Effective strategy kept Indian Navy at bay: officials

KARACHI:

The Indian Navy's aircraft carrier INS Vikrant was prevented from any maritime adventurism against Pakistan in the North Arabian Sea due to the well-coordinated strategy of the Pakistan Navy during the recent hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, officials with the Pakistan Navy told The Express Tribune.

The Pakistani military launched a massive operation codenamed Bunyan-al-Marsoos (Formidable Wall) in response to the Indian aggression, targeting their airbases, airfields, weapon depots, missile stockpiles, brigade headquarters, etc.

Like the other two services, the Pakistan Navy also played a key role in this swift operation. The Indian Navy remained confined to its own territorial waters and did not dare to challenge the Pakistan Navy in the south, according to the officials.

The Pakistan Navy's presence in the south and its comprehensive strategy allowed the armed forces in the north and northeast to achieve their objectives, the official added.

"Not only did the Pakistan Navy restrict the Indian Navy to its own waters, but it also ensured the safety of Pakistan's maritime trade routes and coastal regions."

The Indian Navy admitted that it didn't participate in the "Operation Sindoor" which their military had launched. Director General of Naval Operations Vice Admiral AN Pramod said that the Indian Navy was prepared but kept waiting for the instructions from the government.

However, a Pakistan Navy official said that the uninterrupted operation of Pakistan's three ports - Karachi Port, Port Qasim, and Gwadar Port - throughout the hostilities stands as clear evidence of our effective strategy.

"The Indian Navy faced humiliation as it had been confined to its territorial waters by a much smaller adversary throughout the tension. The credit goes to the leadership, officers, and sailors of the Pakistan Navy who successfully safeguarded Pakistan's maritime frontiers and denied the enemy any opportunity for aggression," he added.