Fata representation in army officers ranks on the rise

PESHAWAR: As many as 59 gentlemen cadets from Federally Administered Tribal Areas are presently studying in the final session at the Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul and would be commissioned in the Pakistan Army in due course of time.
At a briefing for the members of the media in Peshawar, military officials said apart from the 59 cadets in the final session many others from Fata were getting trained in the early sessions at PMA Kakul, located near Abbottabad. They said most of these cadets studied in the educational institutions set up in Fata before and during the military operations against the militants.
The army officials felt it was heartening that so many young tribesmen were joining the armed forces not only in other ranks but also as commissioned officers. They said these soldiers from tribal areas would be fighting for the defence of the homeland, including Fata.
It is possible more young men from Fata are now joining the armed forces, but the tradition of tribesmen proudly donning the military uniform isn’t new. They have always been keen to serve not only in the Pakistan Army but also in the Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy. The paramilitary Frontier Corps, whose officers are drawn from the Pakistan Army, is almost entirely made up of members of every Pashtun tribe from Fata and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Same is true of the Frontier Constabulary, whose officers belong to the Police Service of Pakistan.
Tribesmen also serve in other civil armed forces of Pakistan, the police force and the intelligence agencies.
Fata has produced a number of military officers, including generals. They include Lt Gen Alam Jan Mehsud, Lt Gen Jamal Said Mian, Lt Gen K K Afridi, Lt Gen Ishaq Orakzai, Lt Gen Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai, Maj Gen Jamaldar Khan and Maj Gen Iqbal Akbar Khan. Some of them served as corps commanders or held other important positions.
Lt Gen Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai also remained the governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He was the first tribesman from Fata to become the governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Air Vice Marshal Qaiser Hussain, who couldn’t be come the Pakistan Air Force chief, also belonged to Fata. He was from Kurram Agency where he contested for a seat in the National Assembly after retirement and lost narrowly. .
Besides, Fata has had many senior civil servants and others who made a name in different walks of life. Some served as chief secretary of the provinces, others headed important government departments.