Navy snubs some social media reports as ‘baseless’

The Pakistan Navy (PN) on Saturday refuted reports circulating on social media that it had deployed its ships in Arabian Sea to join the US-led coalition’s Task Force 153, which was attacking Yemen's Houthis.

It added that some reports linking the deployment of PN ships to the US action against the Houthis were “completely baseless” and based on “propaganda”.

Earlier, the US had announced the formation of Task Force 153 against the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

However, sources said Pakistan had rejected the US invitation to join Task Force 153.

They clarified that Pakistan was neither a part of Task Force 153 in the Red Sea and Operation Prosperity Guardian, nor did it intend to join any coalition that opposed the Palestinian cause.

The PN has never been used against Yemen, nor will it be in the future.

Jaamat-e-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmed shared the statement of the PN Public Relations director general on X, quoting him as saying that the deployment of their ships in the Arabian Sea was for the “protection of Pakistan-bound shipping and international shipping traversing” through the country’s territory had “nothing to do with the Hamas and Israel” conflict.
“We fully support the Palestinian cause in accordance with the government policy and … not party to any conflict between Houthis and Israel,” the PN PR DG added.

“It is the prime responsibility of Pakistan Navy to ensure safety of our ships and safety of sea lines of communications passing through our waters as per international obligations. Under the garb of the operations by Houthis against Israelis, Somali pirates have also started hijacking ships for ransom,” the PN official explained.

“Recently a ship carrying around 1,000 containers which was to arrive at Port Qasim was hijacked by Somali pirates. This had adverse effects on our trade. I would again reiterate that Pakistan Navy is responsible for [the] safety of Pakistan’s sea lines of communications, and this is the reason for our existence,” he continued.

The PN official elaborated that they were neither part of any US coalition operating against Houthis, nor did it support the American stance on the Palestinian issue.

“Pakistan Navy will not act against the government policy … the officers and men of Pakistan Navy fully support the Palestinian cause and our heart bleed on the blatant human rights violations being committed by Israel in Gaza,” he added.