The May 2025 crisis started with the Pahalgam false flag incident that Modi’s government instantly blamed Pakistan for without a shred of evidence. India then escalated the situation dangerously through missile strikes and armed drones. In return, Pakistan replied decisively that it reestablished deterrence and sanity. The crisis was not just a rapid escalation in the military domain but also had other strategic impasses. Amongst these most critical is reassessing Pakistan’s vulnerabilities, particularly in the maritime and economic spheres. As missiles flew, drones struck and warplanes clashed in the skies, one message emerged loud and clear for Pakistan above the chaos: ‘Gwadar Port must be fully operationalised not as a commercial addition, but as a crucial pillar of national security.’
What cannot be neglected is Indian objective of neutralising Karachi and Port Qasim which are economic pressure points of Pakistan
As India’s military apparatus preposterously and repeatedly flirted with rungs of escalation through non-contact warfare, the Indian media was at the forefront of a savage information and media warfare campaign, spinning webs of provocative lies and narrative exacerbating the basic foundation and ethics of journalism. One such narrative was the decimation of Karachi port and the glorification of the highly overstated Indian Navy that gets almost 20% of the annual (2025-26) defence budget of US$78 Bn. Screaming anchors in war rooms of media houses yapped about the forward positioning of the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and shamelessly proclaimed that the Indian Navy has “struck and obliterated” Karachi Port. While the reporting could at best be equated to theatrical narrations of standup comedians like Jo Koy or Peter Russell, this propaganda wasn’t unintentional and it radiated an overt strategic intent to cripple Pakistan’s economic capital and its arteries. Overlooking such a threat would be a gross strategic naivety and cannot be underestimated.
Karachi Port Complex including the Karachi Port and Port Bin Qasim which are almost collocated presents a vulnerability similar to that of India’s massive Kandla Port Complex. However, it reflects the lack of redundancies and alternates that India enjoys and Pakistan suffers. Karachi and Port Qasim combined handle around 95% of Pakistan’s external trade but their geographic juxtaposition to India makes them extremely vulnerable. Both ports lie within close range of India’s non-contact warfare capabilities like stand-off missiles, long-range drones, and cyber warfare systems. Any strategist can see the menace of ‘putting all maritime eggs in one basket so close to the adversary’s reach. This is precisely the point where Gwadar enters the national discussion. A deep-sea port of strategic significance and terminus of CPEC, yet it remains grossly underutilised and has hardly any part to play in the country’s economic sustenance.
Gwadar is more than just a deep-water port and a strategic trade alternative for Pakistan, it is a jewel of Pakistan, present at the gateway to the Strait of Hormuz, through which over 20% of the world’s oil passes daily. It also sits at the junction of the massive trade corridor flowing from China’s industries to Africa, Europe, and the Gulf. This isn’t just regional trade but it is the backbone of the global supply chain. The North Arabian Sea is a strategic highway, the slightest disturbance here doesn’t remain limited. It echoes across the globe. However, despite such strategic potential, Gwadar remains underdeveloped and underutilised. Although the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) holds great promises and years-long investments, the port is yet to be fully functional. Challenges such as persistent poverty in the region, administrative delays, policy inconsistencies, and security concerns particularly those linked to external interference continue to affect the pace of development and smooth operations of the port. Greater focus and coordinated efforts are essential to advance the development and operational capacity of Gwadar Port. The May 2025 crisis also highlighted Pakistan’s pressing need to expand shipbuilding and ship repairing capacity. It is deplorable that a country with 1,001 kilometers of coastline lacks a modern shipyard capable of handling Ultra Large Crude Carriers (ULCCs) and current capacity restricted to 26,000 DWT at KS&EW. Establishing such a facility in or near Gwadar would not only serve Pakistan’s naval and merchant fleets but can also attract international traffic seeking faster turnaround times than Dubai or Singapore. Although the shipyard at Gwadar has been approved, this needs to be fast tracked and accorded top priority in national development projects.
Gwadar necessitates a whole-of-government approach which integrates development. Unlocking Gwadar’s potential requires an integrated approach, focusing on enhanced security, policy stability, swift port operations, and seamless connectivity to the national hinterland. Moreover, equally important is the development of smaller feeder ports like Pasni, Ormara, and Jiwani to create a strong, dispersed port system. Infrastructure alone is not enough. Social reforms in Baluchistan to foster skill development and create a stable environment for long-term maritime growth are need of the hour.
Throughout the May 2025 crisis, Pakistan Navy silently but decisively protected the country’s maritime boundary. Deterred by Pakistan Navy’s forward deployments and assertive posture, not a single hostile vessel dared crossed into threatening proximity. Unable to claim a real victory, Indian media resorted to fabricating one to fill the notion of victory void. However, what cannot be neglected is Indian objective of neutralizing Karachi and Port Qasim which are economic pressure points of Pakistan as was done in December 1971 during Operation Trident and Python forcing Pakistan into pliancy. Pakistan’s response, therefore, must be to eliminate such a single-point vulnerability.
Gwadar is the answer to this conundrum. It is not simply about trade; it is about economic sovereignty and strategic depth. It is about denying the enemy a clear target and essentially it is about sending a message to the world: Pakistan is resilient, adaptive, and strategically prepared. The next crisis may not give Pakistan the luxury of time. For a robust economic sovereignty Pakistan’s lesson from May 2025 is simple: Gwadar must be made fully operational-not tomorrow, but yesterday.
The writer is a PhD scholar of International Relations at School of Integrated Social Sciences, University of Lahore. He can be reached at [email protected]