Mushahid sees pivotal role for Pakistan Navy in geopolitical scenario

[HAIDER]

ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence Mushahid Hussain Syed said on Sunday that the Pakistan Navy had a pivotal role to play in the present geopolitical scenario. He termed the Gwadar Port central to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Talking to media personnel here after a recent visit of members of the committee to naval installations in Karachi, Gwadar and Ormara, the senator praised navy’s proactive role, readiness and activities in promoting socio-economic and educational development in the coastal areas of Balochistan which, he said, were promoting national integration.

During the visit, he said, members of the committee received briefings from senior naval officers, including Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Zakaullah.

He termed Admiral Zakaullah a “top-notch professional”.

The senator said that in the emerging regional scenario the focus would be on protecting sea lanes with greater competition, especially among the US, China, Japan and India, revolving around their respective navies. He said Pakistan too would play a strategic role since Gwadar Port was pivotal for the CPEC and because the country was part of the Maritime Silk Road as well as the Silk Road land corridor.

He said he would present the report of the committee on the recent visit in the Senate on Monday so that the upper house of parliament could discuss it in the context of the increasingly important role of the Pakistan Navy.

Mr Syed proposed that the government should prepare a ‘national maritime security plan’ given the emerging regional scenario and the role of Pakistan Navy and establish a new shipyard in Gwadar to supplement the one in Karachi.

He said the government should also prepare a strategy on how best to convert the 50,000 square kilometres of continental shelf that Pakistan had gained, for its economic and security benefit, because, according to him, such a large continental shelf can have the potential of being transformed into the “fifth province” of Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2016

 

[mueeztheman]

Perhaps the next stage would be establishing an overseas base? Maybe Sri Lanka or in the Gulf?

 

[Shareef]

First of all, increase the budget for Navy and Air Force ... Don't waste the budget on Army...

 

[TMA]

Perhaps the next stage would be establishing an overseas base? Maybe Sri Lanka or in the Gulf?

Perhaps an aircraft carrier? As that may be able to acts as an "overseas" base?
But I am no military expert.

 

[Blue Marlin]

to bad nobody cares about the navy. its like the little kid who always gets the smallest share of the pie whilst the others(army and airforce) get the biggest.
the sooner they realise they need a strong navy the better. but before that they need a stronger economy(and get people to pay taxes) to pay for these fancy new frigates and corvettes

 

[Imtiaz_Sarwar]

ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence Mushahid Hussain Syed said on Sunday that the Pakistan Navy had a pivotal role to play in the present geopolitical scenario. He termed the Gwadar Port central to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Talking to media personnel here after a recent visit of members of the committee to naval installations in Karachi, Gwadar and Ormara, the senator praised navy’s proactive role, readiness and activities in promoting socio-economic and educational development in the coastal areas of Balochistan which, he said, were promoting national integration.

During the visit, he said, members of the committee received briefings from senior naval officers, including Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Zakaullah.

He termed Admiral Zakaullah a “top-notch professional”.

The senator said that in the emerging regional scenario the focus would be on protecting sea lanes with greater competition, especially among the US, China, Japan and India, revolving around their respective navies. He said Pakistan too would play a strategic role since Gwadar Port was pivotal for the CPEC and because the country was part of the Maritime Silk Road as well as the Silk Road land corridor.

He said he would present the report of the committee on the recent visit in the Senate on Monday so that the upper house of parliament could discuss it in the context of the increasingly important role of the Pakistan Navy.

Mr Syed proposed that the government should prepare a ‘national maritime security plan’ given the emerging regional scenario and the role of Pakistan Navy and establish a new shipyard in Gwadar to supplement the one in Karachi.

He said the government should also prepare a strategy on how best to convert the 50,000 square kilometres of continental shelf that Pakistan had gained, for its economic and security benefit, because, according to him, such a large continental shelf can have the potential of being transformed into the “fifth province” of Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2016

A political statement from a politician meant for news papers without any thing of substance in it.

 

[Mangus Ortus Novem]

to bad nobody cares about the navy. its like the little kid who always gets the smallest share of the pie whilst the others(army and airforce) get the biggest.
the sooner they realise they need a strong navy the better. but before that they need a stronger economy(and get people to pay taxes) to pay for these fancy new frigates and corvettes

Well said. It is also rather odd that a country which needs seas for its survival and prosperity does not consider itself an island nation. Their doctrine should have been to declare themselves as an island nation and build a truly potent naval force to guarantee peace and stability in the Arabian sea...with extension of their EEZ this must be their strategic priority, even without CPEC. They have the infrastructure to build their own. Even if it is not world class. But nevertheless...

 

[Blue Marlin]

Well said. It is also rather odd that a country which needs seas for its survival and prosperity does not consider itself an island nation. Their doctrine should have been to declare themselves as an island nation and build a truly potent naval force to guarantee peace and stability in the Arabian sea...with extension of their EEZ this must be their strategic priority, even without CPEC. They have the infrastructure to build their own. Even if it is not world class. But nevertheless...

indeed they need a decent sized with at least a dozen 4500 tonne by 2030

 

[Mangus Ortus Novem]

indeed they need a decent sized with at least a dozen 4500 tonne by 2030

The funny thing is that PNS has good naval engineers and technical staff. They might not have super computers for design. They can start from enlarging their firgate that they build with China. Strat from there and keep moving forwar.
Plus a subsurface fleet would add credebility of deterence and insure peace. And of course the jobs.

Jobs creation is the key.

 

[Blue Marlin]

The funny thing is that PNS has good naval engineers and technical staff. They might not have super computers for design. They can start from enlarging their firgate that they build with China. Strat from there and keep moving forwar.
Plus a subsurface fleet would add credebility of deterence and insure peace. And of course the jobs.

Jobs creation is the key.

indeed it is but take a look at ksew its a "ok" place but its not suited and not exactly modern. sub will be built in the open as opposed to a dockhall where its construction cant be seen a lot os ships are in need of being built including a 1500 patroll boat and a few other smaller boats. also theres the azmat which is not even launched yet and theres one more on order (i think) and ther are launching the tankerthis year too . i think they need two more ship yards one in gwadar for comercail ships and another a port qasim for naval vessels

 

[Mangus Ortus Novem]

indeed it is but take a look at ksew its a "ok" place but its not suited and not exactly modern. sub will be built in the open as opposed to a dockhall where its construction cant be seen a lot os ships are in need of being built including a 1500 patroll boat and a few other smaller boats. also theres the azmat which is not even launched yet and theres one more on order (i think) and ther are launching the tankerthis year too . i think they need two more ship yards one in gwadar for comercail ships and another a port qasim for naval vessels

True the industrial capacity is too small compared to the size and needs of the country. My understanding is that the Chinese were to set up training facilities along with new infrastructure in their sub/ship deal. This must be the key. Otherwise, the most socalled ToT are nothing but assembly lines putting together kits.

Apart from special steal for the subs they can utilise the local for their coastal craft and medium sized ships.
IF you recal Finland made a small coastal ship with PVC. The thing is so stealthy that USN uses it for excercise.

So there are a lots of wheel invented already. Any country that wishes to industrialise, always have to start copying the success of others. The world class designs are they. So the starting point is stealthy hulls. If the sub-system are not world class.. they can be upgraded in due time. Crashing the threshold is the key.

 

[Super Falcon]

First of all, increase the budget for Navy and Air Force ... Don't waste the budget on Army...

Agreed army eats way too much their equipment is also not that much expansive as compared to Navy and airforce

At least 25 ships 12 subs 30 fighter jets 40 boats 15 ASW aircrafts 40 helicopters should be a goal to achieve

 

[Nefarious]

I think the real pivot will come with the 8x custom Chinese submarines on order especially if they are capable of firing nuclear tipped SLCM's.

 

[Tank131]

One thing PN could consider is building large platforms in its eez akin to deep sea oil rigs. Instead of oil equipment they could be fitted with long range radars and zarb/c603 AShM and numerous medium and long ramge SAMs. This would give added cover to the small surface fleet from ship and aircraft. With Multiple FL3000N and Type 730 CIWS these would be floating fortresses for the cost of these would be equivalent to a destroyer (~500m) but would carry enough firepower to potentially overwhelm a fleet and defend itself. Between 3 rigs of these type you would potentially cover the entirety of Pakistani waters including the eez.

 

[MKC]

One thing PN could consider is building large platforms in its eez akin to deep sea oil rigs. Instead of oil equipment they could be fitted with long range radars and zarb/c603 AShM and numerous medium and long ramge SAMs. This would give added cover to the small surface fleet from ship and aircraft. With Multiple FL3000N and Type 730 CIWS these would be floating fortresses for the cost of these would be equivalent to a destroyer (~500m) but would carry enough firepower to potentially overwhelm a fleet and defend itself. Between 3 rigs of these type you would potentially cover the entirety of Pakistani waters including the eez.

You know Pakistan is not China.
Where is money?