Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday commended the Pakistan Navy for its vigilance and strategic readiness, revealing that India’s aircraft carrier Vikrant was forced to retreat after nearing Pakistani waters during the recent conflict.
During a visit to the Pakistan Naval Dockyard in Karachi, the prime minister was briefed on the Navy’s operational posture, strategic engagements, and contributions to national defense. He hailed the force for safeguarding sea lines of communication and maintaining full maritime sovereignty through a layered seaward defense.
“Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier Vikrant had advanced within 400 nautical miles of Pakistan, but retreated after facing significant losses from the Pakistan Air Force and Army,” PM Shehbaz said. “It sensed the Pakistan Navy’s readiness to deliver a strong and immediate response.”
The prime minister emphasized that the Navy remains fully capable of conducting high-intensity operations whenever required, drawing parallels with its historic offensive in 1965 during Operation Dwarka. He praised the synergy among Pakistan’s armed forces, noting that the Army had used Fatah missiles and other precision-guided weapons to neutralize enemy positions during the recent conflict.
Shehbaz Sharif also highlighted the Pakistan Navy’s role in ensuring uninterrupted maritime trade and protecting national interests in regional waters. He commended the Navy’s technological advancements over the past 15 years, particularly in the area of indigenous development.
“The Navy has made impressive progress through local capabilities. I congratulate its leadership and personnel for this achievement,” he said.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to peace, the premier warned that any violation of the ceasefire by India would be met with a stronger response across all domains—land, air, and sea.
On the diplomatic front, PM Shehbaz referred to former U.S. President Donald Trump as a “man of peace,” crediting him with helping avert a full-scale war between the two nuclear-armed nations. He also expressed gratitude for Trump’s willingness to support a peaceful resolution to the Kashmir dispute.
The prime minister extended thanks to the leaders of Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and China for supporting Pakistan’s call for an independent and transparent investigation into the recent Pahalgam terror attack, and questioned India’s reluctance to accept such a probe.
Accompanied by Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir and Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, the prime minister was received by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf at the dockyard.
