Ghost Of 1971 Returns: Why China Brings Back PNS Ghazi In India’s Backyard | World News

New Delhi: More than fifty years after the original PNS Ghazi sank during the 1971 war, the name reappeared in the Indian Ocean with a completely different meaning. This time, Chinese shipyards are backed by cutting-edge technology and a strategic message aimed at changing the maritime equations in the region.

China is strengthening Pakistan’s maritime power through a mix of advanced submarines, modern surface combatants and long-range offensive weapons. Military analysts see this as a deliberate strategy designed to keep India on its west coast and spread its naval resources across multiple fronts.

During the high-intensity air conflicts in May 2025, Chinese J-10C fighter jets and PL-15 missiles made headlines. Away from the spotlight, Beijing was making subtle but far-reaching moves at sea, laying the foundation for a transformed Pakistan Navy that could counter India’s influence in the Indian Ocean Region.

This change became clearly visible on December 17, 2025. Weeks after India celebrated Navy Day remembering the sinking of the original PNS Ghazi in 1971, China launched its fourth and last Hangor-class submarine at Wuchang Shipbuilding in Wuhan. The ship was officially named PNS Ghazi, reviving a name steeped in historical symbolism.

In its press release, Pakistan Navy described the launch as a significant milestone, adding that all four submarines built in China have now undergone rigorous sea trials and are moving towards final induction. The newly launched submarine is an export variant of the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s Type 039B Yuan class, equipped with an air-independent propulsion system and one of China’s most advanced diesel-electric attack submarines.

This launch completes the China-built portion of Pakistan’s Hangor class programme. The broader agreement, signed in 2015, covers eight submarines in total. While four of them are being built in China, the remaining four will be built at a Pakistani shipyard in Karachi under the technology transfer agreement. The first of these submarines is expected to enter active service by 2026. The timeline was confirmed by Pakistan Navy Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf in a recent interview with Chinese state media.

Although the geopolitical landscape has evolved since the 1971 war, the rivalry between India and Pakistan is constant. During Operation Sindoor in May 2025, the Indian Air Force engaged Pakistani aircraft while the Indian Navy maintained a quiet but ready presence in the Arabian Sea, ready to escalate tensions if ordered. The conflict ended with a ceasefire four days later, and naval forces never took action.

China-Pakistan Maritime Cooperation

Among all the defense cooperation between Beijing and Islamabad, the Hangor-class submarine program stands out as the most important program. Pakistan’s naval command emphasized that these submarines significantly increase stealth, endurance and attack power and enable a wide range of operations in disputed waters.

The Hangor class is named after the original PNS Hangor, a French-built submarine that famously sank INS Khukri during the 1971 conflict. Technologically, the new ships are derived from China’s Yuan-class submarines, which form the backbone of the PLAN’s conventional submarine fleet.

These submarines are equipped with modern sensors and advanced weapons and are at the center of Pakistan’s sea interdiction strategy. Reports in Pakistani media suggest the ships will carry anti-ship cruise missiles, heavy torpedoes, and a version of the Babur land attack cruise missile for long-range strikes with possible nuclear deterrent roles. However, these claims have not been verified.

What gives the Hangor class an edge is its air-independent propulsion. Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology allows submarines to remain submerged for long periods of time without surfacing, greatly reducing the risk of detection. Conventional diesel submarines must periodically surface or snorkel, releasing exhaust that can be tracked by enemy forces.

Pakistan currently operates three Agosta-90B submarines equipped with AIP. The commissioning of the Hangor class will increase the number of AIP-capable boats in its fleet to eleven. In comparison, India is still finalizing its own AIP submarine design and construction has not yet begun; a delay that puts New Delhi at a relative disadvantage vis-à-vis both China and Pakistan.

By strengthening Pakistan’s naval power, China is forcing India to divert significant resources westward, limiting its ability to project power eastward or challenge Chinese interests in the broader Indo-Pacific. This pressure has intensified with ongoing tensions on the China-India border.

Strengthens Pakistan, challenges India

Over the past decade, the Pakistan Navy has moved beyond its traditional coastal defense role and begun to position itself as a force with regional reach in the northern Indian Ocean. This transformation has come about largely with Chinese support and is in line with Islamabad’s emphasis on long-range operations, continuous patrols and advanced offensive capabilities.

China’s assistance is not limited to submarines. Pakistan has also deployed some of the most advanced surface combatants derived from PLAN designs. Chief among these are the Type 054A/P multi-role frigates, known as the Tughril class in Pakistani service. These ships build on the previous Zulfiquar-class frigates that were commissioned in 2009 and represent a significant leap in capacity.

The 4,000-tonne Tughril-class frigates feature stealth designs, vertical launch systems, advanced air defense and advanced anti-submarine warfare suites. Armed with CM-302 supersonic anti-ship missiles and HQ-16 surface-to-air missiles, these ships are considered the most capable surface ships in the Pakistani fleet.

Pakistan’s naval leadership has emphasized their role in strengthening air defence, undersea warfare and maritime surveillance in the northern Arabian Sea and the broader Indian Ocean, areas critical for global trade.

Pakistani strategists believe these frigates will be particularly effective when operated alongside MILGEM or Jinnah-class corvettes, offshore patrol vessels and Chinese-supplied CH-4 medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles.

China has also increased Pakistan’s naval firepower through the transfer of CM-302 missiles, the export version of the YJ-12. These ramjet-powered, sea-skimming missiles are capable of high-speed strikes against large surface warships and are often compared to the Indo-Russian BrahMos.

Previously deployed along the Chinese coastline and in the South China Sea, the missile now forms a significant part of Pakistan’s naval strike capability. In Pakistani service it can be launched from frigates or coastal batteries and used in salvoes to defeat enemy air defences.

Chinese aviation officials have previously described the CM-302 as the most capable anti-ship missile available on the global arms market, a claim widely echoed in defense circles.

Beyond ships and missiles, China has also strengthened Pakistan’s airborne anti-submarine warfare capability through Harbin Z-9EC helicopters. Delivered along with previous frigate purchases, these helicopters provide critical over-the-horizon targeting, torpedo deployment and maritime surveillance support.

The scale of the transformation is expected to grow as China continues to strengthen its maritime partnership with Pakistan. The balance of power in the Indian Ocean is entering a more contentious phase with plans for eleven AIP-equipped submarines by 2030, supported by modern frigates, advanced missiles and air assets. India’s ability to dominate these waters without challenge is no longer certain.