page_title: Pakistan Army
section_title: Women and religion in the Pakistan Army
hierarchical_section_title: Pakistan Army / Personnel / Women and religion in the Pakistan Army
caption_attribution_description: English: The main gate of the Pakistan Military Academy Français&#160;: Portail principal de l'Académie militaire du Pakistan
context_page_description: The Pakistan Army is the principal land warfare branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The roots of its modern existence trace back to the British Indian Army that ceased to exist following the partition of British India, resulting in the parliamentary act that established the independence of Pakistan from the United Kingdom on 14 August 1947. According to the estimation provided by the International Institute for Strategic Studies in 2017, the Pakistan Army had approximately 650,000 active-duty personnel, supported by the Army Reserve and National Guard—effectively making it the 6th largest army in the world in terms of manpower. Citizens can enlist for voluntary military service upon reaching 16 years of age and cannot be deployed for combat until age 18 in accordance with the Constitution of Pakistan.
  The Pakistan Army's primary objective and constitutional mission is to ensure the national security and national unity of Pakistan by defending it against external aggression or the threat of war. It can also be requisitioned by the federal government to respond to internal threats by maintaining peace and security within its land borders.
context_section_description: Women have been part of the Pakistan Army since 1947, and currently there are approximately 4,000 women serving in administrative positions. In the past, women were inducted into the Women's Guard Section of the National Guard, and trained in medical work, welfare, and clerical positions but combat positions have been opened to women due to shortages.
  Pakistan is the only Muslim-majority nation which appoints women to general officer ranks, such as Major-General Shahida Malik, the first woman army officer and military physician by profession who was promoted to a two-star rank. In 2015, the Army reportedly trained a sizeable contingent of women for infantry, airborne, and sniper missions.
  The Army recruits from all religions in Pakistan including Hindus, Sikhs, Zoroastrians, Christians who have held command-level positions. Religious services are provided by the Chaplain Corps for Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, and Zoroastrians.
  In 1993, Major-General Julian Peter was the first Christian to be appointed at the command position while Hercharn Singh became the first Sikh to be commissioned in the army. Between 1947–2000, a policy of restricting Hindus prior enlisting in the Pakistan Army was in practice until the policy was reversed by the federal government. In 2006, army recruiters began recruiting Hindus into the army and people of all faith or no faith can be promoted to any rank or commanding position in the army.
caption: The entrance and the main gate of the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul, ca. 2007
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