hi i totally agree with you on that it takes years or even decades to equip army with mraps but when did we started to fight insurgency lets just say around 2004 or even late 2005 and your in 2019 .the top brass had so many ways to equip the forces with mraps but they didn't for them the low ranked soldiers or officers life doesn't hold much importance if it did they would have taken actual steps instead of forgetting the basic insurgency fighting equipment's and running around for glory hunting procurement's ...for example all the nato supply to Afghanistan have been going through and coming back into Pakistan when you were begging them for dollars should have had some balls to ask for as many mraps as you could have we had leverage over them but non of the top army brass asked for it because there was no commission to be made by them ....if the americans refused coud have asked British Canadians any one would have supplied them some ....even if that was not good then go to china your getting everything from them any way why not mraps too whats stopping you oo back to square one no commission no procurement ....look at the idiots how they have handled the Bell AH-1Z Viper SAGA somone was getting kick backs under the table so they went for it again like a blind dog ....when the nation is full of traitors that what happens and that is what is expected from them no matter whose sitting on the throne
In any sort of warfare, only one type of conventional/COIN weapon cannot win a war, every weapon plays its part. As for MRAP's, some 300+ examples were acquired and more are being sorted. While acquiring MRAP's, Army has used other Armored vehicles like M-113 in critical and dangerous areas. A Convoy escort strategy was formed on top of that by using armored vehicles as escorts along with Trucks and Gunships in the air. This proved to be useful especially in transporting personnel and equipment in critical areas. Even with 1500+ examples of M-113 APC's in service, PA did put a few MIB's in FATA Operations. The terrain was found more favorable for helicopter Ops, which resulted in getting more choppers and inducting LCB.
Since you have resorted to importance of soldier's lives, basic insurgency fighting equipment, procurement etc, lets have a look at the following.
When the Military started fighting this war in 2002, PA had to convert from a conventional fighting force into a COIN oriented force. PA was equipped as a conventional military, which also included tactics and strategies. Apart for training for COIN warfare, there was issue of equipment/weapons for COIN oriented troops. The Paramilitary (FC/Levies/Khasadar etc) were hardly mobile and their weaponry needed to be upgraded. Training, equipping, upgrading almost 4 x Corps and all of FC (upwards of 200,000 troops), took not only time but aid and money spent. This happened side by side as billions was lost in continuous attacks on Pakistan cities.
PA had to acquire newer weapons/body gear/comm equipment/NVG etc for FC apart from thousands of vehicles to make it a highly mobile force. In the mean time, FC's strength doubled over the past decade, in both provinces, which meant now double the amount had to be spent on training and equipping them. Meanwhile, the Regular Army had to be upgraded too for COIN Ops, which again meant weapons/body gear/comm equipment/NVG etc had to be acquired for these forces. Aviation and artillery were expanded in the past decade (dozens of newer helicopters and 100+ towed artillery Guns were inducted). Newer infrastructure and defensive positions were built up in the cleared areas on the western sector.
PA formations fighting conventional warfare in the meantime had Al-Zarrar and Al-Khalid MBT's rolling out of HIT, along with new versions of M-113 clones, Talha, Sakb, Mouz, Maaz. POF was busy sending 105mm, 122 mm, 130mm and 155mm ammunition to both the LOC and FATA. PA AD was getting new SAM systems (e.g LY-80) and SP Artillery inducted dozens of M-109's (100+). A-100 MLRS was acquired in previous years. UCAV/UAV were inducted in the last decade. Cantonments, Regimental centres, Formation HQ's and infrastructure (security measures like walls/posts/hardened structures) for units (some 100+ brigade HQ's, 1000+ battalions) were upgraded.
PA started raising newer formations, while continuously upgrading existing ones. LCB were raised and equipped with different weaponry and transports, due to their conversion from foot infantry to tactical units. 34 LID was raised. PMA 4th Battalion was raised to induct more cadets turning into more officers. Another newer form of induction has started and another CPEC division has to be raised.
All of the above shows that a steady system is in place and procurement, on various aspects of warfare challenges that Pakistan Army faces, is in progress. Majority of the above mentioned has not come for free and more has yet to come.
