Pakistan Navy Inducts New Warship Built At China
The Type 054AP Tughril-class warship is meant for the Pakistan Navy
Pakistan Navy has inducted the PNS Tughril as Pakistan declared it will “safeguard sea routes” along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The Type 054A/P frigate is set to guard China and Pakistan’s interests along the CPEC sea routes.
The warship is reportedly fitted with “state-of-the-art weapons and sensors”, the Chinese daily said. The ship is also equipped with surface-to-surface cruise missiles including anti-submarine warfare torpedoes.
The induction ceremony for the Type 054A/P frigate was attended by top Chinese officials. Last month China also launched three more warships Type 054A/P Tughril-class warship meant for the Pakistan Navy. A deal for four Type 054A/Ps was signed four years ago. Other major projects between the two countries include collaborations over F-22P frigates including helicopters and Azmat missiles.
Pakistan’s chief of the naval staff admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi said that the country had also signed a deal for Hangor-class submarines including unmanned combat drones with China.
China has invested heavily in the CPEC project in Pakistan with deals worth $54 billion as part of President Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative(BRI) while upgrading infrastructure, power lines to link the Xinjiang region and Pakistan’s Gwadar port. However it is highly worried about its safety even in peace time.
Already there has been large scale resentment against China’s projects among local Balochs who say they have been deprived of jobs with most claimed by outsiders. There have also been a series of attacks on CPEC projects which has forced the Pakistan security forces to deploy their personnel in the region to counter the violence.
In case Gwadar becomes a Chinese Naval base, then it will become a legitimate target for both the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force, in the event of any type of spat between India and China in the Himalayas or in the Indian Ocean or both.
Pakistan should be fully aware of the above fact and should also know that next Himalayan spat will be concluded in the Indian Ocean by the India Navy.
