SOURCE: AFI
In a recent interview with Suno Digital, Ex-Commodore Sajid Mehmood Shehzad HI(M) of the Pakistani Navy has highlighted Indian aircraft carriers as a primary target for the Pakistani Navy in the event of a conflict with India. Shehzad emphasized that these powerful warships would be a priority if they ever approached Pakistani coastal waters.
While acknowledging the challenges associated with targeting aircraft carriers, which are often accompanied by protective carrier strike groups, Shehzad suggested that the Indian Navy might be hesitant to bring them closer to the Pakistani coastline. The Indian Navy is likely to keep its aircraft carriers at a safe distance from the Arabian Sea, reducing the risk of confrontation.
The historical context of the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war further underscores the importance of aircraft carriers in naval warfare. The Pakistani Navy dispatched the submarine PSN Ghazi to target the Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, but India had already relocated the carrier to the Bay of Bengal to support operations against East Pakistan. This incident highlights the strategic value of aircraft carriers and the lengths to which navies will go to protect them.
Shehzad’s comments offer a glimpse into the Pakistani Navy’s strategic thinking and its potential military plans. While the possibility of a conflict between India and Pakistan remains a concern, the Pakistani Navy’s focus on targeting Indian aircraft carriers underscores the importance of naval power in regional security.