Pakistan’s underwater force stronger than India: Report

Pakistan Navy is the first force in Indian Ocean Region to have submarines equipped with air-independent propulsion.


Web Desk August 21, 2013
Pakistan Navy is the first force in Indian Ocean Region to have submarines equipped with air-independent propulsion. PHOTO: SXC.HU

NEW DEHLI: India currently possesses seven to eight conventional submarines only while Pakistan has five relatively new conventional submarines to set up against the enemy in addition to six more advanced vessels it aims to obtain from China, The Times Of India reported.

The operational problems with the Indian Navy aggregated after INS Sindhurakshak sank at its berth in Mumbai Naval Dock after a series of explosions on August 14 killing 18 navy personnel.

"Extensive checks on weapon-related safety systems and audit of standard operating procedures (SOPs) on all operational submarines have been ordered,'' said defense minister AK Antony

The minister did not comment on the prevailing capabilities of india's underwater combat. The Indian Navy is in service with 13 aging diesel-electric submarines only, 11 of which are two decades old. The long awaited submarine construction projects are now being pushed that are delayed due to the political and bureaucratic apathy.

As a result of international treaties, the only nuclear-powered submarine INS Chakra is also not armed with nuclear-tipped, says The Times Of India

On the contrary, Pakistan Navy is the first force in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to have submarines equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP) in the shape of three French Agosta-90B vessels.

COMMENTS (28)

Arvi | 10 years ago | Reply

@Bakhtiyar Ghazi Khan: Dude as an Indian we don't question your right to exist. It's just that when pakistan starts claiming it's "superiority" to India by claiming people who were born centuries back as reasons for it's superiority, that we start getting annoyed. Truth is Panini is as relevant to India since Sanskrit is the mother language of many north indian languages. Where he was born is relevant since india and pakistan didn't exist in that period. Similarly takshila was in modern pakistan but he's also relevant to indian culture. Pakistanis similarly have a right to feel proud about people and places in India that have influenced her culture.

Pakistan should focus more on improving the quality of life in her own land and reducing terrorism and fundamentalism. Living on past glories alone isn't good enough.

Bakhtiyar Ghazi Khan | 10 years ago | Reply

@intel guy: This is exactly what I mean. Obvious from your comments and most of the Hindus who comment here is a deep hatred for Pakistan and Islam. Why can't you just accept our right to exist and our identity based on our ancestors of the Indus River Valley and our long Islamic heritage? How do you expect Pakistanis to take you seriously, when you are violent and aggressive in your demonization of us? You really don't leave any neutral ground for discussion. It is always the same. This is what led to Partition to begin with.

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