ISLAMABAD:
Authorities on Wednesday clarified that naval escort operations currently being conducted by Pakistan Navy are limited to protecting the country’s merchant vessels operating along key maritime routes between Karachi and the Gulf and Red Sea regions, amid heightened security concerns triggered by the ongoing Iran-US-Israel war.
Well-placed security sources told The Express Tribune that the escort operations announced under Operation Muhafiz-ul-Bahr should not be interpreted as Pakistani naval vessels accompanying ships through the Strait of Hormuz, where tensions have sharply escalated due to the conflict.
“Escorting operations by the navy are being carried out for Pakistan’s ships plying on the Karachi-Gulf and Karachi-Red Sea Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs),” a senior security official said.
“This should not be misconstrued as escorting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.”
The clarification comes after the navy announced the launch of Operation Muhafiz-ul-Bahr earlier this week to safeguard Pakistan’s maritime trade and energy lifelines as the regional security environment becomes increasingly volatile.
The ongoing confrontation between Iran and the United States-Israel alliance has raised global concerns about the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which nearly a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.
Iranian officials have repeatedly warned that continued military pressure could force Tehran to reconsider the security of maritime traffic in the strait.
Such warnings have rattled global energy markets and prompted countries dependent on maritime trade to reassess their contingency plans.
Pakistan, whose economy relies heavily on sea-based trade, is particularly exposed to disruptions in regional shipping routes.
Nearly 90% of the country’s trade moves through maritime channels, while a large portion of its oil imports transit the Gulf before reaching Pakistani ports.
Officials said Operation Muhafiz-ul-Bahr is a precautionary measure designed to ensure that Pakistan-flagged vessels continue to operate safely despite the growing uncertainty in regional waters.
According to the navy, escort operations are being conducted in coordination with the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC), the country’s state-owned shipping company responsible for transporting a significant portion of Pakistan’s strategic cargo.
Security officials stressed that the escort operations are taking place along Pakistan’s established maritime supply routes rather than within the Strait of Hormuz itself, which remains one of the most sensitive flashpoints in the ongoing conflict.
Analysts say the clarification is important to avoid misinterpretations about Pakistan’s role in the evolving regional crisis.
Direct naval involvement in escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz could carry significant geopolitical implications, given the intense military standoff between Iran and the US-Israel alliance in the Gulf.
Instead, Pakistan appears to be focusing on securing its own maritime trade corridors and reassuring commercial operators that shipping linked to Pakistani ports will remain protected.
The navy has also increased surveillance of regional waters and is closely monitoring merchant vessel movements to ensure safe transit through potentially vulnerable areas.
International shipping companies have already begun reassessing risks in the Gulf region, with insurance premiums rising sharply and some vessels reportedly altering routes to avoid possible conflict zones.
For Pakistan, any prolonged disruption to maritime routes could have serious economic consequences, particularly at a time when global oil prices are already rising due to the conflict.
Officials say the naval operation aims to prevent supply chain disruptions and ensure the continued flow of energy imports and commercial goods.
While Islamabad has maintained a cautious diplomatic stance in the Iran-US-Israel confrontation, the launch of Operation Muhafiz-ul-Bahr underscores the growing strategic concern within Pakistan about the potential spillover of the conflict into critical maritime corridors.
By securing its key Sea Lines of Communication, Pakistan hopes to shield its trade routes from the wider turbulence gripping the Gulf region.
