Pakistan has dispatched military equipment, including over 10,000 rockets for multi-barrel rocket launchers, to Ukraine, even as it eyes Russian discounted oil amid its foreign reserve and energy crisis.
Overview
A source quoted by Economic Times said that the military equipment left the Karachi port earlier in February, and will reach Ukraine via the Emden port in Germany, and separately via Poland as well.
ANI referred to Pakistan’s decision to support Ukraine as a “backstab” to Russia, which the report said was motivated by its desire to “make money off the Russia-Ukraine war.” It highlighted that Moscow has agreed to provide Islamabad with 100,000 barrels of discounted Russian oil daily.
Pakistan has reportedly stepped up military supplies to Ukraine via a German port, simultaneously with the Poland route, to transfer rockets for use in multi-barrel rocket launchershttps://t.co/h3eBVYRKJh
— Economic Times (@EconomicTimes) February 11, 2023
Past Reports of Pakistani Aid to Ukraine
In January, Pakistani shipping firm Project Shipping delivered 159 containers from Pakistan Ordnance Factories to Ukraine. In the same month, another 50,000 defence stores were provided to Ukraine by the Pakistan Ordnance Factories. The military shipments reportedly departed from Karachi port and reached Ukraine through the Gdansk Port in Poland.
Pakistani firms are using eastern European countries to deliver military equipment to Ukraine. For instance, the DMI Associates in Islamabad are working with the Bulgarian Defence Industry Group to assist Kyiv’s military. Likewise, Slovakian defence firm Chemic has approached the Pakistan Ordnance Factories’ ammunition supplies dealer Kestral.
Reports suggest that Ukraine will provide Mi-17 helicopters to Pakistan in exchange for support to counter Russian military troops. Ukrainian firms specialising in manufacturing aircraft engines and industrial gas turbines are working with Pakistan for the helicopters.
After Pakistan's corrupt army chief Bajwa helped overthrow elected PM Imran Khan in April 2022, he visited Washington.
— Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) February 9, 2023
Bajwa reassured top US officials that Pakistan will oppose Russia, not get too close to China, and consider recognizing apartheid Israelhttps://t.co/0oVUDRN0H0
In August 2022, Pakistan reportedly played a significant role in facilitating the delivery of arms from the UK to Ukraine via the Nur Khan air base in Rawalpindi. The military equipment was delivered to Avram Iancu Cluj International Airport in Romania via Rawalpindi. Usage of Pakistan’s air base allowed the UK to avoid Iran and Afghanistan’s air space.
In fact, Islamabad’s military bonhomie with Kyiv goes a long way back, with $1.6 billion in arms contracts between 1991 and 2020. There are currently 320 Ukrainian T-80UD tanks in service with the Pakistani army.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry also dispatched $335,000 in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine in March 2022.
Furthermore, both countries have historically shared strong diplomatic ties, with Ukraine repeatedly backing Pakistan in the UN against India’s 1998 nuclear tests and the Kashmir issue.
Zelensky’s aide asks Biden administration to sanction India for not severing its ties with Russia over Ukraine conflict, says India’s Russian oil purchases left him pained.
— Sonam Mahajan (@AsYouNotWish) February 5, 2023
Ukraine, however, didn’t like being singled out for selling military hardware to Pakistan back in the day.
Pakistan’s Plea for Russian Oil
In January, Russian Energy Minister Nikolay Shulginov said that Pakistan could import discounted Russian oil from March if it agrees to specific stipulations, including making payments in “friendly” countries’ currencies instead of dollars.
Pakistan is also looking to revive Russia’s Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline by changing the starting point from Karachi to Gwadar. The plan was launched in 2015.