Pak Navy altered balance of power in region: PM

KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that they desire peaceful resolutions to all issues, but if the enemy commits aggression again, they will be given a befitting response. The Pakistan Navy has altered the balance of power in the region, and just as they have achieved success on the defensive front, they will also win laurels in the economic arena.

The prime minister paid tribute to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu and brave and fearless officers of the Pakistan Navy, calling them the great sons of the nation. He emphasised that the entire Pakistani nation stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the armed forces like an iron wall during the conflict with India and continues to do so. The strong bond between the Army, Air Force and Navy remains unbreakable, and because of this, Allah has bestowed upon Pakistan an honour that will forever be written in golden letters, the prime minister expressed these views during his visit to the Pakistan Navy Dockyard, while addressing naval officers and personnel.

He highlighted how the army precisely targeted enemy locations with Fatah missiles and other military weapons, while the Air Force taught the enemy a lesson with advanced technology—a lesson the enemy will remember until the Day of Judgement. Similarly, the Navy was fully prepared, just like the Army and Air Force.

The prime minister recalled how the Navy had taught the enemy a lesson in 1965 and was ready to do so again this time. However, the enemy did not dare to act after witnessing the Navy’s preparedness. Just as the Army and Air Force had decisively defeated the enemy, perhaps they were not ready to face further humiliation. By the Grace of Allah, Karachi Port, Port Qasim, Karachi city, and all commercial maritime activities remained unharmed—a historic and proud achievement that has made Pakistan invincible for the future.

He paid homage to the martyr Lieutenant Yasir of PNS Mehran, who sacrificed his life without hesitation, defending Pakistan’s dignity and naval assets. “All these martyrs and heroes are the nation’s pride, and I salute them and their families.”

The prime minister noted that India’s recent failed and humiliating campaign showed the world that the Pakistan Navy was fully prepared. Naval weapons were strategically positioned, and the Navy was ready to repeat the memories of Dwarka. India’s so-called pride, the aircraft carrier Vikrant, did not dare to come within 400 nautical miles—another testament to Pakistan’s unmatched defensive strategy and unwavering resolve.

The entire nation was confident that if India committed any naval aggression, the Pakistan Navy would teach them such a lesson that they would never dare to look at Pakistan with ill intent again.

He credited this success to the armed forces’ integrated strategy, particularly the exceptional coordination of COAS Asim Munir, which reinvigorated the nation’s determination. The nation bows in gratitude to Allah for these victories. Importantly, during this test, Pakistan’s ports remained fully operational, with commercial ships moving smoothly at Karachi and Bin Qasim, while India’s western coast saw a decline in commercial activities. Despite being five times larger in size, the Indian Navy appeared completely paralysed in this situation. Their so-called Vikrant fled the battlefield without looking back after witnessing the fate of their Rafale jets—our “sharks” chased away the Indian “whale.”

The prime minister praised the Pakistan Navy’s remarkable progress over the past 15 years, crediting Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf and his team for enhancing the navy’s capabilities through modern technology and international collaboration. Today, even the enemy admits that the Pakistan Navy has shifted the balance of power in the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea and Red Sea—a victory for the entire nation.

He reiterated that Pakistan is a peace-loving nation and seeks peaceful resolutions to all disputes, but if war is imposed, the enemy will always find them ready. While Pakistan harbours no aggressive intentions, it knows how to defend every inch of its homeland. “On behalf of the nation, I thank the brave armed forces, Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Babar, Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf, and all officers and personnel for protecting Pakistan’s land, air, and sea borders and thwarting the enemy’s nefarious designs.”

Shehbaz also expressed gratitude to brotherly and friendly nations that stood by Pakistan in difficult times, offering support and boosting morale. Countries like Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Azerbaijan and China were particularly thanked for their unwavering support. China, Pakistan’s steadfast friend, has always stood by Pakistan in every crisis, and this 77-year-long friendship remains strong today and will continue in the future, he added.

The prime minister also thanked US President Donald Trump for his role in de-escalating tensions, recognising the dangers of conflict between two nuclear-armed nations. He praised President Trump as a peace-loving leader who played a key role in ceasefire efforts, acting as a true well-wisher and friend.

Regarding Kashmir, the prime minister reiterated his commitment to playing a sincere role in resolving the issue. He emphasised that the bravery of Pakistan Armed Forces has once again elevated the country’s global stature.

The event was also attended by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Federal Education Minister Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui.

Upon arrival, the prime minister was received by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf. Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu were also present.

During the visit, the prime minister boarded the Type-054A Class Destroyer PNS Taimur, where he was briefed by Commander Pakistan Fleet on the Pakistan Navy’s strategic orientation, operational undertakings, and noteworthy contributions during the ongoing operation.

The prime minister interacted with officers and sailors of the Pakistan Navy, lauding their exemplary professionalism, combat readiness, and steadfast commitment to national defence. Meanwhile, Pakistan has dismissed and termed “baseless” and “unfounding” claims by the Indian media that the Pakistan Army had during Operation Bunyanum Marsoos used its Shaheen Missile in the recent conflict.

“Disseminating unverified and inflammatory content not only undermines regional stability but also reflects poorly on the professionalism of official institutions,” said the Foreign Office on Monday.

On Sunday the Indian army put out a false video claiming that Pakistan had used its nuclear-capable Shaheen missile which has an estimated range of 2,750 kilometres. Upon realising its mistake, the Indian Army quickly took down the video from its site but in an extremely unprofessional manner did not give any explanation for doing so.

But the damage had been done as the Indian media circulated the fake video while the Indian army at no time corrected its media. “These claims originated following the release of a video by the Indian Army’s official Twitter handle, purportedly showing the use of Pakistan’s Shaheen missile. Upon realising that the claim was unsubstantiated, the Indian Army promptly deleted the misleading video. However, by then, sections of the Indian media had already amplified the false narrative without verification. Regrettably, some Indian outlets continue to propagate this misinformation,” explained the Foreign Office.

It also pointed out that it is noteworthy that the Indian Army’s official handle has remained silent on the matter, offering neither clarification nor retraction for the erroneous post. “The range of weapons used by Pakistan is detailed in the ISPR press release dated 12 May 2025. The Pakistan Armed Forces employed precision-guided, long-range Fatah series missiles—F1 and F2—as well as advanced munitions, highly capable long-range loitering killer drones, and precision long-range artillery. The military sites in India and in IIOJK targeted by these assets are also listed in the ISPR Press Release of 12th May,” added the statement.

Analysts observe that such disinformation campaigns are part of a deliberate attempt to obscure India’s setbacks in Operation Sindoor, which were a result of Pakistan’s demonstrated conventional military capabilities.

“Additionally, these fabricated stories align with New Delhi’s ongoing efforts to promote a misleading narrative regarding the ceasefire and baseless allegations of so-called “nuclear blackmail” by Pakistan,” underlined the Foreign Office.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s military has expressed hope that the ceasefire agreement with India will continue to hold, citing ongoing communication between senior officials via a dedicated military hotline.

In an interview with a US-based outlet, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said: “We expect the ceasefire between Pakistan and India to remain intact. The hotline between both sides is operational.”

He explained that following four days of missile and aerial exchanges, senior officers from both countries remained in contact through the hotline, a mechanism he said contributed to preventing further escalation. “We’ve been transparent about the human and material losses caused by Indian attacks. We hope India has shown the same openness,” the military spokesperson added.

Earlier, in an interview with a Turkiye’s news agency, DG ISPR Chaudhry stated that Pakistan is currently the country most affected by terrorism in the world. Since January 2024, over 3,700 terrorist incidents have occurred. India is sponsoring and encouraging all this terrorism. In the last 17 months, 3,896 people have been martyred in terrorist attacks.

“India is not Israel, and Pakistan is not Palestine. Pakistan will not bow to Indian dominance,” said the Pakistan Army spokesperson. He reiterated that Kashmir is an internationally recognised dispute, and whatever happens in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir is not merely an internal matter, as often claimed by New Delhi.

He said, “We are a peace-loving nation, but if India provokes or attacks us, our response will be swift. The reality is that India is not the US, and Pakistan is not Afghanistan. India is not Israel, and Pakistan is not Palestine. Pakistan will not submit to Indian dominance.”

Lt Gene Chaudhry said that the sooner India understands this, the better it will be for regional and global peace. India has failed to provide any evidence regarding the Pahalgam incident. The Indian government is using these incidents as an excuse for terrorism.

He revealed that the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which attacked the Jaffar Express, openly sought help from India. In New Delhi, some leaders, politicians and retired generals issued statements in support of the BLA.

The Pakistan Army spokesperson stated that during recent tensions, five Indian warplanes were shot down, three of which were Rafales. The world knows Pakistan shot down Indian jets, but New Delhi refuses to acknowledge it.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (DPM/FM) Ishaq Dar on Monday arrived in Beijing on a three-day official visit from May 19-21. He was received at the airport by senior Chinese officials and Ambassador of Pakistan to China Khalil Hashmi, a DPM Office’s news release said.

In Beijing, Ishaq Dar will hold comprehensive discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and other senior Chinese leaders, including key members of Chinese Communist Party, according to a Foreign Office press release.

The meetings will focus on current regional developments and multiple dimensions of Pakistan-China relations. The visit is a part of high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China, and a reaffirmation of the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership between the two brotherly countries.

Prior to his departure, DPM Dar told the media that China was a major trading partner of Pakistan and that both countries enjoyed an iron-clad close relationship. He said that during the last three weeks, he had two telephonic interactions with FM Wang Yi, who had also invited him to visit China.

Dar said that his meetings with the Chinese leadership would mark discussions on political, local, regional and global issues, besides recent tensions between Pakistan and India. To a question, he referred to his telephonic interactions with many counterparts worldwide, saying that Pakistan had already exposed the Indian blame-game against Pakistan, including attack on any nuclear installation.

Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday that DPM Dar’s visit to China reflects Pakistan government importance attached to developing China-Pakistan relations.

“China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners. The two countries maintain close, high-level exchange and cooperation,” she said during her regular briefing while commenting on Ishaq Dar’s three-day official visit to China.

The spokesperson said that China stands ready to work with Pakistan to further deliver on the importance of understandings between the leaders, enhance strategic communication and deepen exchange and cooperation so as to advance the bilateral relations and accelerate the building of a closer China-Pakistan community with shared future in the new era.

On the India-Pakistan situation, she said that China has stated its position for multiple times and added, “We will continue to maintain communication with both sides and play a constructive role for comprehensive, lasting ceasefire between the two countries, and maintaining regional peace and stability.”

In response to a question, Mao Ning said, “I want to tell you that India and Pakistan are both China’s important neighbor. China attaches, all along, great importance to China-India and China-Pakistan relations.”

The Chinese side is committed to the philosophy and principle of good neighbourliness with neighboring countries. Since the strains in India-Pakistan relations, China, all along, adopted an objective and fair position and calls for two countries to exercise restraint and calm and prevent further escalation of situation.

“We welcome and support the realised ceasefire between the two countries and are ready to play a constructive role of realising lasting and comprehensive ceasefire between the two countries and maintaining regional peace and stability,” she added.