Pakistan inducts cutting-edge PNS Khaibar, reaffirms resolve to defend sovereign seas

• Marka-e-Haq showed mastery of Pak Navy operations: Naval chief.
• Says PNS Khaibar, Hangor subs mark major modernisation milestone.
• Reaffirms resolve to defend country’s seas and maritime frontiers.
  

ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf said the Pakistan Navy was prepared to target an Indian aircraft carrier during Marka-e-Haq, a posture that forced the Indian Navy to remain confined to its perceived safe havens.

He made these remarks while addressing the induction ceremony of the second PN Milgem Class Corvette, PNS Khaibar, into the Pakistan Navy fleet, where he emphasised the importance of a strong, balanced, and technologically advanced naval force.

Referring to Marka-e-Haq, he said the conduct and mastery of naval operations during the episode sent a clear message that any attempt to challenge Pakistan’s maritime interests would be met with an appropriate and decisive response.

In May 2025, Pakistan and India engaged in a military confrontation triggered by an attack in April on tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) that New Delhi blamed on Islamabad without any investigation.

In response to the Indian aggression, Pakistan’s armed forces launched a large-scale retaliatory military action, named “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos” under Marka-e-Haq, and targeted several Indian military targets across multiple regions.

Pakistan downed six Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales, and dozens of drones. After at least 87 hours, the war between the two nuclear-armed nations ended on May 10 with a ceasefire agreement brokered by the US.

Highlighting Pakistan’s geostrategic position, the naval chief said the country’s location along vital maritime trade and energy corridors necessitates a potent navy to safeguard national interests and ensure secure Sea Lines of Communications (SLOCs).

Admiral Ashraf further said that the Pakistan Navy is being equipped with state-of-the-art platforms and niche technologies, enabling it to effectively target critical infrastructure, vulnerabilities, and naval assets of any adversary.

He noted that the induction of advanced platforms such as PNS Khaibar, along with the upcoming Hangor-class submarines, represents a significant milestone in the navy’s modernisation, enhancing its operational flexibility, combat capability, and strategic reach.

Concluding his address, the naval chief extended his best wishes to the crew of PNS Khaibar and reaffirmed the Pakistan Navy’s resolve to defend the country’s sovereign seas and uphold its responsibility as the guardian of maritime frontiers.