Military history of Pakistan

The military history of Pakistan (Urdu: تاريخ عسكری پاكِستان) covers the development, organization, and operations of the Pakistan Armed Forces from the country's creation in 1947 to the present day. Although the territory of modern Pakistan has witnessed warfare since ancient times, the history of the modern Pakistani military properly begins with the country's independence and the division of the British Indian Army.

The armed forces occupy a prominent position in the political and national history of the country. Since independence, the military has remained one of Pakistan’s most powerful institutions and has periodically intervened in politics through military coups, citing civilian mismanagement or corruption. Civilian governments have frequently consulted senior military leaders on matters of national security, particularly concerning the Kashmir conflict and foreign policy.

Since 1947, Pakistan’s armed forces have fought three major wars with India (1947–48, 1965, and 1971) and a limited conflict in Kargil in 1999, in addition to smaller border skirmishes with Afghanistan. Following the September 11 attacks, the military has been engaged in extensive counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas, targeting the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and affiliated groups.

Pakistan has also participated in numerous international United Nations peacekeeping missions. As of 2025, Pakistan was among the top troop-contributing countries, with more than 4,000 personnel deployed in missions across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

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