Pakistan Navy’s defence journey from Operation Dwarka to Marka-e-Haq

Defence Day is not only a day to recall the 1965 war for Pakistan. It is also an occasion to renew the national resolve that has passed from generation to generation and came to the fore again in Marka-e-Haq in 2025.

When Pakistan was founded in 1947, the country faced a difficult security environment and limited resources. The armed forces of the new state had to build their defence capabilities almost from scratch against a much larger neighbour. Yet limited resources could not weaken the resolve to defend the country. Through professional training, institutional development and a steady increase in defence capabilities, Pakistan’s armed forces turned themselves into an effective and credible fighting force.

This capability faced its biggest test in September 1965, when India launched a large-scale attack. The Pakistan Army checked the Indian advance towards Lahore and also confronted the enemy bravely on the Sialkot front.

The Pakistan Air Force defended the skies effectively and inflicted heavy losses on the Indian Air Force. At sea, the Pakistan Navy also played an active combat role. It defended Pakistan’s maritime boundaries and moved against the enemy.

The Pakistan Navy’s most notable action in the 1965 war was Operation Dwarka, also called Operation Somnath.

On the night of 7 and 8 September 1965, Pakistan Navy warships were assigned the mission of attacking the Indian coastal town of Dwarka. They included PNS Babur, Khaibar, Badr, Jahangir, Alamgir, Shahjahan and Tipu Sultan. Dwarka lies more than 300 kilometres south-east of Karachi.

The clear military objectives of the operation were to hit the radar installation at Dwarka, to draw the Indian Air Force’s attention away from the northern front, and to force the Indian Navy’s major warships out of Bombay. This would give the Pakistan Navy submarine PNS/M Ghazi the chance to act against enemy naval movements.

The operation was completed successfully. The naval group returned as planned after achieving its targets. All the ships reached Karachi safely without any loss.

During this time, the Pakistan Navy kept patrolling the sea lanes around Karachi. PNS/M Ghazi was deployed to watch and block Indian naval movements.

Six decades later, in 2025, the nature of the battlefield and of defence technology had changed greatly. Marka-e-Haq confronted Pakistan with a new type of conflict. Modern precision weapons, unmanned systems, electronic warfare, long-range surveillance and advanced air and naval capabilities played an important role.

For the Pakistan Navy, the importance of the maritime front goes far beyond the battlefield. Pakistan’s ports and sea trade routes are vital to the national economy. They connect the country to global markets and ensure the supply of essential trade and energy goods. Protecting these sea routes and installations therefore became an essential part of the national defence effort.

During Marka-e-Haq, the Pakistan Navy raised its operational readiness. It closely monitored developments in the Arabian Sea and kept watch on Indian naval movements.

The Indian Navy deployed a large force in the northern Arabian Sea, including the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. Even so, the Pakistan Navy maintained its presence and surveillance to protect the country’s ports, naval installations and sea trade routes. As a result, Pakistan’s maritime infrastructure and trade routes remained safe.

This situation also reflects a basic principle of naval warfare: effective deterrence does not necessarily require firing or direct combat. The ability to detect and track enemy movements in time, and to respond effectively to a possible threat, can also influence the enemy’s decisions.

This is the basic link between 1965 and Marka-e-Haq. In 1965, the Pakistan Navy took the initiative through Operation Dwarka and deployed PNS/M Ghazi to watch Indian naval movements. In 2025, modern surveillance, operational readiness and naval capabilities ensured the protection of Pakistan’s coastline, ports and sea trade routes.

From Operation Dwarka in 1965 to the complex, multi-dimensional defence environment of Marka-e-Haq, the message is clear. Pakistan does not seek war, but has the capability and resolve to defend itself if challenged. Pakistan’s maritime boundaries, like its land borders and airspace, are an essential part of national defence.

The spirit of 6 September symbolises the resolve of a nation that refused to compromise on its sovereignty despite the most difficult circumstances and seemingly heavy odds.

The same spirit is alive today in the soldier posted on the borders, the airman guarding the skies and the sailor watching the seas. This lasting resolve for national defence is the most important guarantee of Pakistan’s peace, security and sovereignty.