Pakistan’s deployment of its new Hangor-class submarine into the Bay of Bengal signals a deliberate attempt to extend its maritime footprint eastward, leveraging Chinese-built technology and warming ties with Bangladesh, India Today reported.

This development introduces a new layer of complexity for India’s eastern seaboard, traditionally considered secure.

Pakistan’s naval reach has expanded with the commissioning of the Hangor-class submarine, built in China and equipped with Air-Independent Propulsion technology. This allows the vessel to remain submerged for weeks without surfacing, enhancing stealth and survivability.

The submarine was escorted via Colombo before arriving in Karachi, marking Pakistan’s first tangible step towards projecting power beyond the Arabian Sea.

The Bay of Bengal has emerged as a geostrategic hotspot. China has deepened defence cooperation with Bangladesh, supplying fighter jets, drones, and upgrading ports and airfields. Pakistan has also cultivated defence and intelligence links with Dhaka, capitalising on the political shift after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster in 2024.

Direct flights, cultural exchanges, and trade have flourished, while military cooperation has intensified. Pakistani warships made a historic port call to Chattogram in November 2025, the first since 1971, and discussions of a mutual defence pact have surfaced.

General Asim Munir’s statement in August 2025 that “We will start from the east” now resonates with Pakistan’s maritime manoeuvres. The symbolism of deploying PNS Hangor, named after the submarine that sank India’s INS Khukri in 1971, underscores Islamabad’s intent to reopen a dormant front. Commodore Omer Farooq described the submarine as a “game changer,” hinting at sustained operations in the Bay of Bengal.

Pakistan plans to induct eight Hangor-class submarines by 2028, four built in China and four in Karachi under technology transfer. This fleet expansion will significantly enhance its sea-denial capability. Combined with warming ties with Bangladesh, Islamabad could secure logistical support for periodic patrols or port visits in the eastern Indian Ocean, even if Dhaka has not formally agreed to host Pakistani assets.

For India, the implications are serious. The Bay of Bengal hosts its Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam and is proximate to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, vital for monitoring Indo-Pacific trade and energy flows.

India has long dominated this theatre, but Pakistan’s presence, backed by Chinese technology and diplomatic cover from Bangladesh, complicates the strategic environment. India’s surveillance, submarine modernisation, and anti-submarine warfare capabilities will need reinforcement to counter this evolving challenge.

The Hangor-class program represents Pakistan’s largest naval upgrade in decades. Its ability to remain submerged for extended periods transforms Pakistan’s submarines from coastal assets into platforms capable of sustained deployment across the Indian Ocean. This shift, coupled with China’s defence proliferation and Pakistan’s outreach to Bangladesh, signals a recalibration of South Asian maritime dynamics.

Pakistan’s moves in the Bay of Bengal are not yet a full-scale deployment but a strategic signalling of intent. For India, they highlight the need for vigilance, accelerated modernisation, and deeper partnerships with regional allies to safeguard its eastern seaboard.

Agencies