ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s naval chief on Wednesday called for a reassessment of traditional military doctrines and greater investment in technologically advanced forces, saying recent conflicts had transformed the nature of warfare and created new challenges for maritime security.
The remarks come as militaries around the world study lessons from conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, where drones, missiles and attacks on commercial shipping have reshaped assumptions about conventional warfare and exposed vulnerabilities in global trade routes and naval operations.
For Pakistan, the changing security environment is particularly significant given its strategic location on the Arabian Sea and its reliance on maritime trade. Analysts say competition in the Indian Ocean is intensifying as regional powers expand naval capabilities, while recent crises in the Red Sea and Gulf have highlighted the vulnerability of critical shipping lanes and energy routes.
“Future wars necessitate a reappraisal of traditional warfighting paradigms, coupled with the development of a technologically adept and intellectually robust workforce,” Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf said while addressing participants of the 55th Pakistan Navy Staff Course at the Pakistan Navy War College in Lahore.
The naval chief said modern warfare was evolving rapidly and required militaries to adapt to both conventional and non-conventional threats.
He noted that the Indian Ocean region remained “fluid and contested,” with shifting geopolitical dynamics and power rivalries continuing to shape the regional security environment.
Recent conflicts have underscored those changes.
Attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement on commercial vessels in the Red Sea have disrupted one of the world’s busiest maritime trade corridors, forcing international naval deployments to protect shipping and highlighting the growing threat posed by missiles and unmanned systems.
The war in Ukraine has also demonstrated the increasing effectiveness of drones and autonomous maritime systems against traditional naval assets, prompting militaries worldwide to reassess force structures, operational concepts and future procurement priorities.
Pakistan has in recent years pursued naval modernization efforts focused on expanding maritime surveillance, strengthening fleet capabilities and improving interoperability among the country’s armed forces.
During his address, Ashraf also reaffirmed Pakistan Navy’s commitment to modernization, indigenization and jointness, and urged officers to enhance their strategic understanding and operational preparedness in response to emerging challenges.
