Pakistan’s soldiers face a threat that is routinely ignored, i.e., vector-borne diseases. Malaria, dengue, leishmaniasis, and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever are not only public-health problems; they can weaken military readiness, reduce manpower, and disrupt field operations. In a country where troops are deployed across deserts, floodplains, mountains, and contested border regions, the danger from mosquitoes, sandflies, ticks, and other disease-carrying vectors remains constant.

The risk intensifies during the monsoon season, after floods, and in temporary camps where water collects, and sanitation is difficult to maintain. In such settings, mosquito populations surge, ticks spread through livestock contact, and infected personnel can carry disease silently into a unit before the first symptom appears. For the military, even a localised outbreak carries wider consequences, affecting training schedules, mobility, and the ability to respond to emergencies.

Pakistan’s geography and climate create ideal conditions for vector breeding. Warm temperatures, stagnant water, poor drainage, crowded living arrangements, and close contact between humans and animals all help sustain the cycle of transmission. In areas such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, former tribal districts, parts of Balochistan, and flood-affected districts of Sindh, soldiers may face prolonged exposure while carrying out security duties, relief work, or field exercises. Under these circumstances, prevention is not a discretionary measure, but an operational need.

The health consequences for soldiers can be severe. Malaria may present initially as fever and fatigue, but without timely intervention, it can progress rapidly to life-threatening complications. Dengue can lead to high fever, body pain, bleeding complications, and hospitalisation. Cutaneous leishmaniasis may produce persistent skin lesions or, in its........

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