Challenging times ... But India is assertive ::::: "We are looking for partners... not preachers", says Jaishankar :::::: Govt bans Twitter accounts of Imran Khan and Bilawal Bhutto

Pak can fight war only for 4 days, struggling with shortage of artilleries: Report

The Pakistani military, anticipating a possible Indian strike in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, has a severe shortage of critical artillery ammunition and can fight a war for just four days, news agency ANI reported, citing sources.

Former Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa had in the past acknowledged the challenges faced by the military, saying that Pakistan lacks ammunition and economic strength  in case of a prolonged conflict.

When the going is tough; it is the tough who gets going.  

That's Modi Govt.

Hence despite the need of 'partners' at the global stage; External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has made it clear on Sunday that what New Delhi does not require is a 'preacher'; it requires 'partners' of course.

His statement was a snub to certain European countries who chose to have double standards when it comes to certain issues especially the war against aggression and terror. 

 

"When we look at the world, we look for partners, we don't look for preachers," the Minister said at the 'Arctic Circle India Forum 2025'.

He said India does not need those countries -- which are - "particularly preachers who don't practice at home what they preach abroad". 

"Some of Europe is still struggling with that problem," he was almost point blank.

"Europe has entered a certain zone of reality check. Whether they are able to step up or not is something we will have to see...If we have to develop a partnership, there has to be some understanding, sensitivity, mutuality of interest and a realisation of how the world works ...," Dr Jaishankar said assertively. 

 The European Union has been called out by experts and on social media for its hypocrisy over its stand on the tensions between India and Pakistan as compared to how it reacted to the Ukraine-Russia war.

As the EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, urged both nations to exercise restraint, several experts went on an overdrive in slamming her for adopting an equidistant approach and recalling External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's 2022 remark on "Europe's problems".

Double standards - European art 

In a post on X, Kallas said the escalation of the situation helps "no one" without even remotely calling out Pakistan over its support for cross-border terrorism - of which India has been a victim for decades.

"I urge both sides to show restraint and pursue dialogue to ease the situation. Escalation helps no one," Kallas, who is the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, said on X.

However, foreign policy experts and a section of social media users were quick to point out Kallas's double standards and dug out her old posts on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, where she said that "defence is not provocation" and it was important to "stop the aggressor".  

"I hope Europe learnt that appeasement only strengthens the aggressor. The aggressor will never stop unless he is stopped," Kallas had posted while calling for action against Russia.

In another post, Kallas defended Europe's military backing of Ukraine, saying "defence is not provocation".

"Fear of escalation creates self-deterrence. As a result, some argue that helping Ukraine defend itself from aggression means to escalate. Defence is not provocation," she had said.

Meanwhile, the X accounts (earlier Twitter) of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and ex-minister Bilawal Bhutto have been blocked in India. The move came amid tension between India and Pakistan over the Pahalgam terror attack.  

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's YouTube channel was also blocked in India. 

Earlier this week, in the wake of the terror attack, the central government blocked the Instagram accounts of several Pakistani actors in India, including Hania Amir, Mahira Khan and Ali Zafar.  

The Govt of India also banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels for spreading provocative, communally sensitive content and misinformation against India, including several Pakistani media houses.

Their accounts displayed the automated message that they were not available in India because "we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”

Pak can fight war only for 4 days, struggling with shortage of artilleries: Report

Notwithstanding the bravado of Pakistani leaders and the military commanders, it is a matter of fact that the Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF), which supplies the military, has been grappling to replenish supplies amid surging global demand and outdated production facilities. 

With dwindling supplies, Pakistan's ammunition reserves can sustain just 96 hours of high-intensity conflict, leaving its military vulnerable, sources said.

Generally, Pakistan's military doctrine is centred on rapid mobilisation to counter India's numerical superiority. The military has insufficient 155mm shells for its M109 howitzers or 122mm rockets for its BM-21 systems to blunt an Indian military action.

Several posts on X in April claimed that the 155mm artillery shells were diverted to Ukraine, leaving stockpiles dangerously low.

According to sources, the Pakistani defence brass is deeply concerned and panicked over the lack of critical ammunition, reports ANI (India Today)