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Indian Navy Deploys Its Carrier Battle Group in the Northern Indian Ocean in Response to Pakistan.
According to an official statement released by the Indian Navy on May 11, 2025, the rapid deployment of its Carrier Battle Group to the northern Arabian Sea formed part of a joint operational plan coordinated with the Indian Army and Air Force, aimed at deterring further hostilities and maintaining escalation control. Within this framework, the Indian Navy conducted multiple live-fire exercises to test and refine its tactical procedures, validating the operational readiness of its personnel, equipment, and weapon systems to engage selected targets at sea and on land with precision. By maintaining a forward-deployed posture in the region, the Indian Navy sought to keep Pakistani naval and air assets in a defensive stance, confined to harbors or operating close to their coastline. The Navy emphasized that, in combination with kinetic actions by the Army and Air Force, its maritime presence played a significant role in prompting Pakistan’s request for a ceasefire. Despite this development, the Indian Navy confirmed that it remains deployed in a credible deterrent posture and stands ready to respond decisively to any hostile act by Pakistan or terrorist entities operating from its territory.
Within 96 hours of the Pahalgam incident, the Navy conducted multiple live-fire exercises in the Arabian Sea, testing and refining operational tactics and procedures. (Picture source: Indian Navy)
Following the April 22, 2025, attack in Pahalgam, India reacted swiftly. Described by Indian authorities as a cowardly act and attributed to Pakistan-backed militants, the attack triggered a wide-ranging military response. The Indian Navy’s Carrier Battle Group, including the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant (R11), Visakhapatnam-class destroyers, Talwar-class frigates, submarines, and naval aviation assets, was deployed at sea with full combat readiness. This deployment took place within hours and formed part of a broader strategy for synchronized use of force with the Indian Army and Air Force under an established escalation control mechanism.
Within 96 hours of the Pahalgam incident, the Navy conducted multiple live-fire exercises in the Arabian Sea, testing and refining operational tactics and procedures. These drills validated the readiness of crews, equipment, platforms, and armaments to accurately engage selected targets both at sea and on land. Among the weapons employed were BrahMos cruise missiles, derived from the Russian P-800 Oniks, capable of reaching speeds of Mach 2.8. These missiles can be launched from naval ships, ground-based systems, or Su-30MKI aircraft. Images and videos circulating online showed remnants of these weapons in Indian states near the Pakistani border, further indicating their operational use.
Throughout the heightened tensions, the Indian Navy has remained forward-deployed in the northern Arabian Sea in what officials described as a credible deterrent posture. This presence, according to Indian defense sources, effectively forced the Pakistani Navy and Air Force into a defensive stance, either within harbors or operating close to their coastline. The maritime dimension of India’s response, combined with the actions of the Army and Air Force, reportedly played a key role in Pakistan’s request for a ceasefire, which India agreed to despite mutual accusations of violations.
Simultaneously, both navies issued notifications of military exercises within their respective Exclusive Economic Zones, signaling an ongoing naval standoff. The Pakistani military stated that it was closely tracking the movements of INS Vikrant in the region. India, for its part, affirmed that its naval forces remain fully deployed and ready to respond decisively to any hostile action from Pakistan or groups operating from its territory.
This renewed episode of tension is part of a broader strategic competition in the Indian Ocean, where the rapid modernization of the Pakistani Navy and the growing presence of Chinese military and intelligence vessels have raised concerns in New Delhi. In response, India has increasingly prioritized its naval capabilities as a tool of regional influence. The Indian Navy also plays a central role in maritime security operations in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and regularly conducts joint drills with European partners such as France and Italy.
India has responded swiftly and in coordination with its armed services to a series of perceived threats originating from Pakistan. The rapid deployment of its Carrier Battle Group and its ability to conduct precision strikes at sea and on land have reinforced its strategic posture. Nevertheless, the situation remains volatile, and the Arabian Sea continues to be a key arena for the balance of power between two long-standing regional rivals.