Islamabad: Pakistan’s Navy is once again in the news, the reason for this is its modernization campaign. Recently, Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi has drawn attention to Pakistan Navy’s ambitious plan to become a 50-ship force within the next decade. His statement came at a time when Pakistan Navy is working on improving itself. Type 054A/P frigates, Babar class corvettes and Hangar class submarines are increasing Pakistan’s strength. Pakistan is especially getting help from China in increasing its power in the sea.
In its report, The Print has talked about the increase in the strength of the Pakistani Navy and its impact on the balance of regional power. The weakness of the Pakistani Navy has been exposed many times in history. The Indian Navy imposed a blockade in the Arabian Sea through Operation Talwar in 1999 and Operation Parakram in 2001. Even in 2019, after the Pulwama terrorist attack, India had given a strong message to Islamabad by deploying 60 warships near Pakistani waters. These episodes have inspired Pakistan to balance India’s maritime dominance and strengthen its navy.
Pakistan Navy moving on modernization
According to the report, India’s growing power has forced Pakistan to readjust its maritime strategy. The Pakistani Navy is now giving priority to platforms that can challenge India’s growing dominance in the sea. In this it is getting special help from China. Pakistan Navy has inducted four Type 054A/P frigates from China and one MILGEM-class corvette (PNS Babar) from Turkey. The warship fleet equipped with advanced radar systems, electronic warfare suite and anti-air weapons has increased the strength of Pak Navy in the water.
Pakistan is increasingly turning to China to reduce India’s maritime dominance. A big example of this is the Hangar class submarines, which Pakistan is purchasing under a deal worth five billion dollars. China has also supplied Type 054A/P frigates to Pakistan. Pakistan’s navy with advanced submarines, modern frigates and unmanned systems complicates India’s maritime calculations in the alliance with China in the Arabian Sea.
The power of Pak Navy cannot match the overall strength of Indian Navy but its increasing coordination with China has posed a significant challenge for New Delhi. The Indian Navy will have to work on a strategy to increase its power in the sea to counter the Pakistan-China alliance.