April 5,2008: Sri Lanka has asked Pakistan to quickly ship them $25 million worth of mortar shells. The Sri Lankan Army has been increasing the number of attacks it makes on LTTE rebel gunmen in the northern part of the island. Troops have developed effective tactics that depend a lot on mortar fire. This has depleted stocks of mortar shells. Pakistan has been a source of 60mm, 81mm and 120mm mortar shells for several years. So far, Sri Lanka has purchased $50 million worth of military gear from Pakistan (including radios, grenades, and a few other items, but mostly mortar shells). The new order is for $25 million, and Pakistan is taking the ammo from its war reserves so that it can ship several tons of shells immediately. Pakistan is eager to support the Sri Lankan government because of long term hostility between Sri Lanka and India. That's partly because the LTTE rebels are a Tamil minority, originally from southern India. Thus many Indians support the rebels. Pakistan and India have long been at odds over territorial and religious disputes.