IT was announced recently that the first indigenously-built Indian nuclear submarine, INS Arihant, has commenced its sea trials. That would mean another six months for the submarine to become fully operational.

What are the implications of the induction of a nuclear submarine into the Indian fleet and the effects it can cause in its area of operations? I am sure it should be a source of serious concern for our naval planners.

It has also been learnt that the submarine can do a sustained speed of 24 knots for an unlimited period and that it would be armed with nuclear-tipped missiles and torpedoes.

I still remember with pride our naval supremacy in the 1965 war. It was primarily due to the presence of PN submarine Ghazi that the entire Indian fleet was forced to stay in harbour. India had none at the time.

Having learnt a lesson from the 1965 war, the Indian navy has never looked back and can now be termed a blue-water navy. It has also built an aircraft carrier. , It is already making warships, conventional submarines and small crafts.

The Indian Navy has global designs but in any future war it will use all its assets to cripple our navy.

A lot has changed since the 1965 war. The present era can rightly be termed a ‘missile era’. In any future maritime conflict, anything on sea surface will find itself difficult to survive.

As is obvious, INS Arihant, due to its speed advantage and unlimited submerged endurance, can cover a much larger area of operations. Unlike conventional submarines, it can chase targets and can also escape after attack at much higher speeds.

The presence of Indian nuclear submarines in the war zone is most likely to act as a game changer. We may end up in a similar situation where India was in the 1965 war. There is serious food for thought for our maritime planners.

CDRE ( r ) SAJJAD ALI SHAH BOKHARI Islamabad