In a surprising turn of events, cash-strapped Pakistan has reportedly earned a substantial sum of $364 million through an arms deal with two private US companies, supplying ammunition to Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia. This revelation has emerged amidst Pakistan’s financial struggles and political uncertainty.
Ukraine Arms Deal: Has Pakistan Played To The West In Desperation for an IMF deal?
Despite consistent denials from Islamabad regarding any involvement in arming Ukraine, a British military cargo plane reportedly made five trips between Pakistan Air Force Base Nur Khan in Rawalpindi and the British military base in Cyprus, Akrotiri, and subsequently to Romania, carrying arms for the war-torn country.
The details of the contract were reportedly sourced from the American Federal Procurement Data System, indicating that Pakistan signed two agreements with American companies, Global Military and Northrop Grumman, for the sale of 155mm shells. These agreements were specifically linked to the purchase of 155mm shells and were signed on August 17, 2022.
While the Foreign Office in Islamabad has vehemently denied any sale of arms and ammunition to Ukraine, maintaining a stance of strict neutrality in the conflict, the alleged agreements raise questions about Pakistan’s involvement in the war-torn region.
It is worth noting that these alleged agreements took place during the rule of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), a multi-party coalition that ousted Imran Khan’s government through a no-trust vote in April 2022. This period also coincided with the retirement of then Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, who had previously pledged to strengthen ties between Pakistan and the United Kingdom.
The Ukraine crisis has been a prominent topic of political discourse in Pakistan, particularly following cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan’s visit to Russia in February 2022, just as Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine.
The revelation of Pakistan’s involvement in supplying arms to Ukraine adds another layer of complexity to the country’s political and financial situation. It remains to be seen how this development will impact Pakistan’s international relations and its ongoing economic challenges.