With an extensive coastline stretching 1046 km along the Arabian Sea and geographical proximity with the strategically important Persian Gulf, Pakistan holds paramount importance in the maritime domain. Pakistan’s total maritime area is 290,000 sq km, comprising 240,000 sq km of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and 50,000 sq km of extended continental shelf. Pakistan’s primary area of interest is the North Arabian Sea, while the extended area of interest covers the broader Western Indian Ocean. Pakistan relies on maritime trade for almost 95 percent of its exports and imports. In sum, Pakistan is overwhelmingly dependent on the maritime domain for its sustenance and progression.
The maritime boundaries are difficult to monitor, making them vulnerable to cross-border illicit activities. Many important maritime choke points in the Indian Ocean region are located in proximity to politically unstable regions. This has resulted in the spread of low-intensity and non-traditional threats, like piracy, human smuggling, arms trafficking, narcotics, and maritime terrorism. These non-traditional threats are interlinked and are more prominent in the Red Sea and Horn of Africa.
Piracy in the Indian Ocean, particularly near the Horn of Africa, has been a non-traditional security threat to regional maritime trade. Pirates, operating from the Somali coastline, often target commercial vessels, using small, fast boats to board and hijack larger ships and take crew as hostages for ransom. Frequent pirate attacks compromise the safety of shipping, crew members, and cargo transportation, compelling shipping companies to undertake security measures or even shift to longer routes, which results in higher expenditure. This badly affects the regulated flow of maritime transit from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea via the Red Sea.
To counter piracy, collaborative measures have been taken by nations to secure global sea transit. In this regard, Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151) has been functional, which specifically focuses on counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia. CTF-151 aims to deter, disrupt, and suppress piracy in the region, contributing to the safety of maritime traffic and the protection of critical shipping lanes. Till date, CTF-151 has been led by Bahrain, Brazil, Denmark, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, the Philippines, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, the UK, and the U.S. The successful deployment of naval task forces and increased security measures by the shipping industry contributed to this positive trend. The Pakistan Navy has commanded CTF-151 ten times. (29 Nov 2010, 27 Sep 2011, 13 Dec 2012, 06 Jun 2013, 27 Feb 2014, 26 Feb 2015, 21 Dec 2015, 27 Oct 2016, 09 Dec 2020, 14 Apr 2022), and is expected to command CTF-151 in the future too.
Besides multi-lateral CTF-151, in parallel, PN also undertakes Regional Maritime Security Patrols (RMSP) to ensure maritime security and counter non-traditional threats, including piracy, trafficking, terrorism, etc. With growing requirements and enhancements in capability, PN has recently expanded the area of operation for RMSP. Unlike in the past, when only RMSP-North and RMSP-South were conducted, PN is now undertaking RMSP-North, RMSP-South West, and RMSP-South East. This expansion will allow PN to play an even bigger role in curbing non-traditional security threats—including piracy in IOR.
To better fulfill its security obligations, PN has undertaken a necessary force modernization program. The recent commissioning of four offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) named PNS Yarmook, PNS Tabuk, PNS Hunain, and PNS Yamama is the most eminent step in this regard. These mid-size OPVs have low operational costs and can comfortably operate in open seas. These OPVs can carry helicopters and UAVs and are equipped with a variety of weapon systems—both lethal as well as non-lethal—to better adapt according to flexible mission requirements. Previously, PN front line surface combatants, i.e., frigates, were used for high-end as well as low-end duties. But with the commissioning of mid-tier assets, like the aforementioned four OPVs, the top-tier frigates will now be more focused towards traditional security roles. Interestingly, these OPVs are also designed to support anti-ship cruise missiles. This indicates that in case of hostilities, these OPVs can be equipped with guided weapons, essentially transforming these ships into corvettes and making them suitable for traditional as well as non-traditional security duties. Currently, however, these OPVs have low operational costs and are now being deployed for patrolling and policy duties in the IOR. The increased presence of PN in IOR will help to secure regional sea lines of communication from nontraditional threats, including piracy, and will also contribute to consolidating mutual collaboration with regional as well as extra-regional naval powers.
Globally, the number of pirate attacks worldwide gradually reduced from 445 incidents to 115 incidents in the time period of 2010-2022. However, in 2023, according to the IMB annual report, 120 incidents of maritime piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported. In 2024, 103 piracy and armed robbery-related incidents have been reported worldwide, including only eight incidents in the Indian Ocean. Since 01 January 2023, the designation of the Indian Ocean High Risk Area (HRA) put in place by the shipping industry has been rescinded due to the improved piracy situation in the region.
While the primary focus of piracy has historically been in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia, the proximity of these piracy-prone areas to Pakistan’s maritime routes in the Arabian Sea makes the threat relevant to the country. Surprisingly, the highest incidents have been observed in the Singapore straits. A dedicated task force for counter-piracy operations in the Singapore Straits can help curb this emerging threat. Pakistan can share its experience as well as learning with Singapore, Malaysia, and other regional players to counter the rise of piracy. Although the threat of piracy is often downplayed and it does not receive as much coverage as other maritime threats, its ramifications can extend beyond security concerns, affecting the economy by depriving the government of revenue and disrupting the maritime economy. Since oceans are global commons, therefore continued collaborative efforts are required by all stakeholders to ensure good order at sea.
