NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday said it would do “whatever is necessary” to safeguard its national interests after reports emerged that Pakistan had deployed a large number of Chinese-made SH-15 self-propelled artillery guns along the border facing India.Responding to a question during the ministry of external affairs’ weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India’s position remained unchanged on cross-border terrorism and asserted that the country would remain prepared to defend itself.“During Operation Sindoor, we saw how a befitting reply was given (to Pakistan). From our side, our stance is that cross-border terrorism must stop, and we will do whatever is necessary in our national interest, for which we always remain vigilantly deployed,” Jaiswal said.The remarks came a day after reports said Pakistan had deployed around 250 Chinese-origin SH-15 wheeled self-propelled howitzers in formations facing India as part of its artillery modernisation programme.In the briefing, Jaiswal also strongly criticised the recently held elections in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK), describing them as a “complete farce” and accusing Pakistan of using force to suppress public dissent.“This so-called local election in PoK is a complete farce. The real happening is that of public protests and wanton killings by Pakistani forces. Such hollow exercises cannot hide reality,” Jaiswal said.He said that at least 90 civilians had been killed since June during the crackdown in PoK.“Since June this year, at least 90 civilians have lost their lives in the continuing crackdown. The Pakistani Establishment has answered public discontent with bullets, blackouts, intimidation and repression, and now seeks to manufacture legitimacy through a hollow electoral exercise,” he said, urging the international community to hold Islamabad accountable.Jaiswal also responded to a media inquiry about a viral video in which members of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba claimed that 30 to 40 of their commanders had been killed, alleging that Indian agencies were responsible for the killings.He said, “We continue to call upon all countries to take strong action against cross-border terrorism and those who promote it. We also call upon Pakistan to take decisive action against cross-border terrorism and dismantle the terrorist infrastructure operating from its soil.”
Pakistan deploys Chinese SH-15 howitzers
Pakistan ordered 236 SH-15 155mm/52-calibre wheeled self-propelled artillery guns from Chinese state-owned defence firm Norinco in 2019, with deliveries beginning in 2022 and a second batch arriving in 2023.Pakistan has also acquired a transfer of technology agreement to manufacture the artillery system at Heavy Industries Taxila.The SH-15, known as the PCL-181 in China, has reportedly been deployed mainly in Pakistan’s Gujranwala, Sialkot and Jalalpur Jattan sectors opposite India, particularly around the Shakargarh Bulge.The guns were also used during Operation Sindoor.The 155mm artillery system is capable of firing multiple types of ammunition and has a range of more than 50 kilometres when using rocket-assisted projectiles.Retired Lieutenant General PR Shankar, former Director General of Artillery, told TOI that the acquisition strengthens Pakistan’s conventional firepower and complements its Army Rocket Force, enhancing its long-range strike capabilities.
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India also modernising artillery
The deployment comes as India continues to modernise its own artillery under the Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan.The Indian Army has inducted 155mm artillery systems such as the M777 ultra-light howitzer, the K-9 Vajra self-propelled gun and the indigenous Dhanush gun. It has also placed orders for 307 Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS), developed domestically.India is also working on a wheeled Mounted Gun System (MGS), based on the ATAGS platform, which is currently in the advanced stages of development and has undergone initial firing trials.
