Pakistan, with Chinese assistance, is attempting to expand its naval footprint in the Arabian Sea by inducting Hangor-class submarines into its navy's fleet. The first batch of the underwater vessels is expected to be operational by 2026.

The move comes amid Pakistan boosting its military partnership with China, after the four-day mini-war exposed its defence vulnerabilities. The move is aimed at enhancing Pakistan's maritime deterrence and securing vital sea lanes linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) , said a Pakistan Navy official.

Admiral Naveed Ashraf, Chief of the Naval Staff of the Pakistan Navy, said in an interview with China's Global Times that the Hangor-class programme, which is a $5 billion deal signed in 2015 for eight submarines, is progressing on sched

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