SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
As the India-Pakistan conflict intensifies following India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 7, 2025, Indian naval assets equipped with the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile have reportedly moved closer to Karachi, Pakistan’s largest port city and economic hub. Sources indicate that the Indian Navy’s deployment, approximately 600 nautical miles from Mumbai, signals a strategic positioning to counter potential Pakistani aggression. Defence analysts warn that, should the current conflict escalate, any naval action involving BrahMos-armed vessels could result in “destruction beyond what one could imagine,” given the missile’s devastating capabilities. However, such an outcome remains contingent on further escalation, which both nations are under international pressure to avoid.
The repositioning of Indian naval assets follows a series of aggressive exchanges sparked by India’s retaliatory airstrikes targeting nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, in response to the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.
The BrahMos missile, a joint India-Russia venture, is a cornerstone of India’s naval arsenal. With a range of 290-800 km, speeds up to Mach 3, and a 200-300 kg warhead, it can strike targets with pinpoint accuracy, making it a formidable weapon against naval and coastal targets. Indian Navy vessels, including Rajput-class destroyers, Talwar-class frigates, and Kolkata-class destroyers, are equipped with BrahMos vertical launch systems, capable of engaging enemy ships, port facilities, or coastal infrastructure. The Navy’s INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier and Visakhapatnam-class destroyers, recently tested with extended-range BrahMos variants, further enhance India’s maritime strike capabilities.
Sources cited by idrw.org and The Times of India suggest that the Navy’s Western Fleet, based in Mumbai, has deployed a task force closer to Pakistani waters, likely within 300-400 nautical miles of Karachi, to monitor Pakistani naval movements and secure maritime routes in the Arabian Sea. Karachi, handling 60% of Pakistan’s trade and hosting its naval headquarters, is a critical strategic target. A naval blockade or strike could cripple Pakistan’s economy and military operations, especially given the BrahMos’ ability to evade air defences and strike with minimal warning.
The 600-nautical-mile sea route from Mumbai to Karachi places Indian warships within striking distance, especially with the BrahMos’ extended-range variants. A 2024 Naval News report highlighted India’s successful test of a 900-km BrahMos from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, underscoring its reach. However, analysts caution that naval escalation would require significant provocation, such as Pakistani attacks on Indian coastal assets or shipping lanes. Pakistan’s Navy, with four frigates, six submarines, and limited missile boats, is outmatched by India’s 140-warship fleet, including two aircraft carriers and 16 submarines, as per a 2025 Hindustan Times analysis.
NOTE : Article cannot be reproduced without written permission of idrw.org in any form even for YouTube Videos to avoid Copy right strikes. Websites doing illegal reproductions will get DMCA and Legal Notices.