Pakistan Faces Ammunition Crisis Amid India Tensions
Pakistan’s artillery stockpiles may last only four days amid India tensions, revealing deep military vulnerabilities and supply chain challenges.
Pakistan’s Ammunition Crisis Exposes Deep Military Vulnerabilities
As tensions mount between India and Pakistan following last month’s deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, alarming new reports reveal a critical weakness in Pakistan’s military preparedness: a dangerously low stockpile of artillery ammunition that could deplete within just four days of high-intensity conflict.
Citing intelligence sources, ANI reported that Pakistan’s military has only 96 hours’ worth of artillery ammunition available, should a major confrontation erupt with India. The Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF)—the primary supplier of the country’s conventional arms—is reportedly struggling to keep pace with rising demand, exacerbated by outdated manufacturing infrastructure and limited access to critical raw materials.
Dwindling Arsenal and Rising Fears of Conflict
The precarious state of Pakistan’s defense supplies comes at a time of heightened geopolitical anxiety. Following the Pahalgam terror attack, several Pakistani officials speculated that India might respond with targeted military operations. Public statements by Pakistani leaders warn of a “befitting response” to any Indian aggression, yet internal military assessments paint a more troubling picture.
According to sources, the country lacks adequate reserves of 155mm shells used by M109 howitzers and 122mm rockets for its BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher systems—both critical for sustained battlefield operations. In a region where rapid force mobilization and sustained artillery barrages form the backbone of conflict strategy, such shortages leave Pakistan at a significant disadvantage.
A System Under Strain: POF’s Struggles and Strategic Missteps
At the center of this shortfall lies the POF’s waning production capability. Originally designed during the Cold War era, the state-owned arms manufacturer has not kept up with modern warfare requirements or technological innovation. Multiple defense analysts note that the facility lacks both the automation and the scale to replenish stockpiles quickly, particularly amid global arms supply constraints driven by ongoing conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine.
Unconfirmed reports on social media in April suggested that artillery shells originally intended for Pakistan’s military were diverted to Ukraine, further thinning domestic stockpiles. While these claims remain officially unverified, they have sparked concern across defense circles and fueled speculation about external pressures shaping Islamabad’s military logistics.
Strategic Calculations and Regional Implications
The situation has reportedly caused panic at the highest levels of Pakistan’s military establishment. On May 2, a Special Corps Commanders Conference convened to address the shortage and discuss emergency measures, including the construction of new ammunition depots near the India-Pakistan border. This move, while precautionary, underscores the urgency within Pakistan’s strategic ranks.
Former Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa had previously acknowledged the country’s limited capacity for prolonged warfare, pointing to both economic and logistical challenges. His statements now appear prophetic as Pakistan faces the dual burden of economic instability and military unpreparedness.
Despite the rhetoric of retaliation, Islamabad’s ability to sustain a large-scale military engagement appears severely limited. Defense experts argue that Pakistan may lean more heavily on diplomatic maneuvering or asymmetric strategies to counterbalance India’s superior conventional military capabilities.
A Shifting Balance of Power
India, by contrast, has steadily invested in modernizing its military and expanding its defense manufacturing capabilities. With a doctrine focused on swift, punitive responses to cross-border attacks, New Delhi is well-positioned to act decisively, should it choose to escalate. The balance of power in the region increasingly favors India—not just in numbers, but in strategic readiness.
This growing disparity raises urgent questions about deterrence stability in South Asia. While Pakistan retains a nuclear arsenal as a last-resort equalizer, reliance on such measures underscores rather than negates the vulnerabilities exposed by its conventional forces’ depletion.
Conclusion: Crisis as Catalyst or Collapse?
The revelation of Pakistan’s artillery shortfall offers more than a glimpse into military unpreparedness; it reflects the deeper structural and economic challenges plaguing the nation’s defense apparatus. If unaddressed, these issues could limit Pakistan’s ability to deter or respond to future provocations, shifting the strategic calculus of the region.
In the short term, diplomatic channels may remain the most viable path to stability. But over the long haul, Pakistan faces a hard truth: without urgent reforms in defense production and procurement, it risks being left behind in a neighborhood where preparedness is power.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on publicly available reports and unnamed intelligence sources. The accuracy of the claims regarding Pakistan’s military stockpiles has not been independently verified. The content is intended for informational purposes and does not reflect any political stance.
source : India Today