Kashmir’s Pahalgam Sparks Karachi’s Nightmare: Pakistan’s economic lifeline is vulnerable again?

Imagine a city in your country that accounts for 25% of your country’s annual growth. Now, under the imminent threat of revenge from neighboring countries, that city is portrayed as the same city. Why? Because it possesses terrorists responsible for another attack, it claimed 26 innocent lives. And respond? Reasonable, justified revenge for such “despicable” behavior.This city is Karachi, Pakistan. Last week, social media was filled with rumors and speculation that the Karachi port was destroyed in the attack. The question that comes to everyone: Is this the beginning of a mature war?
In a briefing on Sunday, the Director-General of the Indian Navy’s Operation confirmed that the Indian Navy was strategically deployed in the northern Arabian Sea and maintained what the Navy called “decisive and deterrent posture” after the Pahargam attack and subsequent operations in the Sindoo.
Deputy Admiral Pramod said: “Our troops are well prepared and capable of strike at sea and on land, including Karachi when we choose.”

Karachi: Pakistan’s economic backbone may be on the crosshair

So far, let’s put its internal political issues aside, which also mainly promotes its sensitivity. Now, of 127 cities and at least 10 cities that are very close to the Indian border, Karachi has always been the most concerned and even vulnerable. Why?

Please read also: DGMO Navyfirst said it is Pakistan’s largest city, and it is a select target in the Arabian Sea, including Karachi, which is the largest city in Pakistan, which is very important for Pakistan’s trade and economic activities. With India completely halting its trade in space and land to Pakistan, Karachi is the next big gateway. Bloom Pakistan’s September report said 76% of Pakistan’s exports are processed by Karachi port Karachi, including Karachi ports, including Qasim, Karachi ports and west, as well as MCC Qasim Port Qasim.

According to PK revenue data, in the fiscal year 2023-24, the Karachi Port Trust Fund (KPT) reported a significant increase in cargo handling, up 23.43%, bringing the total cargo volume to 51.65 million tons. This increase was mainly attributed to a 31.39% increase in dry goods to a total of 40.24 million tons and a 1.69% increase in liquid bulk goods to 11.41 million tons.

According to Dawn, the city generates about 50% of the country’s total revenue, surpassing the next 10 largest cities. The 20th largest city in the world is expected to contribute about 60% (Rs 77.8 trillion) to Pakistan’s tax target of Rs 12.97 trillion.

Please read also: How Pakistan contacted India to reach an agreement, later violated it – DGMO LT GHAI explains timeline

Its critical ports, industrial areas and energy infrastructure are not only essential to Pakistan’s trade, but also essential to national logistics and defense, which makes it vulnerable to the current India-Parker escalation, which New Delhi now calls it “a war is nothing more than a war.”

A history makes it even more interesting

Only timely recall what happened in India in the four wars against Pakistan, targeting Karachi once. In December 1971, the Indian Navy’s attack on Karachi marked a turning point in the Indian Parker War, decisively shifting momentum and accelerating the events leading to Bangladesh’s creation.

It is called Operation Trident, and is a follow-up operation, Operation Python, which was an offensive launched by the Indian Navy in the Pakistani port city of Karachi during the 1971 Indian-Pakistan war.

As for Trident, on the night of December 4, India launched a surprise night attack using ‘Vidyut’ class missile boats- INS Nipat, INS Nirghat, and INS Veer, armed with four Soviet-made SS-N-2B Styx surface-to-surface missiles with a range of 40 nautical miles, two Arnala-class anti-submarine corvettes: INS Kiltan and INS Katchall, and a fleet tanker, INS Poshak.

The strike sank two Pakistani destroyers – PNS Khyber and PNS Muhafiz – severely damaged the Karachi oil storage facilities, causing huge explosions and massive fires. Additionally, this has led to a fuel shortage in Islamabad.

On the evening of December 8-9, 1971, the Indian Navy launched Operation Python as a follow-up to Operation Trident, with the aim of further damage to Karachi’s naval and fuel infrastructure. A small strike team, including the missile ship Ins Vinash and two support vessels, did not find and fire the Precision STYX missiles on key targets, including fuel storage warehouses and anchored Pakistani ships approaching Karachi. The strike caused huge fires and destruction, paralyzing maritime operations and deepening Pakistan’s economic and strategic crisis.

This not only dealt a huge blow to Pakistan’s military logistics, but also demonstrated India’s overwhelming coverage in the Eastern and Western Fronts.

Despite the rapid advance of Indian troops in East Pakistan, these naval strikes clearly show that Pakistan cannot sustain two more wars. Within a few days, Pakistan’s Eastern Command surrendered in Dhaka, and the world witnessed the birth of Bangladesh on December 16, 1971.

The strike in Karachi was not only a victory for the tactical navy, but also helped to break Pakistan’s war efforts and showed that a new map of South Asia was inevitable.