- Marka-e-Haq showed mastery of Pakistan Navy operations: naval chief.
- According to PNS Khaibar, the Hangor submarines mark an important milestone in modernization.
- It reaffirms the determination to defend the seas and maritime borders of the country.
ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf said the Pakistan Navy was prepared to attack an Indian aircraft carrier during Marka-e-Haq, a posture that forced the Indian Navy to remain confined to what it perceived as safe havens.
He made these remarks while addressing the induction ceremony of PN’s second Milgem Class Corvette, PNS Khaibar, into the Pakistan Navy fleet, where he emphasized the importance of a strong, balanced and technologically advanced naval force.
Referring to Marka-e-Haq, he said the conduct and dominance 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 standoff triggered by an April attack on tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which New Delhi blamed on Islamabad without any investigation.
In response to Indian aggression, Pakistan’s armed forces launched a large-scale retaliatory military action, dubbed “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos” under Marka-e-Haq, and targeted several Indian military targets in multiple regions.
Pakistan shot down 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 US-brokered ceasefire agreement.
Highlighting Pakistan’s geostrategic position, the naval chief said the country’s location along vital maritime trade and energy corridors requires a potent navy to safeguard national interests and ensure secure sea lines of communications (SLOC).
Admiral Ashraf further said that Pakistan Navy is being equipped with next-generation platforms and niche technologies, enabling it to effectively target critical infrastructure, vulnerabilities and naval assets of any adversary.
He noted that the addition of advanced platforms such as the PNS Khaibar, along with the upcoming Hangor-class submarines, represents an important milestone in the modernization of the navy, improving its operational flexibility, combat capability and strategic reach.
Concluding his speech, the naval chief extended his best wishes to the crew of PNS Khaibar and reaffirmed Pakistan Navy’s resolve to defend the country’s sovereign seas and shoulder its responsibility as the guardian of maritime borders.
