The identify Hangor carries substantial ancient importance in South Asia’s naval historical past. All the way through the 1971 India-Pakistan struggle, the Pakistani submarine PNS Hangor sank the Indian warship INS Khukri, marking the primary time since Independence that an Indian naval vessel was once misplaced in fight. The assault stays one of the celebrated achievements within the historical past of the Pakistan Army.
But, regardless of the tactical luck, the sinking of INS Khukri had little affect at the broader result of the struggle. Pakistan suffered a decisive army defeat as Indian forces completed dominance throughout land, air and sea, in the long run paving the way in which for the introduction of Bangladesh.
Greater than 5 many years later, the Hangor identify has resurfaced in strategic discussions. Pakistan’s first Hangor-class submarine, commissioned in China in April, arrived in Karachi ultimate week and is already being projected as a platform in a position to increasing the Pakistan Army’s operational succeed in past its conventional waters.
Senior Pakistani naval officers have indicated that the brand new submarine may just permit Islamabad to care for a presence within the Bay of Bengal, a area the place Pakistan has had just about no sustained naval footprint because the 1971 battle and the next lack of East Pakistan.
The remarks come at a time when ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh have proven indicators of development, each on the civilian and army ranges. Additionally they coincide with rising strategic pageant amongst regional navies within the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific areas.
Since its defeat in 1971, Pakistan’s naval operations have in large part remained concentrated within the northern Arabian Sea. Against this, the Bay of Bengal has lengthy been a space the place India enjoys really extensive geographical and operational benefits.
The area hosts India’s Jap Naval Command at Visakhapatnam and lies with reference to the strategically vital Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Additionally it is a essential maritime hall for industry and effort flows involving India, Bangladesh and different regional economies.
The Bay of Bengal, bordered by way of India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, has got expanding geopolitical significance amid the upward push of competing naval powers around the Indo-Pacific.
In contrast backdrop, feedback made previous this month by way of Pakistan Army Commodore Omer Farooq have attracted consideration. Farooq, who commanded the flotilla escorting the brand new submarine from China to Pakistan, mentioned that the induction of the Hangor-class submarines would offer Pakistan with the aptitude to maintain a presence within the Bay of Bengal.
Describing the platform as a “recreation changer”, Farooq additionally famous that Pakistan intends to induct 8 submarines of the category. His remarks have been reported by way of The Morning on June 7. The feedback have been made right through a stopover in Sri Lanka whilst coming back from China. Farooq addressed visitors aboard the Pakistani frigate PNS Taimur at Colombo Port.
Ahead of the arriving of the brand new vessel, the Pakistan Army operated a fleet of 5 submarines. The Chinese language-built Hangor-class submarines are anticipated to steadily exchange Pakistan’s getting old Agosta-class fleet and shape the spine of its long run underwater conflict capacity.
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