Last Updated:May 12, 2025, 16:11 IST

Vice-Admiral A N Pramod, DG, Naval Operations, on Sunday said the Indian Navy’s operational edge at sea played a decisive role in Pakistan’s “urgent request for ceasefire”

Vice-Admiral A N Pramod during the press briefing.

Did Indian Navy’s readiness to target Pakistan’s Karachi port lead to Pakistan’s urgent request for ceasefire?

Top intelligence sources told News18 that the Indian Navy was all set to target the Karachi port just before the India-Pakistan ceasefire was announced on Saturday.

Director General, Naval Operations, Vice-Admiral A N Pramod, too, in the press briefing on Sunday, said that the Indian Navy’s operational edge at sea played a decisive role in Pakistan’s “urgent request for ceasefire”. “Along with the kinetic actions by the Indian Army and Indian Air Force, the overwhelming operational edge of the Indian Navy at sea contributed towards Pakistan’s urgent requests for a ceasefire.”

WHY KARACHI PORT MATTERS

“India was upset because of use of Karachi port for ammunition supplies. The Navy wanted to participate in a big way in Operation Sindoor. They had given a full plan for Karachi port to the NSA and it was almost approved. A complete round-up of Karachi was on the cards before ceasefire. This intervention would have worked as major supplies disruption for Pakistan,” said sources.

“Our forces remained forward deployed in the Northern Sea in a decisive and deterrent posture with full readiness and capacity to strike select targets, including Karachi, at a time of our choosing,” Pramod said.

Pakistan’s naval and air assets remained largely inside harbours or close to shore. “The forward deployment of the Indian Navy compelled the Pakistani naval and air units to be in a defensive posture, which we monitored continuously,” he said.

‘QUALITATIVE, QUANTITATIVE EDGE’: NAVY SURVEILLANCE CONTINUES

“In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attacks, on innocent tourists by Pakistani-sponsored terrorists, the Indian Navy’s carrier battle group, surface forces, submarines, and aviation assets were immediately deployed at sea with full combat readiness in concert with the joint operation plan of the Indian Defence Forces,” Pramod said during the briefing.

The Vice-Admiral stated that weapon firings were conducted in the Arabian Sea to refine procedures and validate readiness. “We had and continue to have good battlespace transparency, using our maritime domain awareness grid. Our response has been measured, proportionate, non-escalatory and responsible from day one…”

“We have quantitative and qualitative edge to deliver a massive blow to our adversaries. We dominate the maritime front…This time if Pakistan dares to take any action, Pakistan knows what we are going to do…”

“As we speak, the Indian Navy remains deployed at sea in a credible deterrent posture to respond decisively to any inimical action,” he said.

At Monday’s press briefing, Pramod said, “No enemy aircraft was allowed to come within hundreds of kilometres of Indian territory during Pakistan’s attempts to target the country’s installations last week…The presence of the navy’s aircraft carrier, with a large number of MIG 29 K fighters and airborne early warning helicopters prevented any suspicious or hostile aircraft from coming close to the Carrier Battle Group.”

He added, “Effectively using multiple sensors and inputs, we are maintaining continuous surveillance to degrade or neutralise threats as they emerge or manifest to ensure targeting at extended ranges. All these are conducted under the umbrella of a comprehensive and effective layered fleet air defence mechanism that caters for all threats, be it drones, high-speed missiles or aircraft, both fighters as well as surveillance aircraft…”

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