An Indian naval fleet has arrived at Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas to conduct a joint exercise with the Iranian Navy in the Persian Gulf. Watch in for more details!

Indian Warships Reach Iranian Port for Drills Amid West Asia Tensions

As Pakistan commemorates its Navy Day on September 8 each year, the occasion is used to perpetuate its narrative about the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war. The story of the war begins with Operation Gibraltar, launched by Pakistan to create instability in the then state&nbsp;of Jammu and Kashmir (now a union territory). The unsuccessful operation was the immediate cause of the India-Pakistan war of 1965. India’s response was swift, and by September 6, the Pakistani military was struggling to hold its ground. While Pakistan started by aiming to take over Kashmir, it ended up defending Lahore.&nbsp;

The official version, deeply embedded in Pakistani school textbooks and frequently repeated by the military, asserts that Pakistan triumphed over India, but, mostly it's a story of strategic and political failure from Pakistan.&nbsp;Even top Pakistani officials, such as General Mehmood Ahmed, who served as ISI chief from 1999-2001, have acknowledged Pakistan's losses. His book "The Myth of 1965 Victory" had caused quite a stir in Pakistan.&nbsp;

While the naval role wasn't much during the war, Operation Dwarka, launched by Pakistan, played a key role in galvanising the Indian political leadership in expanding the budget for the Indian Navy. Under the operation, Dwarka was bombed, since Pakistan believed that it housed a radar installation.&nbsp;

Pakistan Navy had deployed, PNS Babur, PNS Khaibar, and PNS Badr among other Naval vessels to bomb the town in the state of Gujarat. The operation had no real impact on the course of the war, with no strategic feat achieved. The overnight bombing saw the bombing of the guest house of the railway station. In fact, Pakistan marks its Navy Day on September 8, since it was on this day that it carried out the operation to bomb Dwarka -- a place that also holds immense historical value in the Indian subcontinent.

 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistan-general-asim-munir-clubs-kargil-war-with-other-wars-against-india-756700" target="_blank">Watch |&nbsp;Pakistan General Asim Munir clubs Kargil war with other wars against India</a>

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistan-general-asim-munir-clubs-kargil-war-with-other-wars-against-india-756700/embed" width="560"></iframe>

1971 war was the turning point with India gaining naval superiority in the region. The war saw the Indian Navy's blockade of East Pakistan, blockage of Karachi port-Pakistan's economic lifeline, and the sinking of PNS Ghazi, unprecedented in the Indian defence history.

Sinking of PNS Ghazi, a submarine in the Pakistan Navy, originally leased from the United States as USS Diablo (SS-479) under the Security Assistance Program in 1963, remains the key moment of the war, that led to the creation of the state of Bangladesh. The sinking of PNS Ghazi has been a point of national pride for India, often celebrated in military history.

According to Commodore (Retd) Seshadri Vasan, a veteran of the Indian Navy, “The Navy came of age in the 1971 war. The first missiles in the North Arabian Sea were fired by the Indian Navy, demonstrating our growing maritime prowess.” While both navies have evolved since then, India’s consistent focus on indigenisation has given it a long-term advantage. The Indian Navy’s emphasis on indigenous weapon systems and sensors reduces dependence on foreign suppliers, unlike Pakistan, which relies heavily on external sources, particularly China,"&nbsp;

India's geography has been advantageous for it. The extensive coastline helps it to be at the centre of the Indian Ocean, with strategic outposts like the Lakshadweep and Andaman Islands giving it further inroads in one of the busiest shipping routes of the world.&nbsp;

“In terms of sea control and sea denial operations, the Indian Navy has the clear upper hand,” Commodore Vasan pointed. “The Pakistan Navy, though capable of defending its coastal waters, lacks the strategic reach and firepower of its Indian counterpart.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/come-and-join-us-defence-minister-rajnath-singh-tells-pok-residents-to-leave-pakistan-for-india-756887">Also read |&nbsp;'Come and join us': Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tells PoK residents to leave Pakistan for India</a>

Today, the Indian Navy continues to dominate the maritime domain and the Indian Ocean region. It remains a blue water navy, which means, its presence remains across the vast open oceans, unlike the Pakistani Navy, which is seen as a green water navy.

The Indian Navy has two aircraft carriers—INS Vikramaditya and the indigenously built INS Vikrant and modern surface combatants, such as the INS Kolkata-class destroyers and Shivalik-class frigates, which are equipped with advanced weaponry and sensor systems.&nbsp;

The Indian vessels far outclass Pakistan’s F-22P Zulfiquar-class frigates and the recently acquired Type 054A/P frigates from China. Rawalpindi has been engaging with Beijing for the modernisation of the Pakistan Navy by the end of this decade.

As Pakistan commemorates its Navy Day on September 8 each year, the occasion is used to perpetuate its narrative about the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war. The story of the war begins with Operation Gibraltar, launched by Pakistan to create instability in the then state of Jammu and Kashmir (now a union territory).

As Pakistan commemorates its Navy Day on September 8 each year, the occasion is used to perpetuate its narrative about the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war. The story of the war begins with Operation Gibraltar, launched by Pakistan to create instability in the then state of Jammu and Kashmir (now a union territory). The unsuccessful operation was the immediate cause of the India-Pakistan war of 1965. India’s response was swift, and by September 6, the Pakistani military was struggling to hold its ground. While Pakistan started by aiming to take over Kashmir, it ended up defending Lahore. The official version, deeply embedded in Pakistani school textbooks and frequently repeated by the military, asserts that Pakistan triumphed over India, but, mostly it's a story of strategic and political failure from Pakistan. Even top Pakistani officials, such as General Mehmood Ahmed, who served as ISI chief from 1999-2001, have acknowledged Pakistan's losses. His book "The Myth of 1965 Victory" had caused quite a stir in Pakistan. While the naval role wasn't much during the war, Operation Dwarka, launched by Pakistan, played a key role in galvanising the Indian political leadership in expanding the budget for the Indian Navy. Under the operation, Dwarka was bombed, since Pakistan believed that it housed a radar installation. Pakistan Navy had deployed, PNS Babur, PNS Khaibar, and PNS Badr among other Naval vessels to bomb the town in the state of Gujarat. The operation had no real impact on the course of the war, with no strategic feat achieved. The overnight bombing saw the bombing of the guest house of the railway station. In fact, Pakistan marks its Navy Day on September 8, since it was on this day that it carried out the operation to bomb Dwarka -- a place that also holds immense historical value in the Indian subcontinent. Watch | Pakistan General Asim Munir clubs Kargil war with other wars against India 1971 war was the turning point with India gaining naval superiority in the region. The war saw the Indian Navy's blockade of East Pakistan, blockage of Karachi port-Pakistan's economic lifeline, and the sinking of PNS Ghazi, unprecedented in the Indian defence history. Sinking of PNS Ghazi, a submarine in the Pakistan Navy, originally leased from the United States as USS Diablo (SS-479) under the Security Assistance Program in 1963, remains the key moment of the war, that led to the creation of the state of Bangladesh. The sinking of PNS Ghazi has been a point of national pride for India, often celebrated in military history. According to Commodore (Retd) Seshadri Vasan, a veteran of the Indian Navy, “The Navy came of age in the 1971 war. The first missiles in the North Arabian Sea were fired by the Indian Navy, demonstrating our growing maritime prowess.” While both navies have evolved since then, India’s consistent focus on indigenisation has given it a long-term advantage. The Indian Navy’s emphasis on indigenous weapon systems and sensors reduces dependence on foreign suppliers, unlike Pakistan, which relies heavily on external sources, particularly China," India's geography has been advantageous for it. The extensive coastline helps it to be at the centre of the Indian Ocean, with strategic outposts like the Lakshadweep and Andaman Islands giving it further inroads in one of the busiest shipping routes of the world. “In terms of sea control and sea denial operations, the Indian Navy has the clear upper hand,” Commodore Vasan pointed. “The Pakistan Navy, though capable of defending its coastal waters, lacks the strategic reach and firepower of its Indian counterpart.” Also read | 'Come and join us': Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tells PoK residents to leave Pakistan for India Today, the Indian Navy continues to dominate the maritime domain and the Indian Ocean region. It remains a blue water navy, which means, its presence remains across the vast open oceans, unlike the Pakistani Navy, which is seen as a green water navy. The Indian Navy has two aircraft carriers—INS Vikramaditya and the indigenously built INS Vikrant and modern surface combatants, such as the INS Kolkata-class destroyers and Shivalik-class frigates, which are equipped with advanced weaponry and sensor systems. The Indian vessels far outclass Pakistan’s F-22P Zulfiquar-class frigates and the recently acquired Type 054A/P frigates from China. Rawalpindi has been engaging with Beijing for the modernisation of the Pakistan Navy by the end of this decade.

India's naval superiority over Pakistan: Remembering 1965, 1971 wars

Indian warships escorting merchant vessels in the Persian Gulf will remain deployed for the longer term, officials with direct knowledge of the matter said, as tensions between Iran and Western powers rise.

But the two ships, backed by surveillance aircraft, will not be part of a military coalition that the United States is assembling to safeguard the waters off Iran near the Straits of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil moves, the two officials said.&nbsp;

Since June following attacks on tankers that the United States blamed on Iran and Iran-aligned fighters, a charged Tehran denies, the Indian navy ships have been escorting Indian-flagged vessels in and out of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

"This is not going to stop, the situation being what it is, we will be there for the foreseeable future," said an official with knowledge of naval deployments.

India's navy, which has traditionally operated closer to home waters, has over the past year or so begun deployments across the Indian Ocean stretching from the Malacca Strait in Southeast Asia to waters off Africa, largely as a response to China's expanding weight across the region.

But the maritime operation in the Gulf is also to heed US&nbsp;President Donald Trump's call that major buyers of Middle East oil protect their own tankers, a second Indian official with knowledge of India's policy on the region said.&nbsp;

The issue figured during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Trump on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Japan last month and Modi told the US&nbsp;leader he had sent ships to protect Indian-flagged vessels, the official said.&nbsp;

Trump has been putting pressure on European and Asian allies to shoulder security responsibilities and not depend on the United States alone.&nbsp;

Deepening regional tensions, Iran said on Thursday it had seized a foreign tanker smuggling fuel in the Gulf, and the US&nbsp;military commander in the region said the United States would work "aggressively" to ensure free passage of vessels.

Refuelling

On Friday, US&nbsp;officials will speak to members of the Washington diplomatic corps about the new initiative to promote freedom of navigation and maritime security around the Strait of Hormuz, the State Department said.

New Delhi will not be formally joining such a force, in large measure because that would pit it directly against Iran, with which it has had historical political and energy ties. It also has never been part of foreign military task forces, preferring to work under the United Nations flag instead, the first official said.

India is the biggest buyer of Iranian oil after China.

"We will be carrying out the force protection measures on our own for Indian-flagged vessels. So far, nearly two dozen ships have been provided security," the official said.

But there is coordination with the US&nbsp;military with which India has a logistics support agreement, the official said.

Indian naval ships operating in the Gulf have been fuelled by the large fleet of US&nbsp;tankers and such assistance will remain because of the indefinite length of operation, the official said.&nbsp;

There have been no incidents so far involving Indian commercial shipping in the vital waterways.&nbsp;

"I surmise in a conflict we will be neutral. We will be drawn into it only if our shipping is hit," said former Indian naval officer Abhijit Singh, who heads the Maritime Policy Initiative think-tank at the New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation.

Singh said Indian navy ships had sailed in the Persian Gulf earlier though never exclusively to escort merchant marine.

About 15 Indian ships - destroyers, frigates, corvettes and large patrol vessels - are operating at the entry and exit points of the Indian Ocean, stretching from the Malacca Strait, through which much of China's trade and fuel is routed, to the Gulf of Aden in the west. 
&nbsp;

Indian warships escorting merchant vessels in the Persian Gulf will remain deployed for the longer term, officials with direct knowledge of the matter said, as tensions between Iran and Western powers rise.

Indian warships escorting merchant vessels in the Persian Gulf will remain deployed for the longer term, officials with direct knowledge of the matter said, as tensions between Iran and Western powers rise. But the two ships, backed by surveillance aircraft, will not be part of a military coalition that the United States is assembling to safeguard the waters off Iran near the Straits of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil moves, the two officials said. Since June following attacks on tankers that the United States blamed on Iran and Iran-aligned fighters, a charged Tehran denies, the Indian navy ships have been escorting Indian-flagged vessels in and out of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. "This is not going to stop, the situation being what it is, we will be there for the foreseeable future," said an official with knowledge of naval deployments. India's navy, which has traditionally operated closer to home waters, has over the past year or so begun deployments across the Indian Ocean stretching from the Malacca Strait in Southeast Asia to waters off Africa, largely as a response to China's expanding weight across the region. But the maritime operation in the Gulf is also to heed US President Donald Trump's call that major buyers of Middle East oil protect their own tankers, a second Indian official with knowledge of India's policy on the region said. The issue figured during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Trump on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Japan last month and Modi told the US leader he had sent ships to protect Indian-flagged vessels, the official said. Trump has been putting pressure on European and Asian allies to shoulder security responsibilities and not depend on the United States alone. Deepening regional tensions, Iran said on Thursday it had seized a foreign tanker smuggling fuel in the Gulf, and the US military commander in the region said the United States would work "aggressively" to ensure free passage of vessels. Refuelling On Friday, US officials will speak to members of the Washington diplomatic corps about the new initiative to promote freedom of navigation and maritime security around the Strait of Hormuz, the State Department said. New Delhi will not be formally joining such a force, in large measure because that would pit it directly against Iran, with which it has had historical political and energy ties. It also has never been part of foreign military task forces, preferring to work under the United Nations flag instead, the first official said. India is the biggest buyer of Iranian oil after China. "We will be carrying out the force protection measures on our own for Indian-flagged vessels. So far, nearly two dozen ships have been provided security," the official said. But there is coordination with the US military with which India has a logistics support agreement, the official said. Indian naval ships operating in the Gulf have been fuelled by the large fleet of US tankers and such assistance will remain because of the indefinite length of operation, the official said. There have been no incidents so far involving Indian commercial shipping in the vital waterways. "I surmise in a conflict we will be neutral. We will be drawn into it only if our shipping is hit," said former Indian naval officer Abhijit Singh, who heads the Maritime Policy Initiative think-tank at the New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation. Singh said Indian navy ships had sailed in the Persian Gulf earlier though never exclusively to escort merchant marine. About 15 Indian ships - destroyers, frigates, corvettes and large patrol vessels - are operating at the entry and exit points of the Indian Ocean, stretching from the Malacca Strait, through which much of China's trade and fuel is routed, to the Gulf of Aden in the west.

Indian warships to stay longer in Persian Gulf, won't join US coalition

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Indian Warships Reach Iranian Port for Drills Amid West Asia Tensions

India's naval superiority over Pakistan: Remembering 1965, 1971 wars

Indian warships to stay longer in Persian Gulf, won't join US coalition