US commander stresses need to foster ties with Pakistan

[vish]

true, but the expansion of the navy hints at the fact that our higer-ups have realized the potential of being at the mouth of the Gulf.

The PN is a defensive force and will remain so in the foreseeable future. Your higher-ups have deduced that the PN needs to be at least capable of ensuring that the country’s sea lanes remain open. The ships that the PN is acquiring are more than not replacements for vessels that the PN has to retire. The PN is a frigate and submarine centric force.

here's an article quoting the indian naval chief, i'm sure india's real worries are from China, but he still mentions pakistan.

Pak's new port has strategic implications for India: Navy chief
22 Jan 2008, 1425 hrs IST,PTI

CHENNAI: The Gwadar port being built by Pakistan with Chinese assistance in its Baluchistan coast has "serious strategic implications for India", Naval Chief, Admiral Sureesh Mehta has said.

"Being only 180 nautical miles from the exit of the Straits of Hormuz, Gwadar, being bulit in Baluchistan coast, would enable Pakistan take control over the world energy jugular and interdiction of Indian tankers," he said delivering T S Narayanaswamy Memorial lecture in Chennai on Monday night.

The challenge for India was to balance relations with China in such a manner that competition for strategic significance of space in the Indian Ocean leads to cooperation rather than conflict, he said

"The pressure for countries to cooperate in the maritime military domain to ensure smooth flow of energy and commerce on the high seas will grow even further," he said speaking on "Oceanic Influence on India's Development in the next Decade."

Talking about "Chinese designs on the Indian Ocean," Mehta said China had a strategy called `String of Pearls,' as per which it seeks to set up bases and outposts across the globe, strategically located along its energy lines, to monitor and safeguard energy flows. "Each pearl in the string is a link in a chain of the Chinese maritime presence," he said.

"Among other locations, the string moves Northwards up to Gwadar deep sea port on Pakistan's Makran coast. A highway is under construction joining Gwadar with Karachi and there are plans to connect the port with the Karakoram Highway, thus providing China a gateway to Arabian Sea," he said adding that


Pak's new port has strategic implications for India: Navy chief-India-The Times of India

Gwadar is a civilian port. The PRC wants to ensure an alternative to its oil supplies through the Malacca Strait. The KKH passes very close to the Indian territory (within artillery range). That airbase was reopened to check PRC's "escape route."

What the Navy Chief is actually doing is creating an alarm so that the Indian bureaucracy gets its act together. These things are common in India as there is too much red tape. I’m not saying that the IN Chief is wrong, all I’m suggesting that he is exaggerating a bit to suit the IN’s agenda.

my claim that PN is expanding in hopes of achieving its strategic goals is legit. PN was offered the E-2 Hawkeye and wants to put an order.

Can you please provide me with a link?

Further, I’m not suggesting that the PN’s air arm is week; it is doing its job fairly well.

it's true the air arm is provided by the PAF, but it's specifically designated for the navy.

Agreed.

please go through the threads in the naval section, I'm sure you can find something on our nuclear sub program which we already have discussed a while ago. there is mini-reactor research going on at PAEC.

I have and haven’t come across anything concrete suggesting that the PN is interested in an SSN/SSBN. PAEC’s interest in a mini-reactor in itself is not a big hint. To operate an SSN/SSBN, one needs a lot more than just a reactor: training of personnel and engineers, ship-building capacity, operational doctrines, etc. Further, if SLCM-equipped AIP SSKs, which are cheaper and easier to operate, can do the job, why on earth would the PN be interested in a much more expensive SSN/SSBN? I think the money would be better spent on more frigates and SSKs.

If Pakistan is indeed really interested in a second-strike option (which is at odds with its “first and early use” nuclear doctrine), I see more sense in SSKs capable of launching ballistic missiles.

SLCM is already being planned out. most likely, pakistan has the capability to launch babur from a tube. why are we waiting for the tests for so long now? we still have an order that needs to come through from Germany, the U-214. we can't risk testing a nuclear-capable cruise missile right now, that would be foolish.

With regard to the U-214, Jliu’s posts have bought further light on this issue. Please check his posts in the two threads “Indian Navy to float global tenders to acquire six more submarines” and “Pakistan’s next generation submarine requirement.”

We are yet to see a submerged test launch of the Babur, let alone one from a torpedo tube. So everything is yet to be seen.

it is pakistan's long term goal to have SLBM's, but that won't be possible anytime soon. SLCM will do the same job for right now.

I’ve never come across the claim that you are making. Can you please provide me with a link?

 

[nitesh]

SLCM is already being planned out. most likely, pakistan has the capability to launch babur from a tube. why are we waiting for the tests for so long now? we still have an order that needs to come through from Germany, the U-214. we can't risk testing a nuclear-capable cruise missile right now, that would be foolish.

it is pakistan's long term goal to have SLBM's, but that won't be possible anytime soon. SLCM will do the same job for right now.

Can you please provide a credible source for having this capability.
Thanks in Advance

 

[Keysersoze]

link for the E2-c

http://www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2007/Pakistan_07-03.pdf

 

[vish]

link for the E2-c

http://www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2007/Pakistan_07-03.pdf

Hey thanks.

Any news on the current status in this regard?

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Nuclear Test related posts moved to appropriate thread

http://www.defence.pk/forums/wmd-mi...s-nuclear-missile-assets-myth-vs-reality.html