Pakistan Navy Plans Bay of Bengal Presence amid Growing Bangladesh Military Ties

The Pakistan Navy expects to establish a strategic presence in the Bay of Bengal following the induction of its latest advanced attack submarine, the PNS Hangor, a senior naval officer revealed during a port call in Sri Lanka.

Commodore Omer Farooq, the mission commander of the flotilla escorting the submarine on its maiden voyage home, announced the plan while addressing a gathering of Sri Lankan officials and diplomats aboard the Pakistani frigate PNS Taimur at the Colombo Port. 

Farooq, who also serves as the Commander of the 18th Destroyer Squadron of the Pakistan Navy, stated that the induction of this technologically advanced vessel would grant Pakistan the operational reach necessary to maintain a sustained presence in the Bay of Bengal. 

He described the PNS Hangor as a "gamechanger" for the fleet and confirmed that Pakistan plans to acquire a total of eight submarines in this class.

The strategic announcement comes amid strengthening bilateral and military-to-military engagements between Pakistan and Bangladesh. 

It also coincides with a broader capacity expansion by multiple navies across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), alongside India's ongoing efforts to reinforce its own security posture within the Bay of Bengal.

Built in China, the PNS Hangor is equipped with Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology. 

This system allows conventional, non-nuclear submarines to operate underwater for weeks at a time without needing to surface to recharge their batteries, significantly increasing their survivability by making them highly difficult to detect.

During the onboard reception, the Pakistani High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Major General (Retd) Dr. Nayyar Naseer, expressed gratitude to Colombo for its hospitality and underscored the deep ties between the two countries. 

"Pakistan takes immense pride in this close association, viewing Sri Lanka as a vibrant nation blessed with great potential, remarkable resources, and significant geostrategic location," Naseer said, adding that defense cooperation and naval diplomacy remain the cornerstones of their enduring partnership.

In response, Sri Lanka's Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, conveyed his nation's gratitude for the long-standing relations and historical assistance provided by Pakistan. 

He specifically thanked the Pakistani government for continuing to extend valuable training opportunities to the Sri Lankan armed forces.

Source: The Morning