Could India block Pakistani ports in case of a war?

[Basel]

Of course we have a large coastline but we have a big navy too which is getting bigger and bigger we can both attack the enemy and defend our coasts at the same time but pakistani navy can only fight a defensive war for its assest and resources will be streched thin if it fights an offensive war.

Secondly we too have SLCMs but what you dont have is SLBMs. Our subs can hit pakistan with nuclear missiles from as far as east africa coast.

If you think PN is not expending then good for Pakistan hope IN also think the same.

PN is under massive transformation and they will have very good enhancement in offensive capabilities too, PN now have coastline defense vessels which will be complemented with long range ships and subs soon and you don't have 500km SLCM now.

 

[Qutb-ud-din Aybak]

You can't.

Please bear with me, if you want a serious answer, and I will explain in three hours time. There are also defences, that Pakistan doesn't have at the moment.

you can't do the blockade. we will buy oil from Iran without using any port.
secondly Pakistan navy is not that weak.
it is more stronger than Indian navy when consider its strength and power with respect to area to be defended.

 

[Sharpshooter12]

Yes if India is willing to take the losses that will come with such a venture. But it will be a futile exercise unless they have Iran supporting their war efforts. The war won't last that long for this to have any major affect on our economy or war potential.

The only resource where we are vulnerable will be oil and as I said if Iran stays neutral we can easily purchase it from them through land routes. We will not be receiving any arms shipments in those couple of weeks but if our allies want they can send us arms by air.

So Indian blockade will not have much effect and will put their precious naval resources in danger.

 

[Basel]

Not really, pakistan is already on the verge of bankruptcy and heck it even has fallen into chinas debt trap. You just dont have the money to build a powerful navy.

If you people really believe what you have just said then its bad for pakistan coz you are not seeing things. Take the example of jf17s, its and awful fighter and an option only for bankrupt countries like nigeria. Pakistn is operating it but not china because they know that it is not match to their russian fighters.

Please use Google what recently we have added and what is in pipeline, even though we don't have money (as per Indians) debt is not trap if utilized properly and industrial phase of CPEC is starting soon.

 

[YeBeWarned]

You will not only fight Indian Navy, you also have to deal with Indian Air force and Indian Army that would be looking at entering into Pakistani territory. So you have to be prudent on how to distribute resources both on sea front and land front.

Of course IAF will be involved, but you do realize that Pakistan has 7-8 AWAC's , Pakistan can enter India Territory too, and you than have to divert your Army and Airforce to a very large extent , in order to push Pakistan and occupy you need around 1:3 ratio against Pakistan , which you do not have .. Plus even in Air force your edge is not that huge, as in our own air space and ground based SAM's and MANPAD's we can easily deny IAF to attack our Ports or Ships Guarding the Port ..

as for PN so far we do not have any Ship that Provide a Long Range SAM' so this is a issue for us, which i hope PN is working on, but for you its far more trouble as Pakistan is Operating Babur, Harba , Zarb and Chinese Anti Ship Missiles ,we can launch CM to your Ports or even Ships from a long distance .. Plus our Subs has edge over your Subs as ours are AIP installed , and all can fire Anti Ship missiles too which is good for Harassment .
even if you manage to block the way for our cargo ships it wont be long that we will break through .

 

[American Pakistani]

Unfortunately I'm afraid but yes India can and will block the supply routes.

The solution is to have very friendly relations with Iran so in that case Pakistan can use Irani oil.
There is no way to hide and ignore from the fact that the economy of Pakistan is no where close to where it should have been. Only nations that have huge economy are respected today.
Pakistan needs to build a strong Navy and Airforce and should be able to launch an offensive at least in entire Arabian Sea.

 

[Joe Shearer]

you can't do the blockade. we will buy oil from Iran without using any port.
secondly Pakistan navy is not that weak.
it is more stronger than Indian navy when consider its strength and power with respect to area to be defended.

Please don't jump to conclusions before even I've explained. To be honest, I don't think you will get anything out off my post except, possibly, the chance of scoring some points in an imaginary duel between you and Indian posters. That pisses me off. I will not answer bombastic fanboy posts. Your choice.

You also have huge coastline to protect so you can not deploy all assets against Pakistan, now add SLCM capability of PN to the situation which will put pressure on IN to keep assets to ports and coastline safe which will be beneficial for PN, also against IN subs PN have good sub hunting capability and IN will have to cover much larger area to hunt PN subs then PN to hunt IN subs to keep ports safe.

This is not my substantive post, which is still a few minutes of baking time away (vanilla cake; 18 minutes done, another 17 to go).

So help me understand this (to parody one of my own earlier posts): The IN can't suppress the PN, because the PN can't be suppressed by the IN. In any case, the cruise missile capability of the PN ensures that the IN will be at the losers' end, and the IN will struggle against the PN, which will make the IN struggle all the more.

It sounds quite brilliant, and I bow my head in homage. RIP.

 

[waz]

Yes they can, the gap between the two forces is colossal. It was only a decade ago that people still thought that having costal defences, some submarines and a small fleet is adequate, it's not. Now the navy is climbing a slippery slope trying to play catch-up. The army or airforce cannot help either, as they will be facing down their Indian opposite numbers.

 

[Joe Shearer]

First, my basic proposition, to be read by Pakistanis and Indians alike as a prelude to simulation of a war-time option.

Pakistan has a long coast-line, but essentially only a single major port at the moment, while Gwadar is being developed one purposeful step at a time. To lie offshore, out of reach of shore-based artillery and even of shore-based rocketry, and to restrict the entry of neutral vessels, and destroy hostile vessels, both naval and mercantile, is not impossible.

Such a blockade is a legitimate instrument of war, and can be mounted without breaking international law.

To verify that, we need to look at the international law pertaining to blockades.

 

[waz]

Oh and another thing Karachi Pakistan's largest population centre is woefully ill prepared and undefended in the event of a war. Although I will say large conventional battles between countries which both can hit hard are a thing of the past, however small engagements, in this case on the water where the IN potentially embarrasses the PN is a very real thing.

 

[Verve]

There is a reason that main route of CPEC is on the East of Indus ... but as usual, the specific breed of Hallucinating Hindus fail to notice/realise that.

When it comes to big war, punjab and sindh will have bear the brunt of it but Indian armies will not be able to cross the Indus. With Chinese naval ships in our waters, blocking ports would be difficult without pulling China in the conflict.

As for Iran, they will help us when that big war comes. There is no IF, there is only WHEN.

 

[saiyan0321]

Such a blockade is a legitimate instrument of war, and can be mounted without breaking international law.

The legality of this move is not in question. It is very much a legal instrument of war and some may even defend this move as amongst more better moves to end wars.

Anyhow awaiting your analysis. Legal aspects as well as military tactics in this move.


We do need defensive systems. @waz wouldn't you call it ironic and funny that we are a defensive army with a defensive doctrine yet our defensive technology and capability had a lot to be desired. We are lacking in naval, missile and air defences.

 

[Areesh]

India with its fake surgical strike drama of Sep 2016 has proved that its options are very limited. When you have limited options then you do drama to satisfy nation like India did.

So nope. With time passing quickly this blockade thingy is losing its charm and looks only good to hear but not worth the effort that it would need. An even then its success would take time and probably lot of blood too.

PN should continue with its procurement like PN chief Zakaullah mentioned in his speech. We are going just fine. Blockade thingy isn't one of those issues that we need to panic about.

 

[Kaniska]

Whoever is thinking about this question has to provide a valid reason of why India would initiate an attack?...What is the benifit or objective for any war to be initiated from India?...Unless some one can come up with rational answer, rest of the analysis is futile.

 

[waz]

We do need defensive systems. @waz wouldn't you call it ironic and funny that we are a defensive army with a defensive doctrine yet our defensive technology and capability had a lot to be desired. We are lacking in naval, missile and air defences.

Spot on. I can see some moves happening i.e. the procurements of a number of capable corvettes, the submarines which are coming. I guess the next step is frigates?