Strong navy needed to guard maritime interests: PM

[JF-17 Thunder]

- Deleted -​

 

[IceCold]

Strong navy needed to guard maritime interests: PM
Thursday, October 11, 2007

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister (PM) Shaukat Aziz said on Wednesday that a strong navy is vital for defending Pakistan’s vast and diverse maritime interests, in addition to ensuring the country’s economic interests and maintaining peace in the region.

The prime minister said this while talking to Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Mohammad Afzal Tahir, who called on him at Prime Minister’s House, according to a statement. The PM said that the Pakistan Navy played an important role in protecting sea lanes and routes, apart from the coastline of the country. He said the trade routes needed to be kept secure for the country’s business and trade.

The PM said that peace could only be achieved by strength, so the government need to identify various initiatives to ensure a minimum credible deterrence. To maintain this deterrence capability, the PM said, the country depends on both strategic and conventional initiatives. He said the government has provided and will continue to provide necessary funds for equipping and modernising the Navy. nni


Daily Times

I have always thought that whoever has the largest and the strongest navy is usually the strongest nation but in Pakistan, people are obsessed with the Air Force (including me). Why?

Because in all of the wars except 71, navy did not play any vital role. But the importance of navy is more then importance of anyforce as they are the sole guardian of the sea routes which are vital for the economy to run smoothly. Unfoturantly in pakistan much of the resources have always been allocated to the army and both air force and Navy have been neglected. I've seen a few steps taken from the current government to step up pakistan's conventional capability with air force and navy given priority but its still insufficent specailly for the navy.

 

[fatman17]

JF-17 thunder - depends on the naval doctrine - basically PN main role is to defend its economic sea lanes in the arabian sea/gulf area. its most important assets are the subs and ASW aircraft. they will be responsible for breaking any sea blockades (by air and submerged) and that is the reason so much money (US2B so far) is being spent to induct the best available platforms. also in the futire the JF-17s will also play a AS role in support of these assets. the surface ships have more of a "showing the Flag" role.

 

[su-47]

A strong navy is very important, as pakistan relies heavily on a sea route to get fuel. In both 1971 and 1999, the IN was successful in blockading pak ports and cutting off fuel. Army and airforce cant do jack without fuel.

PN is easily the achilles heel of pak armed forces. if nothing is done, then that achilles heel will haunt pak in case of war. remember, a chain is as strong as its weakest link

 

[IceCold]

A strong navy is very important, as pakistan relies heavily on a sea route to get fuel. In both 1971 and 1999, the IN was successful in blockading pak ports and cutting off fuel. Army and airforce cant do jack without fuel.

PN is easily the achilles heel of pak armed forces. if nothing is done, then that achilles heel will haunt pak in case of war. remember, a chain is as strong as its weakest link

Exactly and that is the reason PN is going for the new subs, also the aquision of the F-22p and P3C orion aircrafts, will overall boost the PN's effort in securing pakistan's interest.

 

[UnKnOwN]

A strong navy is very important, as pakistan relies heavily on a sea route to get fuel. In both 1971 and 1999, the IN was successful in blockading pak ports and cutting off fuel.

I think I missed a big history lesson...how/when did our ports get blocked in 1999?

 

[solid snake]

Yeah, I'm kind of amused at the claim that Pakistan's ports were blockaded in 1999. During Kargil conflict life was going on as normal in all parts of both countries except in the Kargil sector.

Pakistan's Navy cannot be expected to compete with India's considering the differences in coastline length of both countries. However, the airforce can take care of the IN edge in one swift evening of surprise attacks.

 

[EagleEyes]

In both 1971 and 1999, the IN was successful in blockading pak ports and cutting off fuel. Army and airforce cant do jack without fuel.

None of the navies engaged in 1999. I dont know what your talking about?

 

[niaz]

A strong navy is very important, as pakistan relies heavily on a sea route to get fuel. In both 1971 and 1999, the IN was successful in blockading pak ports and cutting off fuel. Army and airforce cant do jack without fuel.

PN is easily the achilles heel of pak armed forces. if nothing is done, then that achilles heel will haunt pak in case of war. remember, a chain is as strong as its weakest link

Since I was very much involved with 1971 fuel oil supplies. I can confirm two points:

1. We had been advised to have a minimum of 3-weeks oil storage in Karachi in addition to all the upcountry storage depots being full. Since no Indo PAK war has lasted 3 weeks, the question of running out of fuel does not arise. Understand now there is 30 day storage requirement.

2. Only place where there was sucessful naval blockage was in East Pakistan, where 4 IN frigates were patrolling the Chittagong waters. Karachi was attacked but never blocked. Besides, Pakistan has road and rail links with Iran and can always receive supplies via land routes.

It is probable that during 1999, IN threatened to blockade Karachi port, however there was no war and it remains to be seen that no matter how strong IN may be; can IN effectively block fuel supplies from the AG ??

There is less than 24 hrs sailing from the Straights of Hormoz to Gwadar and vessels can sail along the coast line enabling the defence thru land based aircrafts.

 

[javvadhaider2006]

Yep there was no case of any blockade of our sea ports in 1999. God forbid if such a situation arises in the future PAF Mirage fighters based at Karachi along with P-3 Orions will ensure that we not only repel the Indis but take the war to there land.

 

[EagleEyes]

Do you have any idea how many Harriers and Jaguars they have? Thats only dedicated to the navy!

Currently, PAF Naval Air Arms comes no close to it.

 

[su-47]

I think I missed a big history lesson...how/when did our ports get blocked in 1999?

Sorry, my mistake. In 99 it wasnt the port that was blocked, but the sea routes. check the article

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/kargil-99.htm

Naval Operations
While the Army and the Air Force readied themselves for the battle on the heights of Kargil, Indian Navy began to draw out its plans. Unlike the earlier wars with Pakistan, this time the bringing in of the Navy at the early stages of the conflict served to hasten the end of the conflict in India's favor.

In drawing up its strategy, the Navy was clear that a reply to the Pakistani misadventure had to be two-pronged. While ensuring safety and security of Indian maritime assets from a possible surprise attack by Pakistan, the Indian imperative was that all efforts must be made to deter Pakistan from escalating the conflict into a full scale war. Thus, the Indian Navy was put on a full alert from May 20 onwards, a few days prior to the launch of the Indian retaliatory offensive. Naval and Coast Guard aircraft were put on a continuous surveillance and the units readied up for meeting any challenge at sea.

Time had now come to put pressure on Pakistan, to ensure that the right message went down to the masterminds in that country. Strike elements from the Eastern Fleet were sailed from Visakhapatnam on the East Coast to take part in a major naval exercise called 'SUMMEREX' in the North Arabian Sea. This was envisaged as the largest ever amassing of naval ships in the region. The message had been driven home. Pakistan Navy, in a defensive mood, directed all its units to keep clear of Indian naval ships. As the exercise shifted closer to the Makaran Coast, Pakistan moved all its major combatants out of Karachi. It also shifted its focus to escorting its oil trade from the Gulf in anticipation of attacks by Indian ships.

As the retaliation from the Indian Army and the Air Force gathered momentum and a defeat to Pakistan seemed a close possibility, an outbreak of hostilities became imminent. Thus the naval focus now shifted to the Gulf of Oman. Rapid reaction missile carrying units and ships from the fleet were deployed in the North Arabian Sea for carrying out missile firing, anti-submarine and electronic warfare exercises. In the absence of the only aircraft carrier, Sea Harrier operations from merchant ships were proven. The Navy also readied itself for implementing a blockade of the Pakistani ports, should the need arise. In addition, Naval amphibious forces from the Andaman group of islands were moved to the western sea-board.

In a skilful use of naval power in the form of ‘Operation Talwar’, the ‘Eastern Fleet’ joined the ‘Western Naval Fleet’ and blocked the Arabian sea routes of Pakistan. Apart from a deterrent, the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief later disclosed that Pakistan was left with just six days of fuel (POL) to sustain itself if a full fledged war broke out.

 

[EagleEyes]

In a skilful use of naval power in the form of ‘Operation Talwar’, the ‘Eastern Fleet’ joined the ‘Western Naval Fleet’ and blocked the Arabian sea routes of Pakistan. Apart from a deterrent, the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief later disclosed that Pakistan was left with just six days of fuel (POL) to sustain itself if a full fledged war broke out.

This is a big joke. Nawaz is known for his bullshit to become a saviour of Pakistan some how!

If Pakistan Navy had taken actions. The submarines would have blasted the Indian fleet, sending them to bay of bengal! No wonder.. there was an absence of Indian aircraft carrier.

 

[fatman17]

if we had 6 days of fuel (POL)left then the whole of pak would have been under strict rationing. no such event happened!!
dont believe what u read

 

[su-47]

This is a big joke. Nawaz is known for his bullshit to become a saviour of Pakistan some how!

If Pakistan Navy had taken actions. The submarines would have blasted the Indian fleet, sending them to bay of bengal! No wonder.. there was an absence of Indian aircraft carrier.

You seriously underestimate INs ASW capabilities. U should thank God your admirals didnt take the decision to engage the IN. PN might have sunk a few frigates, but PN's entire fleet would have ended up at the bottom of the arabian sea.

Agostas can sink individual ships, but wont succeed against many ships travelling together.