ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has significantly enhanced its air and navalcapabilities to deter any potential aggression from India in the southernmaritime domain, sources within the defense establishment revealed. ThePakistan Air Force (PAF) has equipped its JF-17 Thunder fighter jets withadvanced anti-ship missiles, including the CM-400AKG, which are capable ofstriking large naval vessels such as aircraft carriers at supersonicspeeds. This development is seen as a direct response to India’s growingnaval presence in the Arabian Sea, where threats to Pakistan’s coastlinecould escalate rapidly.
The CM-400AKG missile, often dubbed a “carrier killer,” boasts a rangeexceeding 300 kilometers and can achieve speeds up to Mach 5, making it aformidable weapon against high-value targets like India’s INS Vikrant.Deployed from PAF bases such as Masroor Air Base near Karachi, thesemissiles allow for rapid strikes that could neutralize enemy carriersbefore they pose an imminent threat. Analysts note that this capabilitycompels India to position its naval assets farther from Pakistani waters,reducing the effectiveness of any offensive operations from the south.
Complementing the PAF’s aerial prowess, the Pakistan Navy has bolstered itsfleet with submarines and surface vessels armed with anti-ship cruisemissiles like the Babur and Harbah systems. Operating from key navalinstallations including Karachi Naval Dockyard and Ormara Naval Base, theseassets provide layered defense and offensive options. In scenarios ofIndian naval incursion, coordinated strikes from air and sea couldoverwhelm aggressors, ensuring Pakistan’s maritime sovereignty remainsintact amid rising tensions.
This integrated approach underscores Pakistan’s strategic shift towardsasymmetric warfare, leveraging cost-effective platforms to counternumerically superior forces. Defense experts emphasize that suchenhancements not only deter adventurism but also restore balance in theregion, where India’s aircraft carriers have long projected power. Withongoing upgrades, Pakistan’s forces are poised to deliver a decisiveresponse, potentially altering the calculus of any future conflict.
Read Top Stories
The upgrades come at a time when bilateral relations remain strained, withboth nations exchanging warnings over maritime boundaries. By fortifyingits southern defenses, Pakistan aims to safeguard vital trade routes andenergy supplies, critical for national security. This posture reflects acommitment to peace through strength, discouraging provocative actions thatcould lead to unintended escalations.Source:www.eurasiantimes.com/pakistans-jf-17-fighters-armed-with-deadly-chinese-missiles-could-pose-a-huge-threat-to-indian-navy-in-ior/”>https://www.eurasiantimes.com/pakistans-jf-17-fighters-armed-with-deadly-chinese-missiles-could-pose-a-huge-threat-to-indian-navy-in-ior/
