Pakistan military has 4 days' worth of warfighting capabilities amid artillery shortage: Report

As Pakistan flexes its muscles, reports are emerging that the country’s military is facing a critical shortage of artillery ammunition. Sources close to the matter told ANI that this shortage could severely limit Pakistan’s warfighting capabilities to just four days. As per the report, Pakistan is facing a shortage because it was involved in an arms deal with Ukraine, which has drained its war reserves.

Sources told ANI that the Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF), which is tasked with supplying the military, has been struggling to replenish ammunition. The factories are struggling to fulfil the global surge in demand as they work with outdated production facilities. Because of the deplorable state of these factories, Pakistan’s ammunition reserve can sustain only 96 hours’ worth of high-intensity combat.

This can be concerning for the Pakistani military amid tensions with India following the Pahalgam attack. In the past few days, the personnel from the cash-strapped nations have frequently violated the ceasefire at the Line of Control (LoC). The country’s leaders often boast about Pakistan’s military capabilities by indulging in war-mongering.

Why does it matter?

It is pertinent to note that for time immemorial, Pakistan’s military strategy has centred around rapid mobilisation to counter Indian forces, which are already superior in numbers. Without sufficient 155mm shells for its M109 howitzer or 122 mm rockets, the country’s prospective offence against India would be compromised, ANI reported.

As per the report, the artillery shell, crucial for the country’s military, was diverted to Ukraine, leaving its own stockpiles low. Since then, POF has been struggling to replenish the demands. Sources told ANI that this shortage is deeply concerning to Pakistan’s leadership, with some expressing a bit of panic.

In the past, former Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa acknowledged these limitations, emphasising that Pakistan lacks the ammunition and economic strength to engage in any sort of prolonged conflict with India. Meanwhile, sources have also told ANI that Islamabad is setting up ammunition depots near the India-Pakistan border in anticipation of a potential conflict.

With inputs from ANI.