ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday told the National Assembly that 3,141 personnel of the Pakistan Army have been martyred in counterterrorism operations over the past five years, emphasising that the army represents the entire nation rather than any single province or district.
Defence Minister Asif provided a detailed breakdown of the losses, stating that the martyrs include 170 officers, 212 Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), and 2,759 soldiers.
According to Asif, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) accounted for the largest number of martyrs, with 2,034 personnel, including 9 officers, 10 JCOs, and 2,015 soldiers.
The Defence Minister said that 1,657 Pakistan Army personnel from Punjab, including 104 officers, 120 JCOs, and 1,433 soldiers, sacrificed their lives during anti-terror operations during the past five years.
Similarly, Asif said that 534 Pakistan Army personnel from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including 24 officers, 47 JCOs, and 463 soldiers, laid down their lives in the fight against terror during the last five years.
The Defence Minister told the National Assembly that 452 personnel of the Pakistan Army from Sindh province, including 15 officers, 21 JCOs, and 406 soldiers, sacrificed their lives during the countrywide counterterror operations in the past five years.
Asif said 161 Pakistan Army personnel, 7 officers, 3 JCOs, and 151 soldiers, from Gilgit-Baltistan, sacrificed their lives during the countrywide counterterror operations in the last five years.
The minister said that 103 personnel of the Pakistan Army from Balochistan province, including 11 officers, 1 JCO, and 91 soldiers, sacrificed their lives during the counterterror operations.
National representation in Pakistan Army
Defence Minister Asif highlighted that the Pakistan Army is a national institution, reflecting the country’s population distribution. “Pakistan Army is a loyal and national army. It does not belong to any province or district; every province is represented within its ranks,” Asif said.
According to the latest census-based proportions, representation reflects the country’s population distribution: Punjab 51.1%, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 16.28%, Sindh 20.52%, Balochistan 6.04%, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, along with Gilgit-Baltistan 2.54%.
Minorities make up 3.52% of the force, of which 93.9% are Christians, with Hindus and Sikhs forming 5.7% of the force.
Khawaja Asif stressed that the army does not belong to any province or district. “Our martyrs never changed sides. They laid down their lives for the cause they committed to when they joined the army,” he said.
Response to opposition remarks
Defence Minister Asif’s remarks came in response to statements by Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai. “It is incorrect to claim this is an army of four districts. It is the army of all Pakistan, defending our country and representing Punjabis, Pakhtoons, Sindhis, Baloch, Gilgitis, and the people of Azad Kashmir and Baltistan,” Asif said.
The Defence Minister cautioned lawmakers against putting politics above national unity. “One cannot stand with terrorists and at the same time claim a place in this House. Those who sacrifice do not question; their first and last loyalty is to their country,” he added.
Sacrifices amid ‘bloody war’
Asif described Pakistan’s fight against terrorism as a “very difficult and bloody war” and called on the House to recognise the sacrifices of the armed forces.
He emphasised that funerals have been attended consistently over the past five years across all provinces.
“We believe in one nation and one country,” he said.
Afghan migration
On the issue of Afghan migration, Asif stated that the Afghan nationals should now return to Afghanistan as their own people now run the country.
“No longer does a foreigner sit at the helm in Afghanistan; it is their own government made of Afghans, so they should return. The reasons for Afghan migration have ended,” he said.
Tribute to sacrifices of Pakistan Armed Forces
The National Assembly unanimously passed a resolution honouring the sacrifices of the Pakistan Armed Forces in counterterrorism operations. The resolution was presented by Defence Minister Asif.
The session was adjourned until 11 a.m. on February 12.
