In what appears to be a nervous show of strength, Pakistan’s Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, rushed to forward posts in the disputed Sir Creek region. The timing of the visit is of great significance as it coincides suspiciously with India’s upcoming Tri-Service Exercise Trishul.
Pakistan’s Director General of Public Relations (Navy) shared that Admiral Ashraf’s visit was aimed at reviewing operational preparedness and combat readiness. During the visit, three state-of-the-art 2400 TD Hovercraft were also inducted into Pak Marines, marking another significant stride in modernizing Pakistan Navy’s operational capabilities.
His rhetoric, vowing to defend “every inch of our maritime frontiers from Sir Creek to Jiwani,” betrays more anxiety than aggression as Islamabad scrambles to project confidence near the maritime boundary with India.
Why the sudden focus on Sir Creek?
The Creek region, a sensitive, marshy stretch marking the India–Pakistan maritime divide, has suddenly become the centre of Pakistan’s military optics. Admiral Ashraf’s visit wasn’t routine; it came with the induction of three new 2400 TD hovercraft for the Pakistan Marines.
These vessels, adept at navigating shallow waters and swampy terrains, appear more defensive than offensive, thereby making them perfect for guarding an area Pakistan fears could see intensified Indian surveillance and activity once Trishul begins.
“The newly inducted Hovercraft are capable of simultaneously operating over a variety of surfaces, including shallow waters, sand dunes, marshy and boggy littoral zones, and can ply in areas where traditional craft are neither suitable nor designed to operate. This unique capability of undertaking simultaneous operations over land and sea provides an edge to Pak Marines in the performance of their assigned tasks,” DGPR Navy said.
Hovercraft or hype? A symbol of nervous preparedness
Admiral Ashraf emphasised that Pakistan Navy is the vanguard of peace and stability in the Indian Ocean Region and a significant stakeholder in regional maritime security. “We know how to defend our sovereignty and every inch of our Maritime frontiers from Sir Creek to Jiwani”, he added.
Pakistan has touted these amphibious hovercraft as a “crucial modernisation step,” but Indian intelligence officials dismiss the move as a symbolic attempt to showcase preparedness under pressure. The new hovercraft offers limited combat advantage beyond coastal defence.
Top Indian sources, talking to News18, have called Admiral Ashraf’s visit a “deliberate provocation”, a thinly veiled effort to draw international attention to a long-settled boundary issue. The timing, just days before India’s Exercise Trishul, is seen as an attempt to create diplomatic friction and paint India’s legitimate maritime activities as “aggressive posturing.”
A pre-emptive panic before India’s tri-service exercise?
As India gears up for its powerful tri-services drill Trishul, showcasing seamless land–sea–air coordination, Pakistan’s sudden surge in rhetoric and activity along Sir Creek signals something telling – a pre-emptive panic disguised as deterrence. Despite Admiral Ashraf’s tough words and hovercraft showcase, there are unmistakable signs of Pakistan bracing nervously for India’s next military demonstration of strength.
Coming just months after the military stand-off (Operation Sindoor) between the two nations, Exercise Trishul will showcase the capabilities of India’s indigenous weapon systems. The exercise will be led by the Southern Command of the Indian Army, under Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth.