Sources said following Operation Sindoor, Pakistan's naval fleet has been notably absent from the strategic waters of the Arabian Sea
www.news18.com
Some gems from the above article.
btw both these boat-fakirs and the Indian Navy are given the least budgetary priorities by their respective countries, yet our guys have everything from corvettes to aircraft carriers today and these Pakis are limited to being a glorified Coast Guard now.
All their shipbuilding/repair and all is also situated on the one peninsula upon which Karachi Shipyard sits
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Open-source reports and maritime t
racking data have revealed a troubling pattern – the majority of the navy’s principal surface combatants remain pier-side at Karachi naval base.
A
ccording to sources, Pakistan has only two operational submarines at present, with the rest being inactive and berthed at naval facilities. Not only that, training opportunities in the navy have become increasingly limited as operational vessels remain unavailable for extended periods, the sources said.
The sources said young officers complete their naval academy training only to find themselves assigned to ships that spend months in maintenance status. This has created a generation of naval officers with limited sea-going experience, further undermining operational competence, they said.
- Due to this, each platform requires specialised maintenance protocols, unique spare parts inventories, and distinct technical expertise. This logistical complexity has overwhelmed the navy’s maintenance infrastructure, creating bottlenecks that keep vessels tied to ports for extended periods.
- Chinese-origin vessels present particular challenges. The much-vaunted Type-054A frigates, delivered between 2021 and 2023, have experienced recurring technical issues with their radar systems and propulsion plants, requiring frequent returns to shipyard facilities.

- Financial constraints have exacerbated the maintenance crisis. The shipyard’s limitations became apparent during recent attempts to service the Type-054A frigates. These Chinese-origin vessels require specialised diagnostic equipment and proprietary software that the Karachi shipyard lacks.
- Attempts to establish repair partnerships with Chinese firms have been hampered by technology transfer restrictions and exorbitant costs, leaving many vessels in an extended maintenance limbo.
- The neighbouring country’s inability to maintain a credible naval presence in the Arabian Sea creates a vacuum. The Indian Navy has, therefore, expanded its patrol patterns and exercise schedules, effectively treating Pakistani waters as uncontested space.
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