Image PNS Alamgir Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Daniel N. Woods via Wikimedia Commons
The Pakistan Navy Friday said it prevented Indian Navy submarines from entering Pakistani territorial waters this week, amid heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed countries along the Line of Control in the disputed Kashmir territory.
“Pakistan Navy fleet units detected the presence of Indian submarines in the southern parts of Pakistani waters, mimiced their behavior and restricted their activity,” Pakistan Navy said.
According to a statement, the Pakistan Navy prevented the Indian submarines from being successful in their attempts to keep their presence a secret as Pakistan constantly pursued the submarines and pushed them back.
“This is proof of Pakistan Navy’s extremely skilled anti-submarine warfare units,” the Navy said.
“The Pakistan Navy is fully prepared to defend its borders and capable of responding to any aggression befittingly.”
The Indian submarines reported incursion has just added to the worst in India-Pakistan relations in years that are already deteriorated over the last four months after the killing of Kashmiri protesters since July.
The use of brutal force against the Kashmiris protesting Indian clampdown has resulted in the death over 100 Kashmiri youth and blinding of some 300 persons from pellet guns wounds.
Relations further soured after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stepped up a drive to isolate Pakistan diplomatically after a militant attack on the Indian army base in September.
The Uri attack occurred days before Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was set to address the United Nations General Assembly regarding Indian human rights violations in held Kashmir.
Since then, both countries have intermittently exchanged fire over the Line of Control, with seven Pakistan army soldiers becoming the latest in a series of casualties in the cross-fire confirmed by the Pakistan Army.
Pakistan has lodged several protests with India over repeated violation of the ceasefire agreement and targeting of civilians and soldiers along the border in the past few weeks.
Pakistan maintains that India is attempting to divert the world’s attention away from atrocities committed by government forces in India-held Kashmir.
New Delhi’s backing for militancy in Balochistan – openly admitted by Indians – has further escalated tensions.
Despite tensions, Pakistan’s top foreign policy adviser Sartaj Aziz has said he would travel to New Delhi for an upcoming Heart of Asia conference on Afghanistan with the hope that the moot might offer an opportunity for detente between Pakistan and India.
