A Crisis Unfolds: Pakistan's Artillery Ammo Shortage Exposed
Pakistan's artillery capacity lasts for approximately four days, as per a recent report.
Pakistan's desperate move to bolster its economy by exporting artillery ammunition to Ukraine has left its military’s operational readiness hanging by a thread. According to news agency ANI, Pakistan's artillery ammunition reserves are now sufficient for only 96 hours of combat, a situation that has set off alarm bells among military brass.
This dire situation has its roots in Pakistan's decision to transfer a substantial quantity of artillery modules, including 155mm shells, to Ukraine, a move that has drained the country’s strategic reserves.
The Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF), the country's primary munitions producer, has been battling to replenish these depleted reserves due to aging infrastructure, limited production capacity, and the pressure of meeting rising global demand. Despite POF's prioritization of domestic needs, they've struggled to meet them in the current climate, according to officials familiar with the matter.
India-Pakistan Tensions Escalate
This news comes at a time when tensions between arch-rivals India and Pakistan are at their peak following the Pahalgam terror attack. On April 22, 26 people, predominantly tourists, were brutally murdered by terrorists in the attack.
In response, India enacted a series of retaliatory measures against Pakistan, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, closing the Integrated Check Post at Attari, decreasing the staffing of High Commissions, cancelling all types of visas issued to Pakistani nationals, mandating their immediate departure by April 30, and closing Indian airspace to flights operated by Pakistan International Airlines.
Behind the Headlines: Insights and Analysis
Pakistan's grand gamble to sell its ammunition to Ukraine has led to a severe shortage at home, leaving its military vulnerable and exposed, especially in the face of escalating tensions with India. With the Pakistan Ordnance Factories struggling to replenish stocks due to infrastructural issues and production constraints, the military has been forced to cut back on training exercises and operational capabilities.
Sources report that this critical ammunition shortage was a major concern at a Special Corps Commanders Conference held on May 2, indicating the depth of panic within Pakistan's military hierarchy. Intense financial and logistical pressures, compounded by Pakistan's ongoing economic crisis, are further eroding the country's military capacity for sustained warfare, as warned by former Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
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- The shortage of artillery ammunition in Pakistan's military, revealed by the recent export of artillery modules to Ukraine, is raising concerns within the Pakistan Army, particularly amid escalating tensions with India following the Pahalgam terror attack.
- The Pakistan Ordnance Factories, the country's primary munitions producer, is finding it difficult to replenish the depleted reserves due to aging infrastructure, limited production capacity, and rising global demand, compounding Pakistan's ongoing economic crisis.
- The Pahalgam terror attack, wherein 26 tourists were brutally murdered on April 22, has strained relations between India and Pakistan, leading to India's series of retaliatory measures, including the closure of airspace to Pakistan International Airlines.
- In response to the Pahalgam attack, India has taken various steps against Pakistan, such as suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, closing border posts, reducing diplomatic staff, halting issuance of visas to Pakistanis, and mandating their immediate departure from India.
