What people keep forgetting that as a nation, except for a brief period during Musharraf and the height of US- Al-Qaida war; Pakistan has always been critically short of “MONEY”. Additionally PN has been perpetually treated as step sister of the Services, thus getting only the leftovers of the Defence Budget.
Hence PN as well as other services have to make do with whatever they can get or go without. That is why PN along with PA & PAF have been relying largely on second hand and or dated equipment ever since one can remember; in my case; since 1947. Talk of buying this or that such as Aircraft carrier or Nuclear Submarine is nothing more than wishful thinking.
Do we expect Pak Navy to be strong enough to defeat Indian Navy in a traditional surface naval engagement?
Dreaming aside, common sense dictates that given the disparity in size and the resources available to IN, this is highly unlikely. All we can expect is to keep see lanes; say 200 miles along our Arabian Sea coast; clear so that we can import essential commodities in case of hostilities with India or any other medium level sea power.
For this purpose PN needs mine hunters, ASW platforms (frigates) and FAC supported by credible naval air arm. Any blue water interdiction left to the submarines. Need for surface men of war such as destroyers, cruisers and A/ C carriers comes last.
Surface vessel consists of the platform (hull & engines) and weapons systems. OHP frigates may be old, but if the hull & engines are sound, weapons systems can be upgraded in stages; with OHP’s providing satisfactory anti -submarine & the anti-craft defence for another 20 years. Orions are even more useful.
Given the pro-Taliban & anti –US actions by PTI and the extremist loving section of the society, I am not convinced that we will actually get these OHP’s & Orions. This debate could therefore be another exercise in futility.