Pakistan has deployed large numbers of Chinese SH-15 long-range artillery systems near the Indian border, underscoring Beijing’s dominance in Islamabad’s defence imports and highlighting a deepening military partnership, First Post reported.

India is responding with advanced artillery inductions and modernisation programs to counter this growing threat.

China’s role in modernising Pakistan’s military has expanded significantly in recent years. Beijing now supplies around 80% of Pakistan’s defence imports, making it the primary source of Islamabad’s military hardware.

This includes not only artillery systems but also submarines, stealth fighters, and other advanced platforms that collectively strengthen Pakistan’s conventional strike capabilities.

The SH-15 long-range artillery system has been deployed across multiple sectors along the India-Pakistan frontier. Mounted on a 6x6 Shaanxi truck chassis, the SH-15 offers high mobility and rapid deployment.

It can fire 155mm/52-calibre NATO-compatible ammunition to ranges of 30–40 kilometres, while rocket-assisted projectiles can extend its reach to 72 kilometres. Its automated fire-control system and hydraulic stabilisers allow crews to fire up to six rounds per minute and relocate quickly to avoid counter-battery fire.

The scale of the SH-15 deal with Beijing is substantial. Reports indicate that Pakistan has inducted hundreds of units, enough to equip multiple artillery regiments. This marks one of Islamabad’s most significant artillery reinforcements in recent years and represents a major boost to its long-range firepower.

China’s defence pact with Pakistan extends beyond artillery. The partnership includes JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, jointly developed by China and Pakistan, as well as submarines and other advanced systems. These acquisitions are part of a broader strategy to modernise Pakistan’s armed forces and enhance its deterrence posture against India.

For India, the deployment of SH-15 artillery systems poses a serious security challenge. New Delhi has responded by strengthening its own artillery and defence systems.

The Indian Army has inducted Dhanush howitzers, M777 ultra-light howitzers, and is advancing indigenous programs such as the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS). India is also modernising its air defence and missile systems to counter the growing threat from across the border.

The strategic reality for New Delhi is that China’s military support to Pakistan is not limited to hardware transfers. It is part of a broader geopolitical alignment where Beijing seeks to maintain leverage in South Asia by bolstering Islamabad’s military capabilities.

This complicates India’s security environment, forcing it to prepare for a two-front challenge involving both Pakistan and China.

The deployment of SH-15 artillery systems near the Indian border is therefore not only a tactical reinforcement but also a symbolic demonstration of the enduring China-Pakistan strategic partnership. It signals Islamabad’s intent to bolster its conventional strike capabilities while aligning more closely with Beijing’s defence and geopolitical posture.

Agencies