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December 12, 2016 by Malik Husnain

Gawadar Latest Updates

Pakistan Navy Special Force Setup to GuardGwadar Port,s Sea Lane

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy has assembled ‘Task

Force-88’ (TF-88) for the seaward security of

Gwadar port and protection of associated sea

lanes against both conventional and non-

traditional threats.

The creation of the special maritime force had

been necessitated by the operationalisation of

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is

expected to lead to a surge in maritime activity

at Gwadar — the nodal point for CPEC — and the

sea lanes. This has in turn increased the

maritime susceptibilities there.

A senior PN official said the TF-88 would

comprise ships, Fast Attack Craft, aircraft,

drones (unmanned aerial vehicles), and

surveillance assets. Additionally, marines would

be deployed at sea and around Gwadar for

security operations.

“The task force would be a force multiplier for

overall security of CPEC. The land route has

already been secured by Special Security

Division and now Gwadar, the centrepiece of

CPEC, will also be safe and secure,” Chairman

Parliamentary Committee on CPEC Senator

Mushahid Hussain said

TF-88 would be commissioned this week

“Pakistan Navy is ensuring maritime security of

CPEC and Gwadar port through the deployment

of available assets,” the navy officer said while

talking to Dawn about the new force. “We are

fully cognisant of the challenges to security of

CPEC and Gwadar port.” Challenges to

Pakistan’s maritime security have traditionally

come from India. But Chinese involvement in

Gwadar port and launch of CPEC has complica­

ted the security environment. India sees Gwadar

as a foothold for China in the Arabian Sea and

as a counter-strategy to threats at Malacca.

Therefore, India is alleged to have stepped up its

activities in the broader region surrounding

Gwadar to undermine the project.

The botched attempt by an Indian submarine to

intrude into Pakistani waters when shipping

activity under CPEC began at Gwadar last month

has been pointed out by Pakistani observers as

an indicator of Indian intentions.

Similarly, it is feared that the CPEC maritime

traffic may face non-traditional threats, which

include maritime terrorism, drugs and arms

trafficking, human smuggling and piracy. The

region is already grappling with most of these

problems

Presence of extra-regional forces and their

interests, which could be threatened by the new

port, heavily factored in the consideration of

Pakistani strategists, who developed threat

perception and strategised the responses.

The complex security scenario, it is said,

increases risks for the sea traffic because of

which cost of insurance of the cargo has gone

up exponentially.

Security is undoubtedly a crucial factor for the

success of CPEC, but the Chinese government

has been very particular about it. Chinese

officials have invariably insisted in their

interactions with Pakistani interlocutors on

provision of safe and secure environment for the

corridor.

It should be recalled that the fourth Pak-China

joint naval exercise held in November, which was

aimed at promoting maritime security and

stability in the region, specifically focused on

challenges to CPEC in security domain. Navy has

also raised a Coastal Security and Harbour

Defence Force for tackling threats along the

coast and stationed a Force Protection Battalion

at Gwadar for protection of Chinese workers

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: gawadar latest updates

Faraz Ali

Buy & Sell Real Estate in Defence (DHA) Lahore

Contact: Faraz

0321-4000646

Email at:

farazdha@gmail.com

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