India versus Pakistan: A Comparative Analysis of Naval Power and Strategic Maritime Influence
India and Pakistan, longstanding adversaries in South Asia, have historically clashed both on land and at sea. While much attention has been given to their land-based conflicts, their naval capabilities play an equally pivotal role in securing national interests, safeguarding maritime trade routes and projecting power in the broader Indo-Pacific region. This article offers an analytical comparison of the Indian Navy and Pakistan Navy, with a focus on the Indian Navy’s clear advantage in size, capability and strategic depth.
Budget and Economic Disparity
One of the most telling indicators of the imbalance between the Indian and Pakistani navies is the economic gap. India, with its burgeoning economy and global aspirations, allocated $73.8 billion for defence in its 2023-24 Union Budget, with significant investments directed towards naval modernisation. In stark contrast, Pakistan’s defence budget stands at a modest $6.34 billion, a reflection of its smaller economy and constrained fiscal space. This budgetary disparity directly affects naval procurements, modernisation efforts and overall readiness.
Fleet Strength: A Numerical and Qualitative Edge
At the heart of India’s maritime power is the sheer size and diversity of its naval fleet. As of 2024, the Indian Navy boasts a fleet strength of 294 vessels, making it one of the largest in the world. This includes advanced surface ships such as destroyers, frigates, corvettes, and an array of submarines, including nuclear-powered variants. By contrast, the Pakistan Navy has a fleet of just 114 vessels, with a primary focus on coastal defence rather than power projection.
Aircraft Carriers: Projecting Power Beyond Borders
A key distinction between the two navies lies in their ability to project power beyond their shores. India operates two aircraft carriers: INS Vikramaditya and the indigenously built INS Vikrant. These carriers allow India to project air power far from its coasts, providing a significant strategic advantage in both offensive and defensive operations. India’s status as a blue-water navy – capable of operating globally – is cemented by these assets.
Pakistan – on the other hand – lacks any aircraft carriers. This absence limits its ability to operate effectively beyond its immediate waters, classifying it as a green-water navy with regional rather than global reach. Without the ability to deploy fighter jets at sea, Pakistan is reliant on land-based aircraft for maritime air cover, which severely limits operational flexibility.
Submarine Capabilities: India’s Nuclear Deterrence versus Pakistan’s Conventional Fleet
India’s submarine fleet further highlights its naval superiority. The Indian Navy operates both conventional and nuclear-powered submarines, including the Arihant-class ballistic missile submarines, which form a critical part of India’s nuclear triad. These submarines offer strategic deterrence, ensuring that India can retaliate in the event of a nuclear attack.
Pakistan operates conventional submarines with plans to acquire more from China. While its Agosta-class submarines are formidable in coastal defence, they lack the range, stealth and nuclear deterrence capabilities of India’s submarine force. Furthermore, Pakistan’s dependence on China for submarine technology underscores its limited domestic industrial capacity and strategic vulnerability.
Surface Combatants: Advanced Indian Warships versus Pakistan’s Imports
India’s fleet of surface combatants, including the INS Kolkata-class destroyers and Shivalik-class frigates, is equipped with state-of-the-art sensors, radars and missile systems. These ships are not only capable of defending India’s maritime borders but also play a crucial role in power projection across the Indian Ocean. The indigenisation of naval platforms has been a priority for India, with many designed and domestically-built warships reducing dependency on foreign suppliers.
Pakistan relies heavily on imports, particularly from China. Its F-22P Zulfiquar-class frigates and recently acquired Type 054A/P frigates from China, while modern, lack the technological sophistication and firepower of their Indian counterparts. Pakistan’s over-reliance on Chinese technology raises concerns about interoperability and long-term sustainability, especially given the political and strategic strings often attached to Chinese military exports.
Strategic Geography: India’s Commanding Position
India’s geographic advantage cannot be overstated. With a coastline stretching over 7,500 kilometres and outposts like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep, India is uniquely positioned to monitor and control vital sea lines of communication in the Indian Ocean. These islands provide India with forward bases for surveillance, logistics and potential offensive operations, ensuring dominance in the region.
Pakistan’s coastline is limited to the Arabian Sea, and while strategically important, it pales in comparison to India’s maritime footprint. The lack of strategically-positioned islands further diminishes Pakistan’s ability to project power or effectively control maritime traffic in the wider Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Historical Performance and Naval Doctrine
History offers further insight into the capabilities of both navies. The 1971 India-Pakistan War marked a watershed moment for the Indian Navy, which effectively blockaded Pakistan’s western seaboard, cutting off vital supply routes and contributing to the eventual creation of Bangladesh. The Indian Navy’s Operation Trident and Operation Python, where Indian missile boats attacked Karachi, showcased its growing maritime prowess and strategic acumen.
Pakistani naval doctrine has historically focused on defending its coastline, having evolved in recent years. However, its reliance on asymmetric warfare, such as the use of submarines and smaller vessels, reflects its limitations in conventional naval engagements. In the event of a full-scale conflict, Pakistan’s navy is unlikely to pose a significant threat to India’s maritime dominance, particularly given India’s overwhelming superiority in terms of fleet size, technology and strategic positioning.
Indigenisation versus External Dependency
A defining feature of the Indian Navy’s growth has been its focus on indigenisation. India’s ambitious Make in India initiative has led to the development of indigenous warships, submarines and naval aviation platforms. This self-reliance not only enhances India’s strategic autonomy but also reduces vulnerability to foreign political pressures.
In contrast, Pakistan’s naval expansion has been heavily dependent on China, both for hardware and technological support. While this partnership has enabled Pakistan to modernise its navy, it also makes the country susceptible to Chinese influence, limiting its strategic independence. Furthermore, Chinese technology, though improving, often lags Western systems in terms of reliability and operational efficiency.
A Clear Maritime Dominance
With its vast fleet, advanced capabilities and strategic reach, the Indian Navy is the dominant naval force in the IOR. Its blue-water status, underpinned by aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines, and a focus on indigenisation, ensures India’s ability to project power across the Indo-Pacific. Pakistan’s navy, while capable of defending its coastal waters, lacks the firepower, technological sophistication and strategic reach to challenge India’s dominance.
For Italy, a key member of the NATO alliance and a country with vested interests in maritime security, the Indian Navy’s rise represents a critical force for stability in the Indo-Pacific. As Italy seeks to engage more with Asian powers, India’s naval strength offers a promising partner in securing the maritime commons and countering emerging threats in this vital region.
