Ukrainian Army ‘Loads’ Pakistani Yarmuk Rockets Into BM-21 Grad MLRS; Islamabad’s Neutrality In Ukraine War Falls Flat?
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/pakistani-yarmuk-rockets-spotted-in-ukraine-that-can/
Despite contrary claims, there may be concrete evidence that Ukraine has secured some useful Pakistani military equipment. On March 26, images of Ukrainian troops firing Pakistani-origin Yarmuk rockets surfaced on social media and soon went viral.
A Twitter account named ‘Ukraine Weapons Tracker’ that tracks weapons being used on the battlefield tweeted: “Yet more ammunition made by Pakistani Ordnance Factories (POF) in the hands of the Ukrainian Army – this time 122mm Yarmuk HE-Frag rockets for the BM-21 Grad. These rockets are analogous to the Soviet 9M22U, with a 20.5km range, and were procured via a third party.”
The shells are already used by artillery, which can be seen in the photo posted by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook. However, according to reports, these shells may have been handed over to Ukraine by third parties, as Pakistan has not acknowledged sending any military assistance to Kyiv.
As per reports in October last year, the United Kingdom allegedly put together an air bridge between Pakistan and Romania and delivered the classified cargo. This has triggered speculation that London may have purchased the shells from Islamabad and delivered them to Kyiv.
Countries unwilling to send military assistance to the embattled country have taken the third-party route. For instance, there were reports that the United States was buying 155mm artillery shells from its ally South Korea to keep the supply chains to Ukraine running, despite shortfalls.
France 24 reported that “run-down ammunition supplies are one of Kyiv’s most pressing concerns, with Ukraine and its partners resorting to far-flung countries like South Korea and Pakistan as sources of artillery munitions.”
As for Pakistan, it has continued to deny sending any military consignment to Ukraine. Previously, there were reports that the country had promised 10,000 rockets for Grad multi-barrel rocket launchers and 44 T-80 tanks in exchange for Western assistance.
However, last month, authorities in Pakistan categorically denied such claims and reiterated that the South Asian country stood by its policy of non-interference in international conflicts.
At the time, the Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch termed the reporting on Pakistan’s supply of arms inaccurate.
“The reporting about the supply of defense items by Pakistan to Ukraine is not accurate,” the spokesperson categorically stated, rejecting the claims.
“Pakistan maintains a policy of non-interference in military conflicts. Pakistan only exports defense stores to other states based on strong end use and no re-transfer assurances. And this is the case of Pakistan’s position in the Ukraine-Russia conflict,” she said. However, Yarmuk shells could put the country in the spot again.
A ground-to-ground free-flight artillery rocket, the 122mm HE (MBRL), can be launched from a single tube or multiple tubes. It offers a blast effect and fragmentation when used against personnel and light material.
It derives its name from the legendary Battle of Yarmuk between the Rashidun Caliphate and the Byzantine Empire, which saw the end of Byzantine sovereignty in Syria.
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