Islamabad, June 18:
Pakistan’s Hangor Submarine Push Raises Strategic Concerns in Bay of Bengal. Pakistan’s induction of the Chinese-built Hangor-class submarines is increasingly being viewed as a significant shift in the regional naval balance, especially with reports indicating ambitions to expand operations into the Bay of Bengal.
The submarines—based on China’s Type 039A design—are equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP), allowing them to stay submerged longer and operate with greater stealth.
Recent developments suggest that Pakistan is not limiting its naval focus to the Arabian Sea. Officials have indicated that the new fleet could enable a sustained presence in the Bay of Bengal, a region traditionally dominated by India and closely linked to Bangladesh’s maritime space.
This marks a notable geographic expansion of Pakistan’s naval outlook and reflects broader strategic coordination with China in the Indian Ocean Region.
The move also comes amid deepening defence ties between Pakistan and China, with an $4–5 billion deal for eight submarines—half of which will eventually be built in Pakistan under technology transfer.
Analysts see this as part of a larger effort to strengthen sea-denial capabilities and counterbalance India’s naval influence.
For India, the development raises fresh security concerns. The possibility of increased submarine activity in both the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal could stretch naval resources and surveillance systems.
With India simultaneously working to expand its own submarine fleet, the region appears to be entering a new phase of underwater strategic competition, with implications for Bangladesh, maritime trade routes, and overall stability in the Indo-Pacific.