In the wake of heightened tensions following the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the Indian Navy has issued a navigation alert for parts of the Arabian Sea, urging commercial vessels to exercise caution and avoid specific zones. The advisory comes as the navy conducts large-scale military exercises in the region, a move seen as a response to escalating friction with Pakistan. “Our priority is to ensure the safety of maritime traffic while maintaining operational readiness,” a naval source stated.

The alert, issued by the National Hydrographic Office under the Indian Navy’s oversight, advises ships to reroute to avoid potential risks. This development follows a meeting on Saturday evening between Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where the admiral briefed the PM on the maritime situation. Though no official statement has been released, sources indicate India is bolstering its military posture after the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 lives. Meanwhile, Pakistan has placed its navy on high alert and issued its own navigation warning, signaling a tit-for-tat escalation in the maritime domain.

India has already taken stringent measures against Pakistan, including suspending the Indus Water Treaty, halting cross-border movement at the Attari border, severing diplomatic ties, banning trade, closing Indian airspace to Pakistani flights, and prohibiting Pakistani ships from docking at Indian ports. Pakistan has labeled these actions “acts of war” and threatened to challenge them internationally. The Pahalgam attack, where terrorists fled into the jungle after the killings, has pushed bilateral tensions to a boiling point. Prime Minister Modi has granted the armed forces full operational freedom, vowing a decisive response.

As both nations’ navies remain on edge, the Arabian Sea is emerging as a new flashpoint. Analysts warn that this maritime standoff could further destabilize the region, with implications for global trade routes.