Pakistan’s armed forces are said to be facing a severe shortage of artillery ammunition, which is seriously compromising their combat readiness. According to ANI, the Pakistan Army has sufficient stocks to last only 96 hours in combat operations, a situation that has sent shockwaves across military circles.
The crisis has been said to originate from recent deliveries of arms to Ukraine, specifically massive exports of 155mm artillery rounds—critical to Pakistan’s artillery-based doctrine. The deals, fueled by high-paying foreign demand, have heavily depleted Pakistan’s inventory, leaving critical platforms such as the M109 howitzers and BM-21 rocket systems short-handed.
Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF), the country’s major arms producer, has failed to restock the army’s inventory. With old infrastructure and restricted capacity, POF is finding it difficult to satisfy local demand. Officials quoted by ANI indicated that even with local supply as a priority, POF has not delivered under existing limitations.
Top Military Leaders Alarmed
Increased shortcoming in the supply of ammunition was allegedly among the prime concerns raised at May 2’s Special Corps Commanders Conference. Top brass, as claimed, are “greatly worried till certain levels of panic” concerning the lowered functional readiness of the nation.
Past Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa had previously cautioned that Pakistan didn’t possess the capacity for extended military action, referring to logistical and financial problems. The ongoing fiscal crisis—as characterized by inflation, debt, and dwindling reserves—has resulted in reductions in military rations, canceled war exercises, and suspended training due to fuel shortages.
New Ammunition Depots Provide Limited Benefit
Preparatory to a possible war, Pakistan has begun building new ammunition storage facilities along the Indian border. But according to analysts, the depots will be useless if the army does not have the ammunition to fill them.
Pakistan shipped its ammunition to faraway wars, only to discover that it was left stranded, its arsenals bare, and its defenses hanging by a thread,” a senior defense analyst explained to ANI. “The pursuit of short-term economic profit has caused a long-term strategic wound.”
The ammunition shortage occurs at a time of increased tensions between India and Pakistan after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26—mainly tourists.
India retaliated with a series of diplomatic and strategic measures, such as the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, closure of the Attari Integrated Check Post, and lowering of diplomatic levels. All visas given to Pakistani citizens were also canceled and were asked to be vacated by April 30. Pakistani Airlines flights have been prohibited from Indian airspace.
