Pakistan deploys warships in Arabian Sea

Navy says actively monitoring maritime situation to safeguard national, international merchant ships

KARACHI:

The Pakistan Navy has deployed its warships in the Arabian Sea “in the wake of the recent maritime security incidents”. The purpose of this deployment is to “protect Pakistan bound and international shipping traversing through our area”.

“The Pakistan Navy is ensuring a permanent presence in the Arabian Sea to keep our and international Sea Lines of Communications under intense surveillance,” said a brief statement issued by the navy’s spokesperson on Sunday.

Sea Lines of Communications refer to established maritime routes and pathways used for commercial shipping, naval operations, and other maritime activities between ports and through open waters. These routes are crucial for international trade, transportation of goods, and the movement of naval vessels.

Read Pakistan Navy deploys ship to Gulf of Aden

According to the navy’s director general public relations, two to three warships maintain consistent patrols in the areas frequented by Pakistan-bound and international merchant vessels

“In addition [to this], extensive air surveillance is also being undertaken to ensure the safety of international Sea Lines of Communications passing through our maritime area,” it said.

In the last week of December, arch rival India also deployed three of its warships in the Arabian Sea.

The development took place after an India-bound ship, MV Chem Pluto, came under an alleged drone attack off the coast of Indian State of Gujarat in the Arabian Sea on December 23.

On January 5, the Indian Navy reportedly rescued the crew of a merchant vessel after its attempted hijack in the Arabian Sea.  An Indian Navy warship intercepted the Liberian-flagged MV Lila Norfolk bulk carrier less than a day after it received a report that the vessel had been hijacked about 460 nautical miles off Somalia.

About five to six armed people boarded the vessel on Thursday, according to a report received by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency, which said the ship's crew had gathered in the ship's citadel. The Indian Navy said all 21 crew on board, including 15 Indians, had been evacuated.