For decades,
[267] the Bahraini authorities have been recruiting Sunni foreign nationals in the security forces from different countries, including Egypt,
[268] Jordan,
Syria, Iraq (
Ba'athists),
Yemen and
Pakistan (
Baluch) in order to confront any popular movement that usually comes from the Shia majority.
[269] In 2009, Bahrain Centre for Human Rights claimed that 64 percent of National Security Agency employees were foreigners and that only 4 percent were Shia.
[270] Pakistanis mainly from Balochistan make up 30 percent of Bahrain security forces and are usually recruited via the Fauji Foundation.[271] Bahrainis,
[269] Al Jazeera English,
[271] Hindustan Times,
[272] Time magazine
[273] and
Bruce Riedel[267] referred to them as
mercenaries. The Bahraini government admits it recruits foreigners in security forces, although it does not describe them as mercenaries. "We have no mercenaries. We have workers who have been serving at the Ministry of Interior for many years. Some of them have been naturalized and their children are working at the ministry", said
Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the Minister of Interior.
[274]
During the uprising, the deportation of Syrians and Pakistanis serving with the security forces was one of protesters' main goals; one of their slogans was against hiring Pakistanis in the riot police department. "There is no security when the police come from Pakistan", they chanted.
[275] One month after the uprising began, the ministry of interior announced 20,000 jobs in security forces were available for Bahrainis, including protesters.
[276] The move was considered a step to satisfy protesters' demands.
However, advertisements of "urgent requirement" in the National Guard, special forces and riot police were spread in Pakistani media.[271]
The appearance of the advertisements was preceded by two "quiet trips" to Pakistan by
Bandar bin Sultan, now the Director General of the
Saudi Intelligence Agency. Later, the Foreign Minister of Bahrain,
Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa and commander of the National Guard made a similar visit. It was only then that the advertisements started appearing.
[271] The Pakistani government said they have "nothing to do" with these recruitments, because they are done via "private channels".
[267] However, the
Iran News Agency reported that in August 2011,
Asif Ali Zardari, the President of Pakistan has agreed to send more Pakistani troops to Bahrain during his one-day visit to the country.
[277] It was also reported by
The Jakarta Post that the Bahraini government tried to hire
Malaysian mercenaries.
[278]