The recent collision between Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata and Pakistan Navy vessel PNS Hunain has once again highlighted the significant difference between the naval capabilities of India and Pakistan.
The event happened in international seas on September 15. According to reports, PNS Hunain approached INS Kolkata at high speed and collided with the Indian destroyer. The Pakistani vessel suffered substantial damage and returned to port, while INS Kolkata continued its deployment.
A History of Naval Confrontations
India and Pakistan have faced each other at sea several times since Independence. During the 1965 war, Pakistani warships shelled Dwarka in Gujarat. The attack lasted only a few minutes and caused limited damage.
The biggest naval setback for Pakistan came during the 1971 war. The Indian Navy launched Operation Trident and later Operation Python, targeting Karachi, Pakistan’s major naval and logistical hub. Indian missile boats destroyed or damaged several vessels and set fuel installations ablaze.
In the eastern theatre, Pakistan’s submarine PNS Ghazi was lost near Visakhapatnam. India then used INS Vikrant to impose a naval blockade around East Pakistan, restricting Pakistan’s ability to move reinforcements by sea.
The Present Naval Gap
The latest incident has renewed attention on the difference in fleet size and capabilities. India operates two aircraft carriers, 16 submarines, 11 destroyers and 16 frigates, according to IISS data cited in the supplied report.
Pakistan has no aircraft carrier and currently operates eight submarines, 10 frigates and seven Babur-class combat corvettes. Its naval modernisation is closely linked to China, including the Hangor-class submarine programme.
India also has a considerably larger naval workforce, with around 75,500 personnel compared with roughly 30,000 in Pakistan.
A Strategic Advantage
Pakistan’s geography presents another challenge, with major naval facilities concentrated along a relatively short Arabian Sea coastline. India, meanwhile, has a much longer coastline and a broader maritime operating area.
The September 15 collision has therefore brought an existing naval imbalance back into focus. From the confrontations of 1965 and 1971 to recent incidents in the Arabian Sea, the history of India-Pakistan naval encounters reflects a significant difference in maritime capabilities.