{"id":39242,"date":"2021-11-19T20:39:41","date_gmt":"2021-11-19T20:39:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2021\/11\/19\/pakistan-resumes-armor-modernization-as-terror-threat-recedes\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:12:25","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:12:25","slug":"pakistan-resumes-armor-modernization-as-terror-threat-recedes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/asia-pacific\/2021\/11\/19\/pakistan-resumes-armor-modernization-as-terror-threat-recedes\/","title":{"rendered":"Pakistan resumes armor modernization as terror threat recedes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Correction: A previous version of this story misinterpreted the status of India\u2019s T-90MS tank acquisition and the state of the country\u2019s tank fleet. The country has received clearance to buy the T-90MS but has not yet done so.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ISLAMABAD \u2014 Pakistan\u2019s armor modernization efforts are maturing amid a refocus toward archrival India and away from operations against the militant group TTP, otherwise known as Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With India preparing for a potential order of the advanced T-90MS tank, increasing<\/a> its large fleet of T-90S Bishma tanks and upgrading most T-72M1 tanks, Pakistan is countering with its own acquisition and upgrade programs<\/a> for new types of vehicles and improved battlefield integration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though low-level acquisition continued throughout the TTP campaign, author, analyst and former Australian defense attache to Islamabad Brian Cloughley explained that necessity demanded larger programs be cut back or frozen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe expansion of Taliban and other militant activity, particularly in regions along the border with Afghanistan which are inaccessible to heavy vehicles, focused the army on COIN [counterinsurgency]. It was a budgetary decision, backed by tactical pragmatism,\u201d he said. \u201cBut it was acknowledged that as counterinsurgency wound down, so could armor programs be reinstituted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Pakistani Taliban patrol their then-stronghold of Shawal on Aug. 5, 2012, in the Pakistani tribal region of South Waziristan. (Ishtiaq Mahsud\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Pakistan Army effectively defeated the TTP-led threat after first launching Operation Zarb-e-Azb (or \u201cCutting Blow\u201d in English) from 2014 to flush out domestic and foreign terrorists in the ungoverned spaces along the border with Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The TTP and its allies had until then mainly held territory in rugged Waziristan, in the essentially self-governed Federally Administered Tribal Areas that were later absorbed into the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was followed by Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad (or \u201cElimination of Strife\u201d) from early 2017, a combined ongoing military-civilian effort to eliminate terrorist sleeper cells nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fencing along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border is also largely complete, restricting the movement of remaining TTP forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Pakistan Army troops patrol the fence on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border at the Big Ben hilltop post in Khyber district, Pakistan, on Aug. 3, 2021. (Anjum Naveed\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Taliban recently retook control of Afghanistan<\/a> following a U.S. withdrawal from the country. The group subsequently assured Pakistan it will not allow TTP remnants to attack the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though there are occasionally low-level terrorist attacks in Pakistan, the government there has felt confident enough to offer amnesty to TTP members on the condition they lay down arms and surrender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Cloughley said, the Army \u201chas not effected a \u2018switch\u2019 from counterterrorism, which as in all armies continues to be a very high priority in asset management, technology and training.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, he added, \u201cthe years of emphasis have been productive, and the Army now feels its primary role \u2014 continental defense against India \u2014 can be allocated more resources than it has been able to commit for the past 20 years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What armor upgrades are in the works?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Some of Pakistan\u2019s latest armor developments were revealed during a Nov. 9 visit by Army chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa to state-owned armored fighting vehicles manufacturer Heavy Industries Taxila, or HIT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bajwa inspected the upgraded production facilities and ongoing projects, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n