The reason Muslim won’t join the army is because they don’t want to kill other Muslims In the past ten years the British Armed forces have struggled to attract people from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities to join their ranks.

The Army's head, General Sir Nick Carter, said recently while recruitment from these backgrounds is improving it is not at the level it should be.

And in a bid to attract more Muslims the Islamic Religious Advisor to the army added, "Anybody wishing to pursue a career in the Services, Regular or Reserve and is prepared to work hard can be assured of a very rewarding experience." Wise words.

But the reason for the lack of interest in the army has always been dressed up. It had to do with Asians wanting higher aspirations and their parents want them to be doctors and lawyers. It had to do with the armed forces not being able to reach out to communities. It had to do with cultural and religious issues such as halal food. It had to do with the lack of role models.

But the main issue was always ignored. That as a Muslim you did not want to go to another land and fight against ‘other Muslims’. If you are 18 years-old and faced with this decision it is unlikely you will decide to join the army.

You may well want to but there will be peer pressures against this.

Some ill-informed person might suggest that this makes the person ‘less British’. But it doesn’t does it? It has nothing to with feeling and wanting to be more British and a question of loyalty.

It comes to a matter of fact that you won’t go and kill another Muslim in another land. Does it matter that these ‘other Muslims’ are carrying out barbaric acts in the name of your religion?

There have been concerted efforts in particular to attract more Muslims into the army but the combat operations in the past ten to fifteen years have been the biggest stumbling block.

People do realise that as a member of the armed forces yours is not the position to think of the politics – you are enlisted to serve.

That is what makes an army.

You cannot blame the army for the decisions of the government.

Now, the army have made huge strides in attracting more ethnic minorities. I recollect going to several functions and open days where all the armed forces have made painstaking efforts to attract more members of the ethnic minorities.

And the army has a varied number of careers that do not require direct combat operations. This is a clear point that needs to be highlighted more.

But will any this really break the mindset of a young Muslim? Are parents really going to encourage their sons and daughters to enlist?

I think not.

It is time we stopped skirting around this issue once and for all.