WHILE addressing crew members onboard INS Vikrant, the aircraft carrier of Indian navy, the Indian defence minister recently warned Pakistan, saying: “If Pakistan resorts to anything evil or unethical, it will, this time, face the firepower and ire of the Indian navy.” Could this be strategic signalling to revive the bruised pride of his navy, or some sort of diplomatic commun-ication to reassure the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) alliance members whose faith in Indian navy now must be flagging? If Indian navy could not meet its expectations in the Indian Ocean, can it be trusted as a strategic partner in a wider Indo-Pacific arena?

The answer to this question can be safely left to time. One thing is, however, clear. Following the 87-hour duel, the bloodiest since 1971, any notion on settlement of bilateral disputes through dialogue, talks or even a third-party mediation must now be set aside. It is also clear that absent from New Delhi’s action of May 7 was any clear strategic objective. The reckless act was designed solely to help the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in terms of its domestic political agenda.

India is the world’s third largest importer of crude oil and consumes 5.3 million barrels per day, according to 2023 data. It is enormously dependent on the sea lanes of western Indian Ocean for this import. This merchandise drives India’s economic engine. The strategic port of Kandla on the coast of Gujarat, just next to Karachi, feeds much of the industrial as well as agricultural enterprises in western and northern India.

Also residing in western Indian Ocean are the sea lanes of several littorals and countries in the western Pacific. These maritime highways act as a lifeline for economies in South Asia and East Asia.

So what would Indian navy do if asked to unleash its “firepower and ire” against Pakistan? Imperil its own economic lifeline and threaten international shipping? If so, it can please itself with yet another attempt. The Hindutva-driven BJP agenda has run its course, but even in death throes, Narendra Modi is likely to make another attempt to redeem himself. And, the next round may well be seaborne.

Our navy will do well to boost up its domain awareness, augment coastal air defences, sharpen air-sea operations and get ready for electronic warfare and secure communications. Let a ‘wall of molten lead’ at sea be the undoing of Indian navy. And, let this be the epitaph on the tombstone of Hindutva ideology.

Cdr (retd) Muhammad Azam Khan
Lahore

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2025