Indian Navy’s swift action in Operation Sindoor forced Pakistan fleet to stay port-bound: Admiral Tripathi

New Delhi, December 2. Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi has said the Indian Navy’s decisive actions during Operation Sindoor in May forced the Pakistan Navy to stay within its ports and along the Makran coast, preventing any movement into the open seas.

Speaking at his annual pre-Navy Day press conference here on December 2, Admiral Tripathi said the Navy has maintained an elevated state of readiness for the past seven to eight months in the western Arabian Sea amid heightened tensions with Pakistan. He noted that Operation Sindoor is still in progress, and many operational details cannot be disclosed.

Highlighting the impact of the swift deployment – including the carrier battle group in the northern Arabian Sea – he said the Navy’s firm posture and rapid response acted as a strong deterrent.

“Our aggressive and immediate actions ensured the Pakistan Navy remained confined to their bases and did not venture out,” he said.

Admiral Tripathi added that the operation had wider consequences for Pakistan, with merchant ships avoiding its ports and insurance premiums for vessels headed there rising sharply.

He also outlined the Navy’s broader maritime security efforts, including countering threats from non-state actors like the Houthis in the Red Sea. The Navy has deployed 40 capital ships to safeguard sea lanes carrying nearly $5.6 billion worth of cargo.

Indian warships have apprehended 52 pirates in recent operations, and the Navy has maintained continuous deployment in the Gulf of Aden since 2008, escorting nearly 7,800 merchant vessels. Currently, 40 ships are engaged in anti-piracy missions, and in the past year, the Navy has rescued 520 people at sea, he said.