan]] (front) of the Pakistan Navy]]

===Troop strength===
{{As of|2024|post=,}} estimations by national and international bodies were that approximately 660,000 people<ref name=":0" /> were on active duty in the three main service branches, with an additional 291,000 serving in paramilitary forces<ref name=":0" /> and 550,000 in reserve.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}} It is an all-volunteer military, but [[Selective Service System|conscription]] can be enacted at the request of the president with the approval of the [[Majlis-e-Shoora|parliament of Pakistan]].<ref>[http://pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/part3.ch2.html Article 63(m)(iv)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204191633/http://www.pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/part3.ch2.html |date=4 February 2016 }} of the Chapter 2: Parliament in the Part III: The Federation of Pakistan of the [[Constitution of Pakistan]]</ref> The military is the sixth largest in the world and has troops deployed around the globe in military assistance and peacekeeping operations.<ref name="ISPR (Army division)" />

Pakistan is the only predominantly Muslim country in which [[Women in the Pakistan Armed Forces|women 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.<ref name="DNA India, 2014">{{cite news|last1=John|first1=Josephine|title=Meet Pakistan's only female fighter pilot who bombed Taliban hideouts in North Waziristan|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report-meet-pakistan-s-only-female-fighter-pilot-who-bombed-taliban-hideouts-in-north-waziristan-1997183|access-date=5 January 2015|work=DNA India |date=22 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105123930/http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report-meet-pakistan-s-only-female-fighter-pilot-who-bombed-taliban-hideouts-in-north-waziristan-1997183|archive-date=5 January 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Washington Post, 2013">{{cite news|last1=Fisher|first1=Max|title=Map: Which countries allow women in front-line combat roles?|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/01/25/map-which-countries-allow-women-in-front-line-combat-roles/|access-date=5 January 2015|newspaper=The Washington Post|publisher=Washington Post, 2013|date=25 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105145129/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/01/25/map-which-countries-allow-women-in-front-line-combat-roles/|archive-date=5 January 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Wonderlistings>{{cite web|last1=Khan|first1=Ejaz|title=10 Most Attractive Female Armed Forces|url=http://www.wonderslist.com/10-most-attractive-female-armed-forces/|publisher=Wonderlistings|access-date=5 January 2015|date=24 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103124114/http://www.wonderslist.com/10-most-attractive-female-armed-forces/|archive-date=3 January 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

Members of the Pakistani military hold a rank, either that of [[Officer (armed forces)|officer]] or [[Enlisted rank|enlisted]], and can be promoted.<ref name="Carnegie Endowment for International Peace" />

The following table summarizes current Pakistani military staffing:

{| border="1"  style="border-collapse:collapse;"
|+Pakistani Military Troop Levels
! style="background:#aabccc;"|Service
! style="background:#aabccc;"|Total active-duty personnel
! colspan="2" style="background:#aabccc;" |Total reserve
|-
|[[Pakistan Army|Army]]
| style="text-align:center;"|560,000
| style="text-align:center;"|550,000
| rowspan="6" |<ref name=":0" />
|- style="background:#fff;"
|[[Pakistan Navy|Navy]]
| style="text-align:center;"|30,000
| style="text-align:center;"|5,000
|- style="background:#fff;"
|[[Pakistan Air Force|Air Force]]
| style="text-align:center;"|70,000
| style="text-align:center;"|8,000
|- style="background:#fff;"
|[[Pakistan National Guard|National Guard]]
| style="text-align:center;"|185,000
| style="text-align:center;"|None
|- style="background:#fff;"
|[[Civil Armed Forces]]
| style="text-align:center;"|291,000+
| style="text-align:center;"|None
|- style="background:#fff;"
|[[Strategic Plans Division Force|SPD Force]]
| style="text-align:center;"|25,000+ 
| style="text-align:center;"|Unknown
|}

===Uniforms===
[[File:Pak-army-sol.jpg|thumb|A Pakistan Army soldier in combat gear during training.]]
[[File:MILITARY UNIFORMS Insignia Organization 1959-1962 US Armed Forces Information DA Pam 355-120 042 PAKISTAN ARMY AIR FORCE NAVY Archive.org No known copyright.jpg|thumb|MILITARY UNIFORMS Insignia Organization 1959-1962 US Armed Forces Information for Pakistan Armed Forces]]
From 1947 to the early 2000s, Pakistan's military uniforms closely resembled those of their counterparts in the [[Her Majesty's Armed Forces|British armed services]].<ref name="P.R. Blood US Congress Publications">{{cite book|last1=Blood|first1=Peter R.|title=Pakistan: A Country Stud|date=1996|publisher=P.R. Blood US Congress Publications|location=U.S.|isbn=978-0-7881-3631-3|page=295|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DRMTO7mn7hIC&q=pakistan+air+force+uniforms&pg=PA295|access-date=13 December 2014|chapter=Uniforms, Ranks, Insignia}}</ref> The [[Pakistan Army|Army]] uniform consisted of plain yellowish [[khaki]], which was the standard issue as both the [[combat uniforms|combat uniform]] (ACU) and the [[Army Service Uniform|service uniform]] (ASU).{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} The [[Pakistan Air Force]] (PAF) uniform was primarily based on the [[Royal Air Force uniform]], with bluish-grey as its reporting colour markings.<ref name="P.R. Blood US Congress Publications"/> The [[Pakistan Navy|Navy]] uniform was likewise based on the [[Royal Navy uniform]], with predominant colours of navy blue and white.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

In 2003, the service uniforms for each major service branch were revised and orders were made to issue new uniforms roughly based on the [[United States military|American]] military.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} With [[Pakistan Marines|Marines]] reestablished in 2004, the [[Universal Camouflage Pattern]] (UCP) uniforms are now worn by each service in respect to their colours; the [[flag of Pakistan]] patch worn on the shoulder became compulsory.<ref name="Jang Newspapers, 2002">{{cite news|title=Combat Uniforms to be changed in the Armed Forces|work=Jang Newspapers |date=2 June 2002}}</ref>

In the military, the [[service dress]], however, remains yellowish khaki for the Army; plain white service dress for the Navy (excluding the Marines).<ref name="Camopedia"/> The Air Force abandoned its rank and uniform structure in 2006, and introduced its own uniform insignia which closely resembled that of the [[Turkish Army]].<ref name="Camopedia"/>

The Army's standard UCP is based on a [[Pixelization|pixelated]] version of the region's arid desert patterns.<ref name="Camopedia">{{cite web|last1=Staff.|title=Pakistani Camouflage Patterns|url=http://camopedia.org/index.php?title=Pakistan|publisher=Camopedia|access-date=13 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213061354/http://camopedia.org/index.php?title=Pakistan|archive-date=13 December 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> The army's UCP varies depending on the type of missions and deployment it is being used for.<ref name="Camopedia"/> The Navy's UCP is based on a design that incorporates sparse black and medium grey shapes on a light grey background.<ref name="Camopedia"/> The Marines have a [[woodland]] pattern featuring light brown, olive green and dark blue shapes on a tan or light olive background.<ref name="Camopedia"/> Slight colour variations have been noted. Other than a greenish [[flight suit]] and a standard service dress, the Air Forces's [[Airman Battle Uniform]] (ABU) camouflage features a variation of the six-colour desert pattern.<ref name="Camopedia"/> 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.<ref name="Jang Newspapers, 2002"/>

{{hidden begin|border=1px #aaa solid|titlestyle=text-align:center;|title=Uniforms and Camouflage codes of the Pakistan Armed Forces, 1947–present}}
<gallery class=center mode=packed heights=150 style="line-height:130%">
File:Joseph P. Hoar 1994.jpg |alt=Standard yellowish khakis as both [[Combat uniforms|ACU]] and the [[Army Service Uniform|ASU]], 1994. |Standard yellowish [[khaki]] (on right) as both [[Combat uniforms|ACU]] and the [[Army Service Uniform|ASU]], 1994.
File:Mian Muhibullah Kakakhel in young age as a Flight Lieutenant in Pakistan Air Force.jpg |alt=A Pakistan Air Force service uniform, 1974. |A Pakistan Air Force service uniform, 1974
File:Tamgha-i-Imtiaz awarded by Admiral Noman Bashir, Chief of Naval Staff.jpg |alt=A traditional white navy [[service dress]] |A traditional white navy [[service dress]], 2008
File:Gen Fazle Haq.jpg |alt=Earliest army [[Combat uniforms|ACU]] in the 1980s. |Earliest ACU in the 1980s
File:US Navy 091012-N-8132M-245 Marines assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22nd MEU), along with Marines from Kuwait and Pakistan, conduct an amphibious assault demonstration during Exercise Bright Star 2009.jpg |alt=Pakistan Marines' Universal Camouflage Pattern |[[Pakistan Marines|Marines]] (as laying down) standard [[Universal Camouflage Pattern|UCP]].
File:Lt Gen David Halverson with Lt General Raheel Sharif.jpg |alt=Comparison of US Army and Pakistan Army's UCP |Comparison of [[United States Army|US Army]] and Pakistan Army's UCP, 2013.
File:US Navy 110612-N-OT964-194 Chief Navy Diver Aaron Knight, assigned to Commander Task Group (CTG) 56.1.jpg |alt=One of Pakistan Navy's previous bluish UCP in 2010.|One of Pakistan Navy's previous UCP in 2010. The Navy changed its camouflage in 2013.
File:US Navy 050510-N-9693B-005 Sailors aboard the Pakistani Naval ship (PNS) Tariq (DDG 181) stand watch during a Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) drill in the Gulf of Oman.jpg |alt=Pakistan Navy's sailors wearing anti-flash gear while operating a [[Guided missile frigate]], [[USS McInerney (FFG-8)|PNS ''Alamgir'']] |Pakistan Navy's sailors wearing anti-flash gear while operating a [[Guided missile frigate]], [[USS McInerney (FFG-8)|PNS ''Alamgir'']].
File:Pakistani F2000.JPEG|alt=Pakistan Air Forces's Special Service Wing in its current Camouflage.|[[Pakistan Air Force]]'s [[Special Service Wing]] (SSW) in its current camouflage.
File:Pakistan Air Force F-16 Red Flag 2010 group photo.jpg|alt=The [[Pakistan Air Forces|PAF]]'s fighter pilots with the greenish [[G suit|g-suit]] in comparison to [[USAF]].|The [[Pakistan Air Force|PAF]]'s fighter pilots with the greenish [[G suit|g-suit]] in comparison to [[USAF]]; the same pattern is used by the [[Pakistan Navy]].
</gallery>
Source: [[Inter-Services Public Relations|ISPR]] works, [[Wikimedia Commons|Commons]]
{{hidden end}}

===Rank and insignia structure===
{{See also|Army ranks and insignia of Pakistan|Air Force ranks and insignia of Pakistan|Naval ranks and insignia of Pakistan|British heritage of Pakistan}}

As Pakistan became independent, the [[British military rank insignia|British military ranks and insignia]] were initially commissioned by the armed forces as part of a legacy of [[British colonial period|British colonialism]].<ref name="M.E. Sharpe">{{cite book|last1=Brzezinski|first1=Zbigniew|last2=Sullivan|first2=Paige |title=Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States: documents, data, and analysis|date=1996|publisher=M.E. Sharpe|location=Armonk, N.Y.|isbn=978-1-56324-637-1}}</ref> Within a few months of its founding in 1947, the military had inherited all professional qualifications of the British military in India.<ref name="Carnegie Endowment for International Peace">{{cite book|last1=Haqqani|first1=Husain|title=Pakistan between mosque and military|date=2005|publisher=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace|location=Washington, D.C.|isbn=978-0-87003-285-1}}</ref><ref name="United States Government Printing">{{cite book|last1=Nyrop|first1=Richard F.|title=Area handbook for Pakistan|date=1984|publisher=United States Government Printing|isbn=978-0-16-001608-0|page=374}}</ref>

In respect to the [[British Indian Army|British Indian military]], the [[Ministry of Defence Pakistan|Ministry of Defence]] (MoD) authorised the three [[junior commissioned officer]] (JCO) pay grades between the [[enlisted rank]]s and [[commissioned officers]].<ref name="Oxford University Press, 1998">{{cite book|last1=Cohen|first1=Stephen P.|title=The Pakistan Armed Forces: 1998 edition with a new foreword and epilogue|date=1999|publisher=Oxford University Press, 1998|location=Karachi;Oxford|isbn=978-0-19-577948-6|edition=2. impr.}}</ref> The JCO grades are equivalent to the [[Types of Government Servants in Pakistan|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 former [[Viceroy of India]]'s commissioned pay grades during the [[British Rule of India|British colonial period]].<ref name="Facts On File">{{cite book|last1=Gerges|first1=James Wynbrandt |title=A brief history of Pakistan|date=2008|publisher=Facts on File|location=New York|isbn=978-0-8160-6184-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xQGwgJnCPZgC&q=pakistani+military+ranks+british&pg=PA120|access-date=5 January 2015|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205200137/https://books.google.com/books?id=xQGwgJnCPZgC&q=pakistani+military+ranks+british&pg=PA120|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Facts On File"/>