ISLAMABAD:
Authorities clarified on Wednesday that naval escort operations currently conducted by the Pakistan Navy are limited to protecting the country’s merchant vessels operating along key maritime routes between Karachi and the Gulf and Red Sea regions, amid heightened security concerns triggered by the ongoing Iran-US war.
Well-placed security sources told The Express Pakinomist that the escort operations announced under Operation Muhafiz-ul-Bahr should not be interpreted as Pakistani naval vessels escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz, where tensions have sharply escalated due to the conflict.
“Naval escort operations are being conducted for Pakistani ships plying on the Karachi Gulf and the Karachi-Red Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs),” a senior security official said.
“This should not be misconstrued as escorting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.”
The clarification comes after the navy announced the launch of Operation Muhafiz-ul-Bahr earlier this week to protect Pakistan’s maritime trade and energy lifelines as the regional security environment becomes increasingly volatile.
The ongoing confrontation between Iran and the US-Israel alliance has raised global concerns about the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which nearly a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.
Iranian officials have repeatedly warned that continued military pressure could force Tehran to reconsider the safety of maritime traffic in the strait.
Such warnings have rattled global energy markets and prompted countries dependent on maritime trade to reassess their contingency plans.
Pakistan, whose economy is heavily dependent on sea-based trade, is particularly vulnerable to disruptions in regional shipping routes.
Almost 90% of the country’s trade moves through maritime channels, while a large portion of its oil imports pass through the Gulf before reaching Pakistani ports.
Officials said Operation Muhafiz-ul-Bahr is a security measure designed to ensure that Pakistani-flagged vessels continue to operate safely despite the growing insecurity in regional waters.
According to the Navy, escort operations are conducted in coordination with the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC), the country’s state-owned shipping company responsible for transporting a significant portion of Pakistan’s strategic cargo.
Security officials stressed that the escort operations are taking place along Pakistan’s established maritime supply routes rather than within the Strait of Hormuz itself, which remains one of the most sensitive flashpoints in the ongoing conflict.
Analysts say the clarification is important to avoid misinterpretation about Pakistan’s role in the developing regional crisis.
Direct naval participation in escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz could have significant geopolitical implications given the intense military battle between Iran and the US-Israeli alliance in the Gulf.
Instead, Pakistan appears to be focusing on securing its own maritime trade corridors and assuring commercial operators that shipping linked to Pakistani ports remains protected.
The navy has also increased surveillance of regional waters, closely monitoring the movements of merchant ships to ensure safe transit through potentially vulnerable areas.
International shipping lines have already begun to reassess risks in the Gulf region, where insurance premiums are rising sharply and some ships are reportedly changing routes to avoid potential conflict zones.
For Pakistan, any prolonged disruption of maritime routes could have serious economic consequences, especially at a time when global oil prices are already rising due to the conflict.
Officials say the naval operation aims to prevent supply chain disruptions and ensure the continued flow of energy imports and commercial goods.
While Islamabad has maintained a cautious diplomatic stance in the Iran-US-Israel confrontation, the launch of Operation Muhafiz-ul-Bahr underscores the growing strategic concern in Pakistan about the potential spillover of the conflict to critical maritime corridors.
By securing its key sea lines of communication, Pakistan hopes to protect its trade routes from the wider turbulence gripping the Gulf region.
