Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Robin K. Dhowan on Wednesday said that all countries should respect freedom of navigation in international waters in accordance with the principle of global commons. He was referring to the Chinese claims in the South China Sea.
Addressing the annual press conference on the eve of the Navy Day, he asserted that the Navy’s area of operations extend to where India’s strategic interests take it.
Commenting on the Sindhurakshak submarine tragedy in which an onboard explosion sank it, Admiral Dhowan said that the board of inquiry has submitted its report and it was being evaluated.
“There are a series of issues that led to the accident. There are aspects related to handling equipment in submarines. When procedures are not followed, there is room for error and accidents can happen. It is an aspect related to handling of equipment,” he said on the likely cause of the accident.
Responding to the recent failed attempts by militants to hijack a Pakistani Naval ship 'PNS Zulfiqar' in Karachi, Admiral Dhowan said it was a very serious situation and the Navy has factored that in its threat perception.
“We are taking it into account” he said when asked if the Navy is considering that there might be a terrorist group onboard when they encounter a Pakistani ship in international waters.
"On the high seas, when we encounter another naval vessel we wish them good morning... but in this changed environment, we have to rethink. We have to actually carry out surveillance and figure out who he is," he said.
It was reported earlier that militants tried to hijack 'PNS Zulfiqar' and intended to target a US supply ship and the Indian navy.
Referring to procurements, the Navy chief said that the force was satisfied with the recently inducted P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft acquired from the US. He said that a contract for acquiring four more aircraft in a follow on order was being processed by the Defence ministry.
At INS Baaz, the Naval air station at Campbell Bay on the strategically located Andaman & Nicobar islands, runway extension has been completed and further expansion was being taken up at the country's only tri-service command.
For the new Project 75I submarines to be manufactured in an Indian shipyard with foreign collaboration, the process for identification of compliant shipyards has begun after which the Request for Information will be issued to them, the Navy chief informed.
