- Reported by Anuvesh Reth
When the United States launched Operation Prosperity Guardian in December 2023 to counter Houthi missile threats in the Red Sea, Pakistan was conspicuously absent from the founding coalition roster. This notable exclusion persisted despite Pakistani nationals continuing to work aboard commercial cargo vessels transiting the exact trade corridor these multinational naval initiatives were designed to protect. Even though other overlapping Western maritime initiatives such as EU’s Operation Aspides had been activated to safeguard the Bab al-Mandeb strait, no Pakistanis have served in this role as part of an active international coalition.
To date, neither the US-led nor European-led maritime initiative established in late 2023 has seen Pakistani naval officers placed in command or shaping policy for Red Sea protection. Air-defense deficits : Coalition leadership against persistent anti-ship missile threats demands advanced air-defense destroyers equipped with comprehensive multi-layered radar and interceptor architectures. Strategic reality : Ultimately, the Pakistan Navy continues to lead within the mission parameters it constructed its reputation upon while sitting outside the operational rooms managing the missile threats impacting its citizens at sea.
