PN blocks Indian submarine’s attempt to enter Pakistani waters

ISPR says submarine 'prematurely detected and tracked'; third incident of its kind

RAWALPINDI:

The Pakistan Navy blocked the attempt by a submarine of the Indian navy to enter the waters of Pakistan, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Tuesday.

According to a statement issued by the military's media wing, the Indian submarine tried to enter Pakistani waters on October 16, but it was "prematurely detected and tracked" by the Pakistan Navy.

"It is the third incident of its kind wherein, an Indian submarine has been prematurely detected and tracked by Pakistan Navy's Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft," the statement added.

"During the prevailing security milieu, a strict monitoring watch has been kept by Pakistan Navy to safeguard the maritime frontiers of Pakistan," the ISPR maintained.

"The recent incident reflects the deplorable Indian machinations vis-à-vis commitment and resolve of Pakistan Navy to defend maritime frontiers of the Motherland," it added.

In past, Indian submarines have attempted twice to enter the Pakistani waters.

In November 2016, the navy had detected an Indian submarine in the south of Pakistan's coast.

"The unsuspecting submarine was detected and localised south of Pakistani coast on November 16. Thereafter, despite the submarine’s desperate efforts to escape detection, it was continuously tracked by Pakistan Navy Fleet units and pushed well clear of our waters," the ISPR had said at the time.

Read Lone Pakistan Navy submarine kept Indian fleet on its toes post-Pulwama

The second time an Indian submarine was detected near Pakistani waters was a month after the Pulwama bombing that heightened tensions between Indian and Pakistani governments.

In March 2019, the Pakistan Navy had said that an attempt by an Indian submarine to enter Pakistani territorial waters was foiled.

“The Pakistan Navy is always ready to guard its territorial waters and is capable of responding to any kind of aggression with full force,” said the navy at the time.

“This great achievement has been proof of Pakistan Navy’s superior capabilities,” the statement at the time said. A video of the submarine was also released by the Pakistan Navy.

“The Indian submarine was not targeted keeping in view Pakistan’s policy of peace,” said a spokesperson from the navy at the time. India must learn from this incident and “move towards peace”, they had said.

India's undersea fleet

The bulk of the Indian Navy’s undersea fleet is composed of diesel-electric Kilo-class submarines, known as the Sindhughosh-class, and the Scorpene-class, known as the Kalvari-class.

The Indian Navy also operates a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), the INS Arihant, which was manufactured locally after decades of delay.