Pakistan faces critical artillery shortage, can sustain war for just four days

Pakistan’s military readiness has come under severe scrutiny, with intelligence sources revealing that the country can sustain high-intensity combat operations for no more than four days.
Pakistan
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New Delhi: Pakistan’s military readiness has come under severe scrutiny, with intelligence sources revealing that the country can sustain high-intensity combat operations for no more than four days.

The alarming assessment stems from a critical shortage of artillery ammunition — an outcome of Pakistan’s arms exports to Ukraine and Israel.

According to sources, Pakistan’s decision to meet international arms demands, while financially lucrative, has significantly eroded its warfighting capabilities. The export of vital munitions has left key weapon systems without sufficient ammunition, reducing them to little more than sitting ducks in the face of a full-scale conflict.

Highly placed sources told IANS that in the shadow of global conflicts, Pakistan’s military establishment has been quietly navigating treacherous waters, balancing economic desperation against strategic survival. The nation’s decision to export vast quantities of ammunition to Ukraine and Israel has not only strained its diplomatic neutrality but also gutted its own warfighting capabilities, leaving its armed forces critically underprepared for sustained combat.

The crisis traces back to 2022, when the Russia-Ukraine war triggered a global demand for munitions. Facing a worsening economic crisis marked by debt and food insecurity, Pakistan seized the opportunity. The Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) in Wah Cantt became a covert supplier to Ukraine, exporting large volumes of artillery shells, rockets, and small arms ammunition.

Former Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa himself admitted that Pakistan lacks both the ammunition and economic capacity to engage in a prolonged conflict with India.

The depletion of war reserves has deeply alarmed Pakistan’s military leadership. Intelligence suggests that the issue was a key topic during the Special Corps Commanders Conference held on May 2, 2025. Though emergency ammunition depots have been established near the India-Pakistan border, their utility is questionable under the current crisis.

The irony is stark — while Pakistan’s military elite profited from arms exports, the country’s ability to wage or deter conventional war — especially against India — has been severely compromised. Four days of combat readiness is not just a number; it marks a grave vulnerability for a nation that has long prided itself on military resilience.  (IANS)

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