The navy has also commissioned Chinese-made 054A frigates under a 2018 agreement between the two countries. These advanced warships, armed with modern detection and weapon systems, are one of the largest and most advanced in the Pakistan navy, which also carries Turkish Milgem-class corvettes and a modernised Agosta 90B submarine. Both China and Pakistan jointly carry out an annual naval drill called the Sea Guardians. China also joins the multinational Aman exercises hosted by Pakistan, which are of strategic importance for both countries, and reportedly sent two warships for the 2019 drills.
Pakistan hosts joint naval drills including the US, China and Russia But such efforts to restore balance pale in comparison to the quantum pace of India’s militarisation, accelerated dramatically by Washington. Pakistan needs to do more to build its defence capabilities. Establishing peace and stability requires mutual effort. It is the responsibility of each regional member to not only subscribe to the notion of coexistence but also make a conscious effort to achieve this goal collectively. The Indo-Pacific strategy, as it stands, affects South Asia’s strategic calculus, especially in feeding India’s hegemonic intentions.
There are a few ways in which Pakistan may seek to restore the strategic balance.
First, it can build an assured second-strike capability based on SSBNs and SSNs, which stands for submersible ships nuclear, essentially nuclear-powered attack submarines. This may take decades but is a worthy pursuit to build strategic stability in the Indian Ocean. As an initial step, Pakistan can get Chinese SSNs on lease and build small modular reactors that could fit into its indigenous submarines.
Second, Pakistan can develop hypersonic cruise missiles to deter India from “accidentally” firing its BrahMos missiles again.
Third, Pakistan can continue to build its fissile material stocks to match India’s nuclear proliferation as it makes warheads to complete its “nuclear triad” – the ability to launch nuclear strikes by land, air and sea. Fourth, it can urge India to take the next logical step beyond the unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing it has declared. Pakistan has reportedly offered to translate its own nuclear test ban into a bilateral non-testing arrangement with India. Until that happens, Pakistan should never tie its hands by signing the UN Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
As India arms itself with international support and disturbs the fragile balance of power in South Asia, Pakistan is left with no choice but to preserve its maritime interests, by optimising its military and technological capability against India’s asymmetrically expanding naval prowess.
Pushing a key regional state into a corner has never achieved a win-win outcome historically, and neither will it ever be a suitable bargain.
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Murad Ali is a research officer at the Center for International Strategic Studies, Islamabad, Pakistan