Karachi, April 27, 2025: Pakistan Navy’s anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) strategy has successfully repelled the Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, forcing its withdrawal from the Arabian Sea back to its base at INS Kadamba in Karwar, Karnataka.
According to latest satellite intelligence (IMINT) images, INS Vikrant returned to Karwar port after spending only a few days at sea. Deployed on April 23, amid rising tensions between Pakistan and India, INS Vikrant had approached near Pakistani territorial waters in the North Arabian Sea.
However, continuous patrolling and strategic maneuvers by the Pakistan Navy, reportedly supported by the operational readiness of carrier killer missile systems, prompted India to recall its prized carrier. Fresh satellite images dated April 26 confirm the vessel’s re-mooring at its home port.
Indian media and social media had initially celebrated the deployment with great fanfare. However, naval experts suggest that deploying an aircraft carrier for just a few days in open waters is highly unusual, and withdrawing it so soon signals caution against potential threats posed by Pakistan’s maritime defense assets.
The swift return of INS Vikrant underlines the effectiveness of Pakistan Navy’s defensive posturing and highlights the strategic deterrence maintained in the region during heightened tensions.
