Indian Cold start can also be countered by Pakistani conventional forces.
Pakistan can itself use smaller brigade sized manouver groups to check indian advances in it territory. An armoured brigade sized group consisting of :
2 X Armour regiments (45 tanks each, total 90 tanks)
1 X Mech Inf Regiment (50 APC/ 900 soldiers)
1 X SP Arty Regt (18 SP Guns)
1 X SP AD Regt (shoulder based SAMS, mounted on trucks or APC)
These brigade sized groups backed by nasr missile groups can meet up with Indian Army at threatened sectors of :
Sialkot area/ Narowal
kasur
Bahawalnagar
Fort Abbas
Rahim yar Khan
Pano Aqil
Nawabshah/Umar Kot
Nagar parkar
These make upto 9 threatened sectors on the eastern border. PA has 7 independent armoured brigades and 3 anti-tank brigades, totalling 10 brigades that can counter armoured thrust of IA. The 2 armoured divisions can be held in reserve for counter attack or to fill up a gap where own forces have been badly mauled by the enemy.
PA forces sent to fight terrorists are usually infantry formations so armoured formations are already present on the eastern border to counter IA cold start.
There are main ammo and supply depots scattered across the country, some concealed in mountains, others in cantonments.
The logistical command (LOG Area Commander and Station Commander) is present at all cantonments around the country. they are tasked with providing civilian trucks in case of transport problem, POL (petroluem Oil Lubricant) supply and related medical supplies and ambulances(military and civilian) etc.
PA also gets fuel from KSA in the event of war in lieu of which PA has stationed forces in KSA to protect the Royal Saud Family and Mecca.
The ammunition storages are filled with 125mm, 130mm, 155mm shells as well as ATGM, shoulder based SAM and smaller weapons. The ammunition used against terrorists are usually 105mm (tank and artillery) and 122mm artillery. The ammunition can roughly last for 45-60 days in existing stockpiles and its doubted that the war will continue that long hence the reason IA chose cold start.
So as such the fuel, ammunition, transport and related supply problems are already covered.
An indian armoured thrust towards Lahore is easily stoppable as there are natural defences in the form of canals, then man made obstacles like bunkers,bridges, tank traps and mines. The threatened sectors lay mainly in areas south of Punjab and southern punjab.
A Pakistani independent armoured group is at the Corps HQ disposal to be used tactically for flanking an enemy offensive or counter attack after the infantry division of the corps check an enemy advance.
The second form of checking an enemy advance is the AH-1F/S choppers which can be switched from one sector to another threatened sector within minutes. These can also be used to flank enemy forces by scouting its weak area(less AD cover). Carrying 8 ATGM's and 70mm Hydra, a formation of 3-4 AH-1 can effectively destroy 20-24 enemy tanks in one strike.The modern armies formations usually at regimental/battalion level usually stop functioning as fighting formation after 33-50% of their strength is lost and are forced to retreat and re group.
The third form of strike is the use of UCAV's by the PA. Armed with upto 2 ATGM's each, these can reach out to threatened sectors where tanks will take time to reach in the absence of AH-1F or PAF support.
Although Pakistan news channels have reported that PA tanks can use nuclear shells in their main guns, but its hard to ascertain in which sectors PA may use such ammunition and then NASR missiles. If used inside pakistan territory, the land will become contaminated and dangerous for general population to access and live.
It must also be noted that an enemy armoured build-up on the borders for cold start will not go un-noticed so nuclear option must be used as last resort. Pakistan has also dictated always that nuclear weapons are a deterrence against aggression.
Pakistan is trying to deter the Indian misadventure by use of nuclear deterrence, any indian misadventure will be dealt with deaths to Indian soldiers by nuclear weapons, those who will survive will be outcast in hospitals and a medical logistic burden will become on India to cater for nuclear affected soldiers which will cost India more in the form of medical supplies and new isolated medical centres it will need to cater for radiation affected soldiers.
The effect on enemy soldiers when seeing their wounded comrades entering medical camps and hospitals with nuclear burns,new form of diseases and agonizing wounds will clip their morale.
I think its intelligent on Paksitan part to use nuclear tech for deterrence and against enemy soldiers, to lower their morale when entering Pakistan. Only time will tell which Indian commanders are stupid enough to send their soldiers to face a certain nuclear death.
Interestingly, Pakistan Army doctrine also dictates taking the fight over the border inside enemy territory. and the areas which it may also choose are south of Punjab, basically desert region. That will make things interesting when PA uses nuclear shells in indian region.
