Pakistan has issued a naval navigational warning for firing exercises in the northern Arabian Sea, set to commence on Sunday and run until November 5. These drills are planned to take place in an area that overlaps with India’s major tri-services military exercise, which is currently underway in the country’s western sector.
The overlap in exercise zones is attributed to the contiguous maritime territories of Pakistan and India. However, experts suggest that effective coordination between the two nations’ forces should help avert any untoward incidents during these simultaneous operations.
Pakistan’s Hydrographer issued the navigational warning (NAVAREA IX 514/25) on Saturday, outlining drills for November 2-5. This announcement comes just two days after India initiated its own two-week-long tri-services exercise in the same expansive maritime area.
The Pakistani exercises will involve warships conducting live surface and sub-surface firing within a designated zone spanning approximately 6,000 square kilometers. A maritime alert has been issued, advising mariners to maintain a safe distance from the exercise area.
India’s exercise, codenamed ‘Trishul,’ is a large-scale operation involving tens of thousands of personnel, fighter jets, warships, submarines, tanks, and artillery. It is the first significant military drill since the four-day military confrontation with Pakistan in May, known as Operation Sindoor.
Geo-intelligence researcher Damien Symon noted on X (formerly Twitter) that Pakistan’s naval warning for firing exercises in an area where India has airspace reservations for its drills highlights the proximity of their activities. He added that geographical overlap is common, and coordination typically ensures professionalism and prevents incidents.
The simultaneous conduct of military exercises by both nations is not unusual.
These exercises follow closely on the heels of the military clash between India and Pakistan from May 7-10 under Operation Sindoor. This operation was India’s direct response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in 26 fatalities. India’s operation involved strikes on terror and military installations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Vice Admiral AN Pramod, Director General of Naval Operations, stated that the primary objective of India’s tri-services exercise is to enhance synergy among all maritime forces and the three services. Approximately 20-25 warships and 40 aircraft are participating, involving the Western Naval Command, South Western Air Command, and the Army’s Western Command.
The exercise will include amphibious operations utilizing platforms like the INS Jalashwa. It is being conducted in a vast and complex operational environment, incorporating integrated multi-domain operations, including cyber and space capabilities.
The exercise zone also encompasses the Sir Creek area, a disputed maritime strip that forms the border between Gujarat, India, and Sindh, Pakistan. This 96-km stretch has historically been a point of contention, with the last bilateral talks on the issue occurring over 13 years ago.
Earlier, on October 2, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh issued a stern warning to Islamabad, vowing an overwhelming response to any mischief in the Sir Creek sector. These remarks were made against the backdrop of Pakistan reportedly bolstering its military infrastructure near the disputed region, with the minister emphasizing that India’s response would be significant enough to alter the area’s history and geography.
Last week, Singh also commented that Pakistan was still grappling with the impact of the four-day military engagement with India.