Indian Navy Was Ready to Strike Karachi During Operation Sindoor, Says Vice Admiral

During a high-level tri-services briefing on Operation Sindoor, Vice Admiral AN Pramod revealed that the Indian Navy was fully prepared to launch targeted strikes on Pakistani assets at sea and on land including in Karachi at a moment of India’s choosing.

He stated, “Our forces remained forward deployed in the Arabian Sea in a decisive posture, with complete readiness to hit designated targets,” underscoring the Navy’s combat preparedness during the military response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 civilian lives.

Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). While the Army and Air Force executed precision strikes, the Navy stayed positioned and on high alert, deterring Pakistan’s naval movement and forcing its fleet into defensive zones close to shore.

“The Indian Navy ensured uninterrupted maritime surveillance and maintained awareness of all Pakistani naval activity throughout the operation,” Pramod noted.

He emphasized that India’s military actions were “measured, proportionate, and responsible,” even as top Indian leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, vowed a strong response to the Pahalgam massacre. Following the attack, the Navy carried out live-fire and combat drills in the Arabian Sea, reinforcing India’s strategic resolve.

In addition to the military offensive, India also took several diplomatic and economic measures against Pakistan, including suspending the Indus Water Treaty, downgrading diplomatic ties, closing airspace to Pakistani aircraft, cancelling visas, halting bilateral trade, and working to isolate Pakistan globally.