SOURCE: AFI
As tensions between India and Pakistan escalate following the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam massacre and subsequent military posturing, unverified reports have surfaced on X claiming that a foreign private military company (PMC) named Delta PMC, allegedly composed of ex-SAS (British Special Air Service) operators, has struck a deal with the Pakistan Army.
According to these posts, the PMC would intervene if Indo-Pak tensions escalate into a war-like situation, with a specific theory suggesting that these ex-SAS operatives are tasked with protecting Pakistani generals and their families due to a lack of trust in Pakistani soldiers. While these claims appear to be speculative and potentially propagandistic, they highlight the complex dynamics of trust, security, and foreign involvement in the region’s volatile military landscape.
The rumors, which began circulating on X on April 29, 2025, suggest that Delta PMC has a track record of involvement in high-stakes conflicts, with some posts claiming the company made significant contributions during the Russia-Ukraine war. The narrative posits that the Pakistan Army, under pressure from internal dissent and external threats, has turned to foreign mercenaries to secure its leadership. One theory gaining traction is that the military elite, including figures like Army Chief General Asim Munir, distrust their own troops for protective duties amid rising unpopularity and internal strife.
This distrust is not entirely baseless—historical accounts, such as those from a 2022 Economic Times report, reveal deep-seated corruption within the Pakistan Army, with generals amassing wealth through illicit means, potentially alienating their rank-and-file soldiers. Additionally, a 2025 India Today piece notes that junior officers have openly criticized General Munir, with some reportedly calling for his resignation due to the army’s declining morale and credibility.
The idea of a foreign PMC protecting Pakistani generals aligns with the military’s historical reliance on external support to bolster its capabilities. The Pakistan Army has a long tradition of collaborating with foreign entities, as seen in its training of UAE forces and its role in Jordan’s Black September conflict in the 1970s, according to Wikipedia’s entry on the Pakistan Armed Forces. However, the notion of hiring ex-SAS operators to safeguard its leadership raises questions about the army’s internal cohesion. The Pakistan Army, with 560,000 active-duty personnel as per 2024 IISS statistics, is the sixth-largest in the world and boasts elite units like the Special Services Group (SSG), trained to SAS standards since 1956. If the military lacks confidence in its own forces for such a critical task, it suggests deeper systemic issues—possibly exacerbated by recent attacks from groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch insurgents, which have claimed numerous military lives, as reported by Business Standard in April 2025.
Skeptics, however, argue that the Delta PMC narrative is likely propaganda aimed at amplifying perceptions of Pakistan’s military vulnerability or India’s threat. One X post from
@AskPerplexity on April 30, 2025, explicitly stated there is “no verified or credible evidence” of Delta PMC’s involvement, labeling the claims as social media rumors. Another post by
@adit21967 noted that Indian Special Forces personnel dismissed the rumors, with one quipping it “would be fun neutralising them,” suggesting the story may be a psychological operation to provoke India or distract from Pakistan’s internal challenges. The timing of these rumors—coinciding with India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and Pakistan’s closure of airspace to Indian aircraft, as reported by Reuters on April 29, 2025—lends credence to the propaganda theory, as both nations engage in information warfare to shape global perceptions.
If true, the involvement of a PMC like Delta PMC would mark a significant shift in Pakistan’s security strategy, reflecting a growing trend of states outsourcing sensitive military tasks to private entities. However, the lack of trust in its own soldiers, if accurate, paints a grim picture of the Pakistan Army’s internal dynamics. The military has faced unprecedented criticism in recent years, with a 2025 India Today report describing it as “overused” and suffering from a “complete muscle tear” due to political overreach and insurgent attacks. General Munir’s unpopularity, compounded by his anti-Hindu rhetoric preceding the Pahalgam attack, has further eroded public and military support, potentially necessitating external protection for the elite.
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