By Amer Farooq
In the annals of recent military history, few moments have galvanized national pride like the events of May 2025. The sudden onset of war, triggered by India’s unprovoked aggression following the Pahalgam incident, placed Pakistan once again at the precipice of full-scale conflict. As the ceasefire came into effect on May 10, the spotlight rightly fell on the valor, agility, and operational brilliance of Pakistan’s Army and Air Force. Yet, in the thunder of fighter jets and the grit of ground battles, one critical force stood silently firm – the Pakistan Navy, the nation’s unseen guardian of the deep.
While the land borders are often visible and celebrated, Pakistan’s southern frontier – the 1,046-kilometer coastline along the Arabian Sea – is just as vital, if not more, to the country’s sovereignty, security, and survival. What lies beyond that coastal ribbon is a maritime expanse of monumental strategic and economic importance: over 240,000 square kilometers of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and an extended continental shelf adding another 50,000 square kilometers, granted under UNCLOS (The UN Convention of Law of the Sea). This vast maritime domain – nearly 36% of Pakistan’s landmass – demands round-the-clock vigilance, swift responsiveness, and maritime muscle that only a force like the Pakistan Navy can provide.
In this recent conflict, the Pakistan Navy played a role cloaked in operational secrecy but anchored in absolute preparedness.
At a time when adversarial intentions could easily have spread the conflict to the seas, the Navy maintained a deterrent posture across its wide operational arc. Surface ships, submarines, naval aviation units, and marine commandos were all quietly activated in layered defense. Warships were mobilized to strategic positions, ensuring that any expansion of hostilities into the maritime zone would be met with precise and punitive response. The silence was not inactivity; it was the stealth of professionalism.
The strategic utility of Pakistan’s maritime forces goes far beyond wartime contingencies. The recent episode revealed just how indispensable maritime security is to national defense. Pakistan’s sea lanes are its economic arteries, with over 90% of trade volume passing through them. The ports of Karachi, Port Qasim, and the jewel of CPEC – Gwadar – are not just hubs of commerce but nodes of strategic leverage. Protecting them means safeguarding the entire economic lifeline of the nation. Had Pakistan not maintained a vigilant, prepared, and adaptive naval presence during the conflict, these critical infrastructures would have been exposed to disruption or worse – a blockade. It is interesting and pertinent to mention that occupying the Pakistan’s economic lifeline hubs in the port city of Karachi is a burning desire of the Indians and it also echoed in the heaps of lies churned out by their unprofessional Media. Nevertheless, in the robust presence of the Pakistan Navy, they can only occupy it either in a Bollywood production or a similar stuff being produced in their newsrooms.
In any military equation with India, Pakistan’s comparative asymmetry in numbers is often highlighted. But this very disparity compels innovation, specialization, and strategic depth – something the Navy has quietly but effectively cultivated. In recent years, through indigenization, technological modernization, and doctrine evolution, Pakistan Navy has transformed itself into a lean yet lethal force capable of defending national interests far beyond its coastal waters. Submarine capabilities, long-range surveillance, and missile-equipped vessels are now part of its strategic fabric. In May 2025, these elements served as silent insurance, ensuring no misadventure went uncalculated by the adversary.
Even more crucial is the PN’s role in asserting and defending Pakistan’s maritime claims under international law. The success of Pakistan’s extended continental shelf claim in 2015, which expanded its jurisdiction to 290,000 square kilometers, was not just a legal triumph but a strategic one. This territory holds untapped riches – hydrocarbons, minerals, fisheries – that can power the country’s economic future. The vision of a “Blue Economy” is not an abstract aspiration but a tangible opportunity, and it is the Navy that ensures this future remains secure and sovereign.
Regional dynamics also demand a robust naval presence. The Arabian Sea is a theater of intense international interest – with Chinese, Indian, American, and other naval assets frequently operating in its waters. In such a charged environment, the Pakistan Navy serves as a stabilizing force, participating in international exercises, securing sea lanes, and ensuring that Pakistan’s maritime narrative is heard and respected. Its collaboration with allies and commitment to maritime diplomacy is the country’s first line of engagement in an increasingly multipolar Indian Ocean region.
And then, there is the human side of the Navy – its work in disaster response, anti-piracy operations, and maritime safety. Often overlooked in times of peace, these functions build trust among coastal communities and ensure uninterrupted maritime activity. In wartime, these same forces convert into combat-ready defenders, showcasing remarkable dual-purpose efficiency. The people of Pakistan deserve to know that while the skies roared and the borders burned, their waters remained under vigilant, resolute watch.
The recent war reminded the world that Pakistan is a country whose defensive strength cannot be measured in just numbers or terrain. It is measured in resolve, professionalism, and unity of its armed forces. The Army held the lines. The Air Force owned the skies. And it was the Pakistan Navy that stood, like the deep ocean itself – silent, vast, and immovable – shielding the nation’s southern flank without fanfare or fatigue.
It is time the people of Pakistan recognized that the Navy did not dominate the headlines after the ceasefire, but it shaped the security outcomes that allowed peace to return. In doing so, it reaffirmed its indispensable place in Pakistan’s defense matrix and its emerging future as a blue economy leader. For in war, as in peace, the sea does not forget – and neither should we.
–The writer is an award-winning development journalist with keen interest in environment, health, democracy and international relation.
