Pak can fight war only for 4 days, struggling with shortage of artilleries: Report

Amid tensions with India over last month’s Pahalgam terror attack, the Pakistani military is battling a severe shortage of critical artillery ammunition, with its warfighting capabilities lasting for just four days, news agency ANI reported, citing sources.

The shortage in artillery ammunition is mainly due to Pakistan’s recent arms deals with Ukraine and Israel, which have drained its war reserves.

Amid fears of a regional conflict, the Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF), which supplies the military, has been grappling to replenish supplies amid surging global demand and outdated production facilities, sources said.

Many Pakistani leaders have claimed that India will launch military action on the neighbouring country in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. They said their armed forces would give a befitting response to what they say “Indian aggression” or “misadventure”. However, the picture is not so rosy.

With dwindling supplies, Pakistan’s ammunition reserves can sustain just 96 hours of high-intensity conflict, leaving its military vulnerable, sources said.

Generally, Pakistan’s military doctrine is centred on rapid mobilisation to counter India’s numerical superiority. The military has insufficient 155mm shells for its M109 howitzers or 122mm rockets for its BM-21 systems to blunt an Indian military action.

Several posts on X in April claimed that the 155mm artillery shells were diverted to Ukraine, leaving stockpiles dangerously low.

According to sources, the Pakistani defence brass is deeply concerned and panicked over the lack of critical ammunition. The issue was raised at the Special Corps Commanders Conference on May 2.

Citing intelligence reports, sources claimed that Pakistan constructed ammunition depots near the India-Pakistan border in anticipation of a possible Indian strike.

In the past, former Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa acknowledged the challenges faced by the military, saying that Pakistan lacks ammunition and economic strength to deal with India in case of a prolonged conflict.

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