Warns that any disruption in the ocean could significantly affect global supply chains and energy prices
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf addresses an international conference as the chief guest, emphasizing collaboration between industry, academia and end-users to promote innovation, indigenization and self-reliance. Photo: X
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf said on Thursday that the future of warfare was being shaped in the Indian Ocean because of its huge contribution to global trade, and warned that any disruption could significantly affect global supply chains and energy prices.
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the naval chief made the remarks at the end of a two-day international conference titled “Emerging Technologies and the Future Warfare”, organized by the Maritime Center of Excellence (MCE) in Karachi, where he attended as the chief guest.
The conference aimed to bring together maritime experts, academia and defense industry representatives to discuss evolving geostrategic trends and the impact of technology on modern warfare.
A two-day international conference on Emerging Technologies and the Future Warfare, organized by the Maritime Center of Excellence, culminated in Karachi, bringing together maritime experts, academia and defense industry representatives on one platform. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/NkU4A7kXm7
— DGPR (Navy) (@dgprPaknavy) 23 April 2026
Addressing the participants, Admiral Ashraf emphasized the importance of close collaboration between industry, end-users and academia to promote innovation, adaptability and operational relevance.
“Such cooperation would promote indigenization and self-reliance and help build a cost-effective and globally competitive defense ecosystem for Pakistan with export potential,” he said.
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Highlighting the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean, he reiterated that the region was central to global trade flows and warned that any disruption could have far-reaching consequences for economies linked to it.
The conference also highlighted the increasingly blurred lines between civilian and military applications of advanced technologies, noting that this trend presented both opportunities and challenges for Pakistan’s defense ecosystem. Participants discussed how rapid technological advances are transforming warfare by reshaping operational concepts, force structures, and outcomes.
The event was attended by senior military leadership, policy makers, diplomats, academics, industry experts and students from various universities.
It concluded with an affirmation of the need for sustained intellectual collaboration to effectively navigate technology-driven transformations and harness future trends in warfare.
Earlier this year, the Pakistan Navy conducted a “Passage Exercise” with a Royal Oman Navy ship, KHASAB, involving a flotilla of sailing ships and a vessel from the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency.
A day later, the navy conducted a large-scale exercise in the North Arabian Sea, testing surface-to-air missiles, hovering munitions and an unmanned surface vessel, the ISPR said.
Last year, during hostilities between Pakistan and India in May, the Pakistan Navy said it had prevented the Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier INS Vikrant from conducting any maritime actions in the North Arabian Sea through a coordinated strategy.
“Not only did the Pakistan Navy confine the Indian Navy to its own waters, but it also ensured the security of Pakistan’s maritime trade routes and coastal regions,” officials had told Express Pakinomist.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had also praised the Pakistan Navy for its readiness and professionalism and stated that the naval forces were fully prepared to launch an operation similar to the historic Operation Dwarka. However, he said the Indian Navy avoided confrontation after witnessing the befitting response by Pakistan’s ground and air forces.
