*A Growing Concern for India*
*Karachi, Pakistan* – The Pakistan Navy has successfully launched its thirdHangor-class submarine, marking another significant milestone in thecountry’s naval modernization program. Built with advanced stealthtechnology and equipped with the ability to launch nuclear-capable Baburcruise missiles, this latest addition to the fleet is seen as a major boostto Pakistan’s second-strike capability.
The Hangor-class submarine is part of an eight-vessel procurement deal withChina, designed to enhance Pakistan’s underwater warfare capabilities. Withan estimated range of over 1,000 kilometers, the Babur missile can befitted with both conventional and nuclear warheads, giving Pakistan themeans to strike deep into Indian territory from beneath the sea. Militaryanalysts note that this substantially improves Islamabad’s strategicdeterrence against New Delhi.
Experts believe the deployment of these submarines changes the navalbalance in the Arabian Sea, where India has long maintained superiority.The stealth features of the Hangor-class make detection by India’santi-submarine warfare systems more difficult, raising concerns within theIndian Navy about potential gaps in maritime security.
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Indian defense planners are likely to view this development as a seriousescalation in the regional arms race. With three such submarines nowoperational and more expected in the coming years, Pakistan could maintaina continuous at-sea deterrent — a capability that would complicate India’sstrategic calculations in both wartime and peacetime scenarios.
The launch of the third Hangor submarine underscores Pakistan’sdetermination to modernize its naval forces and strengthen its nucleardeterrence at sea. While the Pakistan Navy describes the development asessential for national defense, Indian observers warn that the move couldfurther fuel tensions in an already volatile South Asian securityenvironment.