Pakistan Naval Chief's Inspection at Sir Creek Sparks Indian Concerns

Pakistan's Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, recently undertook a notable visit to forward naval stations in the contentious Sir Creek area along the maritime boundary between India and Pakistan. This move has drawn severe criticism from Indian intelligence, who view it as a "deliberate provocation" intended to establish military dominance in the strategic coastal region.

During the visit, Admiral Ashraf oversaw the incorporation of three advanced 2400 TD Hovercraft into the Pakistan Marines. This significant modernization effort enhances the Navy's operational capabilities in shallow and marshy terrains. These hovercraft are designed for swift mobility across water, mudflats, and sand dunes, offering enhanced patrol and logistical flexibility in the Creek Areas where traditional vessels encounter navigational difficulties.

Addressing personnel, the Naval Chief emphasized Pakistan's "unwavering resolve to defend every inch of its maritime frontiers from Sir Creek to Jiwani," highlighting that the induction represents a bolstered maritime defense posture. He also stressed the importance of Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) and overall maritime security as "a cornerstone of national sovereignty and economic prosperity."

However, Indian security agencies perceive the visit as a strategic provocation, coinciding with India's upcoming Tri-Services joint exercises. They interpret it as an intentional effort to internationalize the Sir Creek dispute.

Sources in New Delhi suggest the visit serves dual purposes—to heighten regional tension and to justify Pakistan's increasing strategic partnership with China under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Indian analysts argue that the move bolsters Islamabad's case for ongoing Chinese naval presence and infrastructure collaboration along the Arabian Sea, particularly between Gwadar and Jiwani.

While Pakistan portrays the induction of hovercraft as a defensive enhancement, Indian experts caution that such maneuvers could be aimed at fortifying Chinese-backed surveillance and logistical networks in the vicinity.

The Sir Creek dispute, a 96-kilometer estuarine boundary between Gujarat and Sindh, is one of the most contentious maritime issues between India and Pakistan. These recent developments risk reigniting tensions at a time when both nations remain on heightened alert in the Arabian Sea region.