In a rare display of simultaneous military activity, the navies of Indiaand Pakistan are set to conduct separate naval exercises in the Arabian Seathis week, with their operational areas reportedly only about 60 milesapart. The development has drawn regional and international attention dueto the historic tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
According to defense sources, the Indian Navy is undertaking a large-scalemaritime drill involving warships, submarines, and maritime patrolaircraft. The exercise aims to test combat readiness, anti-submarinewarfare tactics, and fleet coordination in the strategically vital watersof the Arabian Sea.
On the other side, the Pakistan Navy will be carrying out its own navalmaneuvers in the same period, showcasing surface and underwater combatcapabilities, as well as coordination with the Pakistan Air Force.Officials in Islamabad have emphasized that the drills are part of aroutine training schedule and are not aimed at any specific country.
Analysts point out that while both sides have avoided direct confrontationin recent years, the close proximity of the exercises — just 60 nauticalmiles apart — raises the risk of miscalculation or unintended escalation.The Arabian Sea, a critical maritime route for energy supplies andinternational trade, remains a hotspot for geopolitical maneuvering.
Military experts stress that strict communication protocols and monitoringwill be necessary to prevent any incident at sea. Despite longstandingpolitical and military rivalry, both New Delhi and Islamabad havepreviously engaged in limited information sharing to avoidmisunderstandings during such high-stakes operations.
International observers will be watching closely as the exercises unfold,given the potential implications for regional stability and maritimesecurity in South Asia.
