Agencies
KOLKATA, JUNE 30
India is not too concerned with reports of a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) submarine visiting the Karachi port in May, but is closely monitoring all such movements in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), vice chief of naval staff Vice Admiral P Murugesan said in Kolkata on Tuesday. He also assured that the Indian Navy has enough capability to counter any threat to country’s sovereignty.
“A warship from a foreign country docks in another country. Why should this be a matter of concern for India? After all, unlike the armies and air forces, navies of all countries play a diplomatic role as well. Even our warships travel far and dock at ports of friendly nations. However, it is true that we are closely monitoring all such movements in the IOR and taking adequate precautionary measures,” Murugesan said at the launch ceremony of three Fast Attack Craft (FAC) at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in the city.It was reported that a PLAN conventional Yuan-class 335 submarine had docked in Karachi, Pakistan on May 22. The submarine with a crew of 65 stayed in Karachi for nearly a week where the vessel was replenished. The submarine, with air-dependent propulsion, was allegedly armed with torpedoes and anti-ship missiles. There are reports that China is trying to sell Yuan-class submarines to Pakistan and the week-long stay in Karachi may have been arranged to give the navy there a closer look at the vessel. When asked about Pakistan’s plans to enhance its naval capabilities, Murugesan said that India will not fall short in any way.
“The Navy has 48 ships under various stages of construction at Indian shipyards. These include an aircraft carrier, submarines and smaller vessels like FACs. No country in this region is capable of building an aircraft carrier on its own. GRSE has made a significant contribution in keeping the Navy supplied. Economic development is crucial for national development and the Navy is striving to protect India’s economic interests. At the same time, funds are being allotted for the growth of the Navy in a sustainable manner. After all, naval assets are cost intensive. Ties between China and Pakistan are not a matter of concern for us. We are strong enough to look after India’s maritime interest. A single warship visiting a port is not an issue but we do keep on analyzing what may happen in the future,” the vice admiral said.
The Karachi episode was not the only one in recent times. In September, 2014, a PLAN Song-class conventional submarine along with a Type 925 submarine support ship Changxing Dao, docked at the Colombo International Container Terminal that is operated by the Chinese. In November, the submarine returned to Colombo from the Gulf of Aden. Earlier in 2014, a Chinese nuclear submarine was also on patrol in the Indian Ocean.
With the launch of the three FACs, GRSE can now begin full time work on stealth frigates under the Navy’s Project 17A. Of the seven frigates of this class being built in the country, GRSE bagged the order for three. Apart from the three FACs - christened Tarmugli, Tillanchang and Tihayu by Murugesan’s wife Medha - three Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) corvettes of the Kamorta-class are being fitted out by GRSE for final commissioning into the Navy.
