Pakistan’s Security Challenges Deepen as Retired Personnel Hesitate to Return to Balochistan

Earlier this month, the Inspector General of Frontier Corps (Balochistan North) issued a non-compulsory order inviting retired personnel to rejoin their former units. The offer included salaries determined by their completed years of service.

However, officials cited in the report said the initiative had attracted little interest, with concerns over personal safety emerging as a major factor behind the reluctance to return.

According to one official, many retired personnel are unwilling to risk their lives in operations against militant organisations such as the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and the Balochistan Liberation Force (BLF).

The official claimed that both groups had strengthened their capabilities and were inflicting significant operational and morale-related damage on Pakistani security forces, making the rejoining offer less attractive.

Police Absences Add to Pressure in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The difficulties are not limited to Balochistan. An Intelligence Bureau official cited in the report said concerns over the treatment of police personnel in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were also contributing to reluctance among retired security personnel to return to service.

More than 4,000 police personnel in KP reportedly failed to resume their duties after their sanctioned leave expired. Authorities have threatened disciplinary action if they do not return.

The report attributed their absence to concerns about confronting the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which continues to pose a security challenge in the region.

An official said some personnel had questioned Islamabad’s policy decisions concerning Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, arguing that these decisions had contributed to growing public support for the TTP, BLA and BLF.

The official further claimed that local intelligence networks had weakened, making it more difficult for security forces to operate effectively against the groups.

These assessments were attributed to officials cited in the report and were not independently verified.

October 31 Deadline for Retired Personnel

Another official said October 31 was the deadline for retired military personnel invited to rejoin the forces in Balochistan.

However, the continuing security situation was reportedly discouraging potential recruits from returning.

The limited response to the invitation highlights the challenges facing authorities as they seek to reinforce security deployments in areas affected by persistent militant activity.

The report suggested that concerns over the risks associated with operations against the BLA and BLF remained central to the reluctance among former personnel.

Pakistan Reportedly Seeks Support from Former Afghan Military Personnel

The report also claimed that Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir had instructed personnel to establish contact with former members of the Afghan National Army and local warlords as part of a broader effort to address the security situation.

According to officials cited in the report, the proposed strategy involves increasing pressure on Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities, with the expectation that instability could weaken the TTP’s operational capacity.

The report did not provide independent confirmation of the alleged instructions or the strategy attributed to the military leadership.

Separately, Balochistan-based journalist Faiz Baloch reported that the Pakistan Army was recruiting and training Afghan fighters in Dalbandin, with similar camps allegedly operating in Kuchlak and Hazarganji in Quetta.

The report also cited an alleged offer of monthly salaries ranging from PKR 15,000 to PKR 20,000 for the fighters. These claims were not independently verified.

Security Pressures Persist in Both Regions

The reported difficulties in attracting retired personnel back into service, alongside the continued absence of thousands of police officers in KP, point to the personnel challenges facing Pakistan’s security establishment.

At the same time, the reported expansion of militant capabilities and concerns about weakened local intelligence networks could complicate efforts to contain violence in both regions.

The situation underscores the multiple pressures confronting Pakistani authorities as they seek to strengthen security operations in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, claims concerning recruitment efforts, military instructions and the causes of personnel absences remain dependent on the accounts cited in the report.