Recent media reports reveal that the United Kingdom has signed a deal with Pakistan to supply ammunition, including artillery rockets, to Ukraine. This comes six months after the UK allegedly used Pakistan as a bridge to transfer arms to Kyiv. The UK Ministry of Defence recently signed an agreement with Pakistan Ordinance Factories, following which a consignment of 162 containers of ammunition, including artillery rockets, was shipped from Karachi Port to Ukraine via Germany in February.
Reports suggest that the Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi was allegedly used by the UK for military aircraft flights to Avram Iancu Cluj International Airport in Romania via a British air base in the Mediterranean to transfer arms to Ukraine. The air bridge allegedly used West Asian airspace to transfer arms, avoiding Iran and Afghanistan airspace between 6 and 15 August. The arms were transferred using a Globemaster plane, and a British Air Force C-17A Globemaster III was also reportedly used for daily sorties using the Pakistan air bridge during the aforementioned period. This air bridge may have carried artillery ammunition for the Ukrainian army.
Pakistan and Ukraine have strong military and economic ties, with Pakistan purchasing over 320 Ukrainian T-80UD tanks in service. Ukraine also signed nearly USD 1.6 billion in arms contracts with Pakistan between 1991 and 2020. Islamabad has reportedly reached an agreement with Kyiv to repair its T-80UD fleet for USD 85.6 million. In 2021, Pakistan and Ukraine agreed to strengthen military ties, particularly in the areas of defence production, training, counter-terrorism operations, and intelligence.
This deal between the UK and Pakistan, which comes after a series of tense geopolitical developments, has raised some eyebrows. Some experts believe that the move may strain the UK's ties with India, which has had a long-standing rivalry with Pakistan. Others believe that the deal may lead to more instability in the region, with concerns about the arms falling into the wrong hands.
The UK government, on the other hand, has defended the deal, stating that it follows strict guidelines and regulations. It has emphasized that the transfer of arms is done in accordance with the UK's obligations under international law and its commitment to promoting global peace and stability.
In conclusion, the recent deal between the UK and Pakistan to supply ammunition to Ukraine has stirred controversy and concerns about the potential consequences. While the UK government maintains that it follows all guidelines and regulations, experts and analysts remain cautious about the situation, and the world watches with bated breath as events unfold.
