Pakistan on Monday said its navy had launched Operation “Muhafizul Bahr” to counter what it described as “multidimensional threats to national shipping and maritime trade,” as Islamabad moves to secure vital sea routes amid disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
Nearly 90 percent of Pakistan’s trade is transported by sea, making secure maritime routes critical for the country’s energy imports and commercial supplies.
The navy said it was currently escorting two merchant vessels as part of the operation.
The military’s media wing said the operation was initiated in response to the evolving regional maritime security environment and potential risks to critical sea lanes.
Pakistan military’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that the operation aims to ensure the uninterrupted flow of national energy supplies and safeguard sea lines of communication.
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“Pakistan Navy escort operations are being conducted in close coordination with the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation,” the statement said.
The navy is also closely monitoring maritime activity to ensure the safe transit of merchant vessels through regional waters.
“Pakistan Navy is fully cognizant of the prevailing maritime situation and is actively monitoring and controlling the movement of merchant vessels to ensure their safe and secure transit,” the statement added.
“Pakistan Navy remains fully prepared to respond to emerging maritime security challenges and is committed to ensuring the safety of national shipping and regional maritime security,” the statement said.
The operation comes as Pakistan explores contingency measures to safeguard fuel supplies amid growing uncertainty in the Gulf.
Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik recently held discussions with Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki to explore alternative arrangements in light of the deteriorating security environment.
According to an official statement issued in Islamabad, the Saudi side expressed support for the proposal and assured cooperation to maintain uninterrupted supplies.
Pakistan has also examined the possibility of routing shipments through Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea port of Yanbu if maritime risks increase in the Persian Gulf region.
Oil imports destined for Pakistan and much of South Asia traditionally transit the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints. Besides Saudi Arabia, Pakistan sources crude oil and petroleum products from the United Arab Emirates (about 17 percent), Iraq (around 14 percent), Kuwait (about 5 percent) and Qatar (around 3 percent).
Any disruption to shipping through the strait could therefore pose serious risks to Pakistan’s energy security, as well as to other South Asian economies heavily dependent on Middle Eastern fuel supplies.
Muhammad Luqman is Associate Editor at Views News Now. He writes on wide-ranging issues including economy, South Asia, the Middle East, agriculture, economy and innovation. Luqman has worked some of the leading news organizations and won acclaim for his original and research-based works.
