09.03.2026 21:20
As Iran faces attacks from the US and Israel, an unexpected move has come from its eastern neighbor, Pakistan, while it turns its gaze towards its western neighbors. It has been reported that the Pakistan Navy has launched a "escort operation" against multidimensional threats to national maritime trade. Notably, Pakistan's move comes after Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Pakistan Navy announced that it has launched a "escort operation" against multidimensional threats to national maritime trade.
OBJECTIVE: CONTINUOUS FLOW OF NATIONAL ENERGY SUPPLY AND SECURITY OF MARITIME COMMUNICATION LINES
According to a report by Dawn newspaper, a statement was made by the Pakistan Armed Forces Public Relations Service (ISPR) regarding the matter. The statement indicated that the navy has initiated operations against "multidimensional threats" to national maritime trade, and this decision was made due to the "changing regional maritime security environment and potential disruptions in critical sea routes."
The statement conveyed that the aim is to ensure the continuous flow of national energy supply and the security of maritime communication lines, stating that "the escort operations of the Pakistan Navy are being conducted in close coordination with the Pakistan National Shipping Company."
The statement also mentioned that approximately 90% of Pakistan's trade is conducted via sea, and the aim is to ensure the security and uninterrupted flow of vital sea routes. Finally, it was noted that the Pakistan Navy has escorted two commercial vessels.
FOLLOWING IRAN'S CLOSURE OF THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ
The aforementioned escort operation by the Pakistan Navy took place after Israel and the U.S. launched a military attack on Iran on February 28, following Tehran's announcement of closing the Strait of Hormuz.
IMPORTANCE OF THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ
The Strait of Hormuz is considered the most critical and sensitive "jugular vein" of global energy security; approximately one-third of the world's oil transported by sea and a significant portion of liquefied natural gas (LNG) pass through this narrow waterway. This strait, located between Oman and Iran, has a narrowest point of about 33 kilometers and serves as a challenging alternative that connects major oil producers in the Persian Gulf to the open seas.
During periods of escalating regional tensions, the mere possibility of the strait being closed can trigger panic waves in global energy markets and cause prices to rise rapidly, making control and navigation security over Hormuz a geopolitical issue that directly affects not only the regional countries but the entire world economy.