India and Pakistan navies begin parallel drills just 60 km apart amid rising tensions

For a four-day period, both navies will operate virtually face-to-face, with just 60 kilometres separating their operational zones. Defence analysts have expressed concern that such close-range exercises by two hostile neighbours could lead to unintended confrontations or miscalculations in an already fragile regional environment.

These naval manoeuvres come on the heels of intense airstrikes and cross-border skirmishes. The Indian Air Force successfully intercepted and neutralized all incoming missile and drone attacks launched by Pakistan. In retaliatory strikes, India destroyed multiple Pakistani air defence systems across several cities. Notably, India also downed a Pakistani AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft, a critical asset for detecting aerial threats, significantly crippling Pakistan’s surveillance capabilities.

Additionally, the Line of Control (LoC) and other border areas have witnessed heavy exchange of fire, resulting in considerable damage on the Pakistani side. India has maintained that its operations are targeted at terrorist infrastructure and are calibrated to avoid escalation, but persistent ceasefire violations by Pakistan have made the situation increasingly volatile.

With both air and naval forces now engaged and tensions running high, the international community has renewed its calls for restraint and dialogue between the nuclear-armed neighbours. The United States, in particular, has urged both countries to avoid further escalation and focus on de-escalation through open channels of communication.