ISLAMABAD:
Officials clarified on Wednesday that naval escort operations currently carried out by the Pakistan Navy are limited to protecting the country’s merchant ships operating along key sea routes between Karachi and the Gulf and Red Sea regions, amid heightened security concerns sparked by the ongoing war between Iran, the United States and Israel.
Well-placed security sources told The Express PAkGazette that the escort operations announced under Operation Muhafiz-ul-Bahr should not be construed as Pakistani warships accompanying ships through the Strait of Hormuz, where tensions have risen sharply due to the conflict.
“Escort operations by the navy are being carried out for Pakistani ships plying the Karachi-Gulf and Karachi-Red Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs),” a senior security official said.
“This should not be misinterpreted as escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz.”
The clarification comes after the navy announced the launch of Operation Muhafiz-ul-Bahr earlier this week to safeguard Pakistan’s maritime trade and energy services as the regional security environment becomes increasingly volatile.
The ongoing confrontation between Iran and the US-Israel alliance has raised global concerns about the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which nearly a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.
Iranian officials have repeatedly warned that continued military pressure could force Tehran to reconsider the security of maritime traffic in the strait.
Such warnings have rattled global energy markets and prompted countries that rely on maritime trade to reevaluate their contingency plans.
Pakistan, whose economy relies heavily on maritime trade, is particularly exposed to disruptions in regional shipping routes.
Nearly 90% of the country’s trade moves through maritime channels, while a large portion of its oil imports transit the Gulf before reaching Pakistani ports.
Officials said Operation Muhafiz-ul-Bahr is a precautionary measure designed to ensure that Pakistan-flagged vessels continue to operate safely despite growing uncertainty in regional waters.
According to the navy, the escort operations are being carried out in coordination with the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC), the country’s state-owned shipping company responsible for the transportation of a major portion of Pakistan’s strategic cargo.
Security officials stressed that escort operations are being carried out along Pakistan’s established maritime supply routes and not within the Strait of Hormuz itself, which remains one of the most sensitive points in the ongoing conflict.
Analysts say the clarification is important to avoid misinterpretations about Pakistan’s role in the evolving regional crisis.
Direct naval involvement in escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz could have significant geopolitical implications, given the intense military standoff between Iran and the US-Israel alliance in the Gulf.
Instead, Pakistan appears to be focusing on securing its own maritime trade corridors and reassuring trade operators that shipping linked to Pakistani ports will remain protected.
The navy has also increased surveillance of regional waters and is closely monitoring the movements of merchant vessels to ensure safe transit through potentially vulnerable areas.
International shipping companies have already begun to reassess risks in the Gulf region, with insurance premiums rising sharply and some ships reportedly altering routes to avoid potential conflict zones.
For Pakistan, any prolonged disruption to sea routes could have serious economic consequences, especially at a time when global oil prices are already rising due to the conflict.
Officials say the naval operation aims to prevent supply chain disruptions and ensure the continued flow of imports of energy and commercial goods.
While Islamabad has maintained a cautious diplomatic stance in the Iran-US-Israel confrontation, the launch of Operation Muhafiz-ul-Bahr underscores growing strategic concern within Pakistan over the conflict’s potential spillover into critical maritime corridors.
By securing its key sea lines of communication, Pakistan hopes to protect its trade routes from the broader turbulence plaguing the Gulf region.
