No Indigenous Naval Shipbuilding: Pakistan’s Continued Dependence on Foreign Military Aid

Despite its status as a nuclear power, Pakistan relies heavily on foreign military aid and imports for its naval modernization. Over the decades, the country has failed to establish a self-sufficient indigenous maritime shipbuilding industry. Instead, Pakistan depends on foreign suppliers – notably China, the United States (US), and Turkey – for advanced naval platforms and technology. This dependence limits Pakistan’s autonomy in defense decisions and raises critical concerns about its long-term strategic sovereignty and capacity to project power independently in the region.

Historical Dependence on Foreign Military Aid

Pakistan’s reliance on foreign military aid stretches back to its earliest years. While the country has consistently faced pressure to modernize its military, it has primarily looked abroad to fulfill its naval needs, often sidelining domestic shipbuilding efforts.

Cold War Era and US Military Aid: During the Cold War, Pakistan aligned itself with the United States in exchange for military aid, receiving critical naval assets, including frigates and patrol vessels, from surplus US stocks. This dependence on American military assistance allowed Pakistan to defer investment in domestic naval production and shaped a legacy of reliance that persists today. US military assistance depended on Washington’s geopolitical interests, limiting Pakistan’s ability to shape an independent maritime strategy.

Shift to Chinese Military Support: As US-Pakistan relations soured in the post-Cold War era – especially after 26/11 (India’s 9/11) – Islamabad turned to Beijing to fulfill its military needs. China has become Pakistan’s primary supplier of naval platforms and technology, including submarines, frigates, and missile systems. This partnership has allowed Pakistan to continue modernizing its navy but has done little to advance its Indigenous shipbuilding capabilities. Instead, it has deepened Islamabad’s reliance on foreign suppliers, particularly Beijing.

Pakistan’s Naval Modernisation: The China Factor

In recent years, China’s role in Pakistan’s naval modernization has become increasingly prominent, underscoring the depth of Pakistan’s dependence on foreign military aid.

Yuan-Class Submarines: The $5 billion deal with China in 2016 to acquire eight Yuan-class (Type 039/041) diesel-electric submarines exemplifies Pakistan’s dependence. Four of these submarines are being built in China, while the other four are being assembled at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KSEW) under Chinese supervision. Although this partnership is often touted to bolster Pakistan’s indigenous capabilities, it highlights that Pakistan cannot build such advanced platforms independently. The reliance on foreign designs, components, and expertise ensures that Pakistan will continue to depend on Chinese support for the operational sustainability of its submarine fleet.

Type 054A/P Frigates: Procuring four Type 054A/P guided missile frigates from China further illustrates the limitations of Pakistan’s domestic shipbuilding efforts. The first vessel, Tughril, was commissioned in January 2022, and the second, Taimur, was commissioned in June. While these frigates significantly enhance Pakistan’s surface fleet, they are foreign-built with minimal transfer of technology (ToT) to Pakistan. Technical issues such as defective imaging devices and radar malfunctions have also raised concerns about Pakistan’s ability to maintain and upgrade these vessels without external assistance. Continued dependence on Chinese shipyards and technology for maintenance and future upgrades reinforces Pakistan’s reliance on China for the long-term viability of its naval fleet.

Strategic Implications for Pakistan’s Sovereignty: Chinese naval support for Pakistan aligns with Beijing’s broader strategic interests in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), where China seeks to secure its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) sea routes and project power in the region through the Pakistan Navy. The development of Gwadar Port – another critical component of China-Pakistan cooperation – serves as a potential forward base for Chinese naval operations in the Arabian Sea, giving China greater regional strategic depth. This growing partnership may enhance Pakistan’s naval capabilities but also raise concerns about Pakistan’s long-term strategic autonomy. As Pakistan’s naval modernization becomes more dependent on China, its ability to pursue an independent maritime strategy may be compromised significantly if China’s regional ambitions diverge from Pakistan’s interests.

Failures in Indigenous Naval Shipbuilding

Despite its efforts, Pakistan has struggled to develop an Indigenous shipbuilding industry that meets its naval modernization requirements. The Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KSEW) has built smaller vessels such as patrol boats and auxiliary ships but cannot produce more significant, advanced platforms like submarines and frigates. Even in cases where Pakistan assembles ships domestically, there is considerable reliance on foreign components and designs, underscoring the country’s ongoing dependence on external suppliers.

Limited Capacity of KSEW: Although KSEW plays a role in assembling naval assets, it lacks the infrastructure, technical expertise, and skilled workforce to construct advanced warships independently. The reliance on foreign assistance to build the remaining Yuan-class submarines is a clear example of this shortfall. While Pakistan aims to expand its shipbuilding capacity, its inability to develop self-sustaining production capabilities has prevented it from achieving true naval independence.

Failures to Innovate: While Pakistan has ambitious plans to expand its indigenous shipbuilding industry, progress has been limited. This stands in contrast to India, which has had significant investment in domestic shipbuilding, as exemplified by its launch of the INS Vikrant: India’s first domestically built aircraft carrier. Pakistan, however, has struggled to emulate such progress, leaving it reliant on foreign suppliers for critical assets.

Strategic Risks of Continued Foreign Dependence

The consequences of Pakistan’s reliance on foreign military aid, particularly from China, are far-reaching. As Pakistan builds its naval capabilities through foreign suppliers, it risks losing the ability to shape its maritime strategy independently, especially in the face of regional challenges.

Erosion of Strategic Autonomy: Pakistan’s reliance on Chinese military aid gives Beijing considerable leverage over Islamabad’s strategic decisions. In a potential conflict, China’s broader regional geopolitical objectives may constrain Pakistan’s naval operations. As Pakistan modernizes its navy through Chinese platforms and technology, it becomes increasingly vulnerable to external pressures, limiting its ability to pursue an independent maritime strategy that aligns with its national interests.

Economic Vulnerabilities: The financial challenges of maintaining a foreign-built fleet further complicate Pakistan’s naval future. Technical issues with the newly acquired Type 054A/P frigates, including radar malfunctions and defective components, underscore Pakistan’s difficulties in maintaining and upgrading these vessels without foreign support. This dependence could become an economic burden, particularly as Pakistan’s defense budget remains constrained by its struggling economy.

The Role of Turkey in Pakistan’s Naval Modernisation

In addition to China, Turkey has emerged as a key player in Pakistan’s naval modernization. In 2018, Turkey and Pakistan signed a contract to construct four Milgem-class corvettes based on the Turkish Ada-class design. These corvettes, scheduled for delivery by 2025, will further enhance Pakistan’s surface fleet and highlight the country’s growing ties with Ankara. However, as with China, Pakistan’s partnership with Turkey focuses on procurement rather than developing indigenous shipbuilding capabilities.

Strategic Consequences for Pakistan’s Naval Future

Pakistan’s failure to develop an indigenous naval shipbuilding industry continues to limit its strategic autonomy and operational capabilities. Its dependence on foreign suppliers – primarily China and Turkey – undermines its long-term sovereignty and exposes it to significant strategic risks. While Pakistan’s naval modernization has enhanced its capabilities, particularly regarding power projection in the Indian Ocean, its reliance on external powers for critical platforms and technical support leaves it vulnerable to external pressures. Without significant investment in domestic shipbuilding infrastructure, Pakistan’s navy will remain dependent on foreign suppliers, limiting its ability to independently navigate the complex maritime dynamics of the region.

Featured Image: Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works