Charting the Course: Pakistan’s Naval Modernisation for a Secure Maritime Future

Abstract

Despite the financial and fiscal turmoil, the continuum of Pakistan’s naval program is a precursor of the shift in its maritime strategic priorities. The shift from an offensive sea-denial strategy towards maintaining a sustained presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) indicates renewed strategic priorities of protecting its vested maritime interests. The induction of Chinese-made frigates, submarines, and unmanned aerial platforms indicates Pakistan’s anticipation of the changing security environment in IOR and numerical inferiority visa Vis India. Drawing examples from recent maritime conflicts in the Black Sea and naval force buildup in IOR, the paper proceeds to chart the course of modernization, especially in the context of unmanned Sea Vehicles and fostering public-private partnerships to meet the forthcoming challenges. Therefore, the study argues that the efforts to overhaul its existing naval fleet will chart the course for Pakistan’s naval interests and quest for a secure maritime future.