Once again, some of the info may be outdated, sorry for that. Pakistan isn't an area of expertise for me, but I tried my best to ensure the info is relevant. As always, I welcome any corrections and additional info.
@Armstrong - as per your request, and please tag a few more people who might be interested.
Thanks
SvenSvensononv
Current Growth Trends
At present, Pakistan’s artillery has 9Corps Brigade and 5 Brigades. From the 1970s to 1980s, there has not been any credible artillery procurement by the Pakistan Army.
From 1990-2007,Pakistan had acquired large caliber artillery systems like the 130mm guns and 122mm howitzers and also 155mmtowed guns.
Post Kargil War, there was no immediate increment in the artillery arsenal, though there was a major increase in main battle tanks from 2,120 tanks in 1998-99 to 2,320tanks in 1999-2000.
According to the Military Balance, 2010, Pakistan had more than 4,291 pieces of artillery equipment which was the same as in 2007and 2008. This included 260 self-propelled pieces of equipment, 1,629 towed equipment, multi-rocket launch systems, and 2,350 mortars.
In contrast, India had around 11,300 pieces of equipment in 2008.
In 2010, the MilitaryBalance reported the total number to be 11,258. In 2011, Pakistan’s artillery had witnessed an increase in equipment with the number going up to 4,521.
On the other hand, India’s artillery equipment reduced to around 10,758 but is still way ahead of Pakistan’s arsenal. India has been giving more importance to towed artillery while Pakistan has laid emphasis on self-propelled artillery .Self-propelled artillery provides a better advantage in a nuclear biological chemical (NBC) battlefield than towed artillery. There has been an increase in self-propelled artillery with the total number going up to 490 and also an increase in the total number of multi-rocket launch systems to a total of 52.
However, for mountain warfare, towed artillery would be the best option. Pakistan is reported to be the third largest global market in the artillery modernization program.
Excess Defense Articles
Under the US Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program, the M109 A-5155mm howitzers were acquired by Pakistan in 2009. The US FMF program has enabled Pakistan to procure artillery systems from the United States at fairly discounted prices. The weapons have been procured using both Pakistani national funds and FMF.
However, Pakistan is more concerned about using its field artillery for counter-terrorism operations in order to bring about stability in the state. This is claimed to give Pakistan an edge over India’s artillery systems. Pakistan has been “steadily modernizing” its artillery.
Brian Cloughley has confirmed that the Pakistan Army has been modernizing its artillery in order to successfully enhance its mechanized formations. India has taken this threat seriously and has been planning to procure the 400 towed 155mm howitzers and 144 ultra light howitzers.
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Shoot and Scoot
Pakistan’s M110 was acquired from the US as it had proved to be successful for the US during the Vietnam War. It is strange that the M110 still finds a place in the Pakistan Army in spite of the latest precision guided munitions and launch smart projectiles. These provide general artillery support to ground troops and also support to armored columns and are highly mobile and maneuverable. Apart from providing general support, they also enable counter battery fire and suppression of enemy air defense systems. The most noteworthy feature of Pakistan’s artillery is the 155mm howitzers. The M109 A2/A4/A5 (155mm) howitzers are suitable for both ‘beyond line of sight’ and ‘line of sight engagements’ and provide artillery fire support. Pakistan also has Type 54 self-propelled field artillery which is also acquired from China.
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Multi-Launch Rocket Systems
Pakistan also possesses the A-100, a Chinese multi-launch rocket system (MLRS) which is similar to the Russian 9K-58 Smerch. This could attack ground targets like airfields, command centers, radar stations, artillery or missile batteries, locations where troops are concentrated and other targets of military importance. The latest version of the A-100 is the AR1A in which Pakistan had taken keen interest and had procured some for trials. This version is called the A-100E in Pakistan and is of improved accuracy. This was purchased in response to India’s purchase of the 9A52-2T Smerch from Russia. The WS-1B was developed by China and is a long range artillery rocket weapon. It is the advanced version of the Chinese WS-1 which is in operation in the army of the People’s Republic of China. This system helps to bridge the gap between a conventional self-propelled artillery system and surface-to-surface tactical missiles. It could have both offensive and defensive roles and could be deployed against targets which are deep beyond the enemy lines. These include military bases, massed armoured divisions, missile launch site, airports, airstrips, harbours and military industrial bases. Like India’s indigenous PINAKA multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL), it has been reported that Pakistan possesses an indigenous MBRL, the KRL-21, designed by the Kahuta Research Laboratories, which is equipped with a global positioning system (GPS). The same has also been transferred by Pakistan to the Bangladesh Army.
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Towed Artillery
The M115 is a heavy artillery weapon that uses 203mm ammunition. It was used during World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War by the US and was in service with the US Army for a long time. Pakistan’s M-115 was procured under the Foreign Military Fund. The gun is capable of firing nuclear rounds. However, the M115 has a limitation in that the nuclear round yield exceeded the range of weapon. The Panter is a successful towed artillery weapon which was successfully reversed engineered by Turkey and was acquired by Pakistan. This acquirement of defense equipment by Pakistan was a further step towards strengthening political and defense relations with Turkey. At present, the system is being manufactured in Pakistan’s Heavy Industries, Taxila. The M198 is capable of providing fire support in both direct and indirect fire capacities which could be destructive, suppressive and protective. It was used extensively during the Persian Gulf War. The ammunition fired has a separate projectile and propellant and can be loaded with many propellant bags. These are air transportable by aircraft and also by heavy lift helicopters. A maximum of four rounds of fire rate may be achieved or two rounds of firing in a sustained firing mode with this towed howitzer. Pakistan also uses the M114 medium howitzers. However, the Type 59 I is now being slowly replaced by the GM-45s. The M-56 is a pack howitzer which is developed to meet the requirements of modern lightweight howitzers. Since these are lightweight howitzers, they can be used for direct fire. They can be fitted in helicopters when dismantled. Pakistan also possesses the 85mm T-56 towed artillery. The 12 mm D30 can be used against enemy artillery, tanks and mechanized assets.
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Nuclear Artillery?
It is possible that Pakistan could nuclearize its multi-rocket launch systems or self-propelled artillery and, thus, make limited warfare susceptible to nuclear warfare. The likely places where Pakistan could use its nuclear weapons could be the Rajasthan border or in the Rann of Kutch region. Though Kashmir remains a nuclear flashpoint, there would be less chances of Pakistan using its nuclear artillery in the Kashmir region. This is because Kashmir is the bargaining factor for Pakistan, and destruction of Kashmir by use of nuclear weapons would mean Pakistan losing its bargaining factor. However, the use of nuclear artillery in areas like the Kargil, Dras and Batalik sectors is possible. Nuclear artillery could enable Pakistan to destroy the counter-force targets of India which would be more advantageous during a conflict than to destroy counter-value targets. This could be further elaborated on the basis of the Quranic concepts of warfare according to which the targets should be such, which when struck, would deprive the enemy of his weapons or combat strength in case it is not possible to aim at his vulnerable points.
The Quranic concept of military strategy highlights the importance “to prepare oneself for war to the utmost in the order to strike terror into hearts of the enemies, known or hidden”.
Artillery plays an important part, thus, in enabling the Pakistan Army to uphold the above strategy. India’s Cold Start doctrine could initiate Pakistan in implementing a strategy that could destabilize the Cold Start doctrine. This could include increase in tactical nuclear weapons, and artillery would play an important role as Pakistan would surely want to launch its offensives at the right time, given its ‘offensive defense’ strategy. Pakistan’s Nasr missile, with a 60-km range, is a two-tube adaptation of a multi-launch rocket system and is capable of carrying nuclear weapons. It is reported to be Pakistan’s response to India’s Cold Start doctrine. The nuclear-equipped Nasr systems, anywhere close to the front lines, will also pose the classical “use them or lose them” dilemma. They may be sucked into conventional war-fighting and start the nuclear escalation spiral, if easily available.
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