Should pakistan increase the number of troops

[Signalian]

Pakistan lacks security. Increase troops, increase security so there's less terrorist attacks - especially in provinces that are constant victims (Baluchistan), review your strategies, check foreign policies. Upgrade.

The number of bombings/deaths due to terrorist attacks have come down in past 1 year, it wasnt due to increase in number of troops.

 

[The Sandman]

Remember quality over quantity is always a good thing.

 

[AUz]

The number 550k for troops in land forces is outdated. Various organiations have put the number around 644k etc.

@fatman17 @Icarus might be able to shed more light on the issue

Remember quality over quantity is always a good thing.

Quality of our troops is unquestioned. We have regularly won toughest exercises around the world which shows that our troops are of top most quality in terms of capability and training. The quality we lack is in equipment.

 

[Zibago]

At the end of the day its the police that is resposible for internal security we need to increase number of police in Balochistan

 

[Signalian]

Well; After Zarb e Azb, who is going to look after the 2,430 km long border with Afghanistan?
Who is going to keep the drug smugglers, weapon smugglers, terrorists, illegal immigrants, incursions and ect... out?

It'll be the FC and it's crucial that we increase their numbers.

If everything will be done by FC, then probably dissolve police force. Actually, if you talk about FATA, there is Levies and Khasadar force also. There is also Frontier Constabulary.
What are these three forces supposed to do?

 

[Divergent]

Quality and quantity both. It is scary how you say it's gone 'down' - Baluchistan has been targeted many times, we make it too easy. The point isn't to lessen, the point should be to prevent.

 

[Indus Pakistan]

Please elaborate.

Don't have time to give you elaborate reply but think about this. The only fail safe shield Pakistan has against India is the nuclear deterant. Pakistan is never, repeat never going to outgun India on the conventional battlefield when it faces 1:7 disparity in populations. This is sobering but a fact. Therefore it is foolish to even go down the numbers game because you shall be always outmatched. The fact is the only protection Pakistan has is the nukes. That is what keeps the billion plus whimps across the border from over running Pakistan like swarm of ants.

Therefore Pakistan should focus on the nuclear deterance and just have enough conventional force to purchase time to fall back on the nuclear option. Like a tripwire if you will. Given this instead increasing the size it should downsize the conventional force.

The savings should be invested in nuclear deterance like submarine platforms and rest invested in creating A class single consolidated internal security force - similar to rangers but improved, increased in size, upped in equipment and training like Turkish Jandarma. This force should invest in improving internal secirity inside Pakistan which is the achilles heel of Pakistan. Internal security would enforce the writ of the state across every district in Pakistan. no foreign investor like Chinese should worry about their safety inside a sovereign Pakistan.

And the smaller PA would still function as a tripwire should India attack for the nuclear force to deploy. Having said this I doubt this will ever happen. PA is not known for being imaginery in it's ideas and tends like many militariers to be very conservative and slow in evolution. In addition all militaries have a inertia which works against downsizing as it means losing jobs and privilages. So nobody worry. It is NOT going to happen.

 

[The Sandman]

Quality of our troops is unquestioned. We have regularly won toughest exercises around the world which shows that our troops are of top most quality in terms of capability and training. The quality we lack is in equipment.

Exactly we need to spend a lot more money on equipment of our soldiers now.

 

[saiyan0321]

whats your reason as to why FC numbers needs to be increased?

FC protects the porous western border. Since our independence we didn't keep any form of force on our western border keeping the border insecure and porous. Our focus was always the western side. However the situation was changed and we require a border control force which is the FC. Noe the FC is supposed to be the paramilitary force that keeps the peace as well as are respondents on terror attacks as well as protect the border. This is a huge burden on an 80000 force.

Plus the border of afpak is 2250km with many points mountain ranges which cannot be fenced or trenched. We may have trenched the 1100 km border of Baluchistan but the border of kpk and FATA is not easy.

So to combat this we need check posts at many sectors to combat infiltration. It may never end ( these afghans will scale the great wall of China ) but it can surely be reduced and considering the situation in Afghanistan it become imperative that more and more check posts are raised. To man those check posts and to secure the border we need to have a well equipped and well manned border control frontier corps. The border cannot be allowed to be kept porous.

Remember the threat from the western and eastern are different in nature.

The western border threat is terror infiltrators and illegal immigrants. The terror infiltrators will require posts to keep an eye on this form of movement.

The eastern border threat are invasive in nature as larger armies coming with armoured corps and air force so it requires more technological defensive force aka Sam system, anti tank systems as well as a defensive collective capability.

The govt and the army are currently increasing the number of FC so the demand is being met on the behest of strategists and analysts in our military force.

https://www.google.com.pk/amp/tribu...chistan-over-4-years/?amp=1?client=ms-unknown


There was another news piece a few months ago where nisar said that FC will raise few more divisions. I can't find it but I made a thread here about it.

 

[Signalian]

FC protects the porous western border. Since our independence we didn't keep any form of force on our western border keeping the border insecure and porous. Our focus was always the western side. However the situation was changed and we require a border control force which is the FC. Noe the FC is supposed to be the paramilitary force that keeps the peace as well as are respondents on terror attacks as well as protect the border. This is a huge burden on an 80000 force.

Plus the border of afpak is 2250km with many points mountain ranges which cannot be fenced or trenched. We may have trenched the 1100 km border of Baluchistan but the border of kpk and FATA is not easy.

So to combat this we need check posts at many sectors to combat infiltration. It may never end ( these afghans will scale the great wall of China ) but it can surely be reduced and considering the situation in Afghanistan it become imperative that more and more check posts are raised. To man those check posts and to secure the border we need to have a well equipped and well manned border control frontier corps. The border cannot be allowed to be kept porous.

Remember the threat from the western and eastern are different in nature.

The western border threat is terror infiltrators and illegal immigrants. The terror infiltrators will require posts to keep an eye on this form of movement.

The eastern border threat are invasive in nature as larger armies coming with armoured corps and air force so it requires more technological defensive force aka Sam system, anti tank systems as well as a defensive collective capability.

The govt and the army are currently increasing the number of FC so the demand is being met on the behest of strategists and analysts in our military force.

https://www.google.com.pk/amp/tribune.com.pk/story/967411/massive-recruitment-leas-strength-raised-by-27-in-balochistan-over-4-years/?amp=1?client=ms-unknown


There was another news piece a few months ago where nisar said that FC will raise few more divisions. I can't find it but I made a thread here about it.

One of the significant reason FC gives excellent results is because its commanded by a serving Army General and has Army officers attached to it to command FC troops. Second reason is, it gets seconded equipment from Army like Tanks, Artillery etc apart from Light infantry equipment like SMG's, Bullet proof vests, NVG's etc. Third reason is, its very mobile through a large assortment of transport SUV's/Pick ups/trucks which make it an excellent QRF.

However,Increasing FC numbers will not help unless the other forces in the region are on par with training and equipment to FC. The other forces are Police, Frontier Constabulary, Levies and Khasadars.

No matter how many numbers of FC are increased, FC will not be given the task to stand at every check point and post and be present everywhere to conduct operations. Tasks will be divided amongst other forces too and all the other forces not only lack training, modern equipment but Police is also riddled with corruption. This will still create loop holes in security ring.

The best trained Police force is assigned for VIP security and the number of VIP's in Pakistan is a never ending charade. SSU, Elite Force and other ATF of Police are either performing duty on sensitive buildings, installations or with VIP's. Whatever of best trained Police force is left is left for public is in very short number.

Increasing numbers will not solve the issue, better management of current resources as well as thorough planning for future will ensure a better security atmosphere in the affected regions.

 

[Wolf]

As title say can we increase the number of regular troops for army about 200,000.00 as currently we only have 550'000.00 active troops as compare to 1million plus indian army and we are engaged in war on both fronts. Is there any possiblities that we increase numbers from reserves into regulars or can we transfer troops from rangers and fc into regular forces. These aditional numbers can enhance our defences on eastren border.

Paramilitary forces should never be increased beyond a certain level so as to give it a provincial army type of look to avoid East Pakistan rifles etc kind of situation.
Yes, army needs to increase by atleast 2,00,000 but before that arrange for more and sophisticated tanks, APCs, IFVs and artillery.
Mountain formations should definitely contain soldiers from GB, AJK and KPK as they are good in such terrain. Even FC personnel are really good at moving and operating in mountainous terrain.
The increase in numbers should be 50% i.e 100,000 infantry and other 50% I.e 100,000 in armoured and artillery formations

 

[Syed_Adeel]

No. Reduce by 50%

Sir either elaborate or no jokes please.

 

[Wolf]

Furthermore, how many FC personnel are required to control Pak- Afghan border?
The border is 2250km. If we have 225 posts at each kilometer of the border with 40 FC soldiers working in different shifts throughout the day, equipped with Night vision goggles and snipers which are backed by artillery and mortar batteries and gunship helps like mi 35s at every 30-40km of the border THEN we can contain Pak - Afghan border. As there are around 80,000 FC soldiers at the moment and aforementioned deployment needs 90,000 FC soldiers, so we can induct 40,000 more FC soldiers and that will be enough for the border and other operations by FC.

 

[DJ_Viper]

As title say can we increase the number of regular troops for army about 200,000.00 as currently we only have 550'000.00 active troops as compare to 1million plus indian army and we are engaged in war on both fronts. Is there any possiblities that we increase numbers from reserves into regulars or can we transfer troops from rangers and fc into regular forces. These aditional numbers can enhance our defences on eastren border.

I think instead of increasing the number of troops, increase heli born special ops forces, and your battle assets as much as you can. Especially, the Jets, more jets need to form a small but potent dedicated strike wing, a naval wing and a general increase in the PAF's air assets and then the SAM systems. Then, for the Army, higher quality tanks, guided munitions / ATM's, and Howitzers (the GPS guided ones) and lastly, a few missile destroyers with AA/AD long range SAM systems for your Navy.

I think this list would do wonders for the Pakistani military than anything else. The air-force and other air-arms are much needed IMO.

With the Stealthy JF-18 coming and hopefully getting produced in large numbers, it would do wonders. Thanks

 

[Tom M]

Pakistan is never, repeat never going to outgun India on the conventional battlefield when it faces 1:7 disparity in populations. This is sobering but a fact. Therefore it is foolish to even go down the numbers game because you shall be always outmatched. The fact is the only protection Pakistan has is the nukes. That is what keeps the billion plus whimps across the border from over running Pakistan like swarm of ants.

Just to add something to your points.

India was a declared Nuclear state 2 decades, well before Pakistan did a nuclear test. Moreover Pakistan was too weak during the period 1974, you just had lost your half couple of years back and had a real political instability during the 70's which is a known fact.

While India could have easily overrun "Pakistan like swarm of ants", nobody in India ever thought of that back then I guess. So if we didn't want to occupy Pakistan when you were going through your weakest phase while we were a newly declared nuclear state, do you expect India to be living in a dream of overrunning Pakistan while you are too strong now as compared to the 70's ?? LOL