“The Indian Ocean is a very complex area, because it is very important for almost the entire world. So much traffic goes through it. Therefore, while we are the largest resident navy in the region, we have to ensure there is peace and stability, because the oceans are the global comms,” he said.

At any point in time there are about 65-70 extra regional navies operating in the region, said Admiral Hari Kumar. “We as a resident naval power in this region keep track of all activities that are happening. There are Chinese naval ships operating…Chinese warships, Chinese research vessels and fishing boats in large numbers. And prosperity at sea is dependent upon peace, tranquillity, and ability to use the ocean freely and openly in compliance with the rule of law…That is what we try to achieve,” he said.

But this cannot be achieved alone, added the Navy Chief, maintaining that it has to be done in cooperation and collaboration.

“We have our outreach programmes. We have activities along with friendly foreign countries. We help them. We train them. We have multilateral exercises,” he said.

Speaking about the Navy’s future plans, he said the force has a capabilities development programme, which takes into consideration what are the possible challenges.

“I can tell you that we already have 43 ships under construction. Out of these, 41 are being built in Indian shipyards only. We have nearly 49 ships, the AON is being processed. And so, by about 2035, we anticipate that we will have about 170-175 ships that we will be able to meet challenges with,” he said.

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While outlining the situation in the Indian Ocean Region and the Indo-Pacific, the Navy chief also said the Ukraine conflict has taught India to be self-reliant in Defence production. The nearly 10-month-old war has not impacted the Navy’s procurements.

Giving a low down on the increasing Chinese visibility in the strategically important Indian Ocean, Admiral Kumar said there are a lot of Chinese ships in the region including research vessels, warships and merchant ships. The Indian Navy is keeping a close watch, he said adding there are more than 60 other extra-regional forces also present in the ‘vital region.’

Elaborating upon the importance of the Indian Ocean, Kumar said large amount of trade transits through the sea lanes of the region besides energy supply of several nations. The Indian Navy keeps track of the ships and will not allow vessels inimical to the country’s interest, the Navy chief said.

Informing that Chinese fishing vessels operate all over the world including the Indian Ocean Region, Admiral Kumar said, “our job is to track them through robust surveillance and not allow them to fish in India’s exclusive economic zone.”

On the issue of the Quad formation, the Navy chief said it is not a military treaty.  Like-minded countries having democratic traditions have come together to form the grouping, Admiral Kumar said.  China has all along criticised the Quad grouping claiming it will lead to the militarisation of the Indo-Pacific Region.  US, Japan, India and Australia are part of the Quad grouping and regularly hold the Malabar series of naval exercises in the Indo-Pacific.

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The presence of the submarine is evident in commercial satellite imagery. It is hard to spot by the untrained eye so it has taken time to confirm it. And we can now be sure that it was a Pakistani sub and not Chinese. The Agosta-90B type submarine is only operated by the Pakistan Navy. They are known locally as the Hashmat-class.

Local media reported the exercise but did not mention the submarine. The Nation.pk reported at the time about the types of Pakistan Navy warships and equipment involved in the exercise. Frigates, missile boats, anti-submarine patrol aircraft, helicopters and special forces were mentioned. The submarine was not. Other media, such as the South China Morning Post did that mention submarines would be involve. But they did not provide any specific information.

This was not in the Pakistani Navy’s usual berths, but in a cordoned-off part of the commercial docks. The placement of the Pakistani Navy submarine cannot be viewed as coincidental.

Pakistan operates five of the French-designed Agosta Class submarines. Three of are the improved version with Air independent Power (AIP), which was parked among the Chinese vessels.

What is significant about this class of submarine is that it is the most potent and modern in the Pakistan Navy arsenal. It has French-designed AIP, relatively modern combat systems and AS-39 Exocet anti-ship missiles. It is also reported to be the launch platform for Pakistan’s indigenous Babur-3 nuclear-capable cruise missile.

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Parking the submarine in the center of the visiting warships suggests that the Chinese were invited aboard. Typically the host nation would have given the visitors a tour and explained relevant features. In essence, Pakistan is sharing the inner workings of one of its most potent weapons platforms.

The Agostas will be complemented by eight Chinese-designed Type-039B Yuan Class submarines. The first batch of Yuan boats will be delivered to Pakistan in the next few years, and some may be built locally. They may incorporate some Pakistan specific equipment and capabilities, such as the Babur-3 missile.

In the past, the Chinese Navy, formally known as the PLAN, have deployed their submarines to the Indian Ocean. A Chinese Type-091 Han Class nuclear-powered submarine visited Karachi in 2016. It was parked along the same quay where the Pakistani boat is in these images.

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