Pooja Mahabadi, Pune
Senior Indian officials have pointed out the continuous attacks by the pirates and Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea, and they predict they will continue and increase if the right steps are not taken.
The attacks that are taking place have put a significant strain on the operational capabilities of the Indian Navy. The Navy continues to fight this and build pressure by trying to maintain the heightened deployments in the region.
Just last week, the Indian warship swiftly responded to a distress call from a merchant vessel named Islander in the Gulf of Aden. This action was the result of a drone, which resulted in the injury of one of its crew members.
The explosive disposal team from the Indian Navy boarded the vessel; upon their arrival, they assessed the situation and neutralized any other potential threats. The vessel was then cleared by the team.
During the recent Munich Security Conference, there was a discussion between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Indian Foreign Minister Subhramanyam Jaishankar. The conversation centered on the escalating attacks in the Arabian and Red Seas. Blinken characterized the collaborative efforts of both nations in their contribution toward their initiative in addressing maritime challenges as “complementary,” suggesting a shared commitment to make the security arrangements stringent.
India has launched its most extensive peacetime naval operation in the past seven decades, deploying twelve warships along with long-range surveillance maritime aircraft and drones. This development aims to monitor nearly 4 million square kilometers of the Arabian Sea.
The primary objective is to address the surge in piracy incidents in the region, which notably aligns with the attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea attributed to the Houthi Rebels.
According to the recent updates, officials said that there have been at least eight hijacking attempts, including one successful incident, since November last year.
Despite a decline in piracy attempts following US and UK strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, officials emphasize the need for the Indian Navy to sustain its stand and continue its intensified operations. Fighting these pirate attacks requires time, resources, and extreme perseverance. Once during an operation, the Indian Naval ship monitored an Iranian-flagged fishing ship for more than a day until the pirates surrendered. In the end, the pirates had to release the 11 crew members upon realizing they could no longer keep up the fight.
It is very important for the Navy to get this situation under control, as this route helps India meet 88% of its oil demands.