Indian Navy Prepares for Heightened Tensions Amidst Pakistan Conflict

On May 8, reports from Indian media hinted at a potential strike by teh Indian Navy on karachi’s naval port, part of a larger retaliatory operation. However, both the Indian and Pakistani governments have yet to confirm these claims, with numerous Pakistani social media accounts asserting that no such attack took place.

This possible naval action comes on the heels of India’s airstrikes on nine locations in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on May 7. These strikes were reportedly in retaliation for a terrorist incident in Indian-administered Kashmir that claimed 26 lives on April 22. Recently,tensions have escalated with both nations increasingly utilizing drones and long-range missiles for cross-border engagements.

During a press briefing regarding the May 7 operations along the line of control—essentially the boundary between Indian and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir—Indian spokesperson Wing Commander Vyomika Singh explained that Operation Sindoor aimed to target infrastructure linked to groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, which India holds responsible for recent attacks.

Singh emphasized that Operation Sindoor was intended to be “focused and measured,” asserting that no military installations in Pakistan were targeted. The goal was also to prevent further imminent terrorist threats.

The initial airstrikes involved stand-off weapons launched from aircraft remaining outside Pakistani airspace. Following these actions, intense exchanges of small arms fire and artillery erupted across the Line of Control, resulting in additional casualties; by May 7’s end, another 19 civilians had lost their lives due to these clashes.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif responded with promises of strong retaliation. Reports from Pakistan indicated five downed Indian aircraft during border skirmishes and shelling directed at an Indian brigade headquarters; eight civilians reportedly died as well due to India’s strikes. While there were no indications that fighting had spread beyond Kashmir, an attack attributed to the Baloch Liberation Army killed seven soldiers in central Pakistan—a move described as being executed by “Indian proxies.”

Aerial surveillance has been ramped up too; recently deployed P-8I Neptune aircraft from India’s Naval Air Squadron based out of Goa have been monitoring live-fire exercises conducted by Pakistan southwest of Karachi. It’s likely that India has positioned submarines near Karachi while using carrier-based aircraft from INS Vikrant (R11) and INS Vikramaditya (R33) to limit Pakistani maritime reconnaissance capabilities.

Satelite imagery taken on May 6 revealed empty docks at major Indian naval bases like Mumbai and Karwar. Meanwhile, it seems ships belonging to the Pakistani Navy are operating close enough to shore for protection under their own air cover while launching operations from bases such as Karachi or Gwadar.

An official source told NDTV about targeted operations conducted by the Indian Navy within Arabian Sea waters against Pakistan but did not confirm any specific strike against Karachi’s naval base itself.interestingly enough, NASA’s FIRMS satellite fire detection system showed no recent heat signatures around Karachi’s harbor area.