In a scathing critique, exiled Pakistani journalist and former military officer Adil Raja has branded the Pakistan Army as a mercenary force, alleging it would readily deploy troops to Ukraine if compensated by Britain. Raja’s claims, shared via his X account, highlight the army’s historical involvement in paid peacekeeping missions and internal suppressions, now extended to desperate economic measures. He asserts that amid Pakistan’s financial woes, the military under General Asim Munir is eyeing foreign conflicts for revenue, even suggesting prior commitments of soldiers to Gaza under US and Arab directives without strategic foresight.
This narrative aligns with broader geopolitical tensions, where Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of recruiting mercenaries from countries including Pakistan to bolster its forces in the ongoing war. Zelenskyy reported fighters from Pakistan, China, and African nations aiding Russian troops, prompting denials from Islamabad but raising questions about unregulated recruitment. Pakistan’s Foreign Office rejected these as “baseless,” yet reports indicate potential involvement of Pakistani nationals as mercenaries, possibly driven by economic incentives amid high unemployment.
"Fist-full of dollars" is a phrase used in a Clint Eastwood movie, PMA also stands for Pakistan Military Academy. @georgegalloway Need Not Worry!
— Adil Raja (@soldierspeaks) October 29, 2025
If Britain doesn’t have enough soldiers for Ukraine, Pak Army (Pak Mercenary Army a.k.a. PMA) will send its soldiers happily for a…
Raja’s tweet emphasizes the army’s “mercenary” ethos, tracing back to UN missions and Saudi deployments, now pivoting to Ukraine via UK intermediaries for arms and troop support.
Critics argue this risks entangling Pakistan in global conflicts, exacerbating internal instability. With Western aid to Ukraine exceeding $360 billion since 2022, including from the UK, such deployments could strain Pakistan’s neutrality.
However, no official confirmation exists of state-sanctioned troops to Ukraine, though private recruitment persists.Raja warns of long-term repercussions, including reputational damage and domestic backlash. As Pakistan grapples with inflation and debt, the allure of foreign payments might override strategic prudence, potentially aligning the military with Western agendas against Russia. This development underscores the intersection of economic desperation and militarized foreign policy, calling for transparency in military decisions.
