Pakistan's Secret Arsenal: The Unveiling of a Covert Arms Deal with Ukraine

A surprising turn of events, cash-strapped Pakistan has been thrust into the spotlight with reports suggesting a clandestine arms deal worth a staggering $364 million with two private US companies. The intriguing twist? The ammunition was destined for Ukraine, caught in the midst of its conflict with Russia.

The covert operation allegedly took place last year, involving a British military cargo plane shuttling between Pakistan Air Force Base Nur Khan in Rawalpindi, the British military base in Cyprus (Akrotiri), and Romania. According to the BBC Urdu, the flights occurred a total of five times, carrying supplies to the war-torn Ukrainian region.

The reported contracts were signed on August 17, 2022, with American companies "Global Military" and "Northrop Grumman" for the sale of 155mm shells. The details were supposedly extracted from the American Federal Procurement Data System, adding a layer of credibility to the claims.

Despite these allegations, Islamabad has consistently denied any involvement in supplying arms to Ukraine. The Foreign Office in Pakistan maintains a stance of "strict neutrality" in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, vehemently rejecting the notion of contributing to the military arsenal of either side.

These purported agreements occurred during the rule of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), a coalition that successfully ousted the Imran Khan-led government through a no-trust vote in April of the same year. The reported contracts coincided with a tumultuous period in Pakistan's political landscape, marked by General Qamar Javed Bajwa's retirement in November 2022.

As the Ukraine crisis unfolded, General Bajwa, who had earlier vowed to elevate Pakistan-UK relations, distanced himself from then-Prime Minister Imran Khan. The situation escalated further when, during a visit to Russia in February 2022, Khan's presence coincided with Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

In a surprising revelation, the BBC Urdu report claimed that the contracts with "Global Military" and "Northrop Grumman" expired in October 2023. The report asserted that a substantial $232 million contract was awarded to Global Military, complemented by a $131 million deal with Northrop Grumman.

To substantiate its claims, the report cited data from the State Bank of Pakistan, indicating a jaw-dropping 3,000% increase in arms exports during the fiscal year 2022-23. While arms exports were a modest $13 million in the preceding year, they skyrocketed to an astonishing $415 million during the alleged period of the arms deal.

Earlier reports even suggested that Pakistan's secret arms sales to the US, destined for Ukraine, played a pivotal role in securing a vital International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout. This move allowed the financially beleaguered Islamabad to clinch a $3 billion deal with the IMF, averting a potential default.

In response to these claims, Pakistan's Foreign Office Spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, categorically dismissed the report as "baseless and fabricated." The controversy surrounding Pakistan's alleged involvement in the Ukraine conflict and its financial maneuvers continues to raise eyebrows and spark international speculation.