Pakistan's Bay of Bengal Return? China's Hangor Submarine Revives Memories of 1971 War

More than five decades after losing its naval foothold in the Bay of Bengal during the 1971 war, Pakistan is attempting a maritime comeback. The arrival of the Chinese-built Hangor-class submarine in Karachi has reignited debate over Islamabad's naval ambitions and China's growing role in shaping Pakistan's military capabilities. Pakistan plans to induct eight Hangor-class submarines, which are based on China's Type 039 Yuan-class design. Pakistani officials have described the platform as a "game changer" capable of extending Pakistan's reach into the Bay of Bengal, a region long dominated by India. The development comes amid improving ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh, raising questions about whether Islamabad is seeking a strategic return to waters it effectively lost access to after 1971. India is already responding. Reports indicate increased Indian Navy P-8I anti-submarine patrols during the submarine's transit from China, reflecting concerns over the growing underwater capabilities of Pakistan's fleet. Defence analysts, however, argue that while the Hangor-class enhances Pakistan's deterrence and complicates Indian naval planning, it does not fundamentally alter the balance of power in the Indian Ocean. The larger story may be China's role. The Hangor programme highlights Beijing's expanding influence over Pakistan's maritime strategy and signals a broader effort to keep India occupied across multiple naval theatres. As India faces delays in its own submarine modernisation programme, the race for underwater dominance in the Indian Ocean is entering a new phase. #IndiaPakistan #HangorSubmarine #PakistanNavy #IndianNavy #ChinaPakistan #BayOfBengal #IndianOcean #SubmarineNews #MilitaryNews #DefenceNews #Geopolitics #ChinaNavy #P8I #PakistanMilitary #IndiaDefence #SouthAsia #NavalWarfare #MaritimeSecurity #Bangladesh #IndoPacific India Today Global is the international arm of India's most trusted media organization — delivering factual, up-to-date news, analysis, and insights from India and around the world. From politics and business to culture and global affairs, we cover it all. Built for the digital-first English news audience and the Indian diaspora worldwide, we are the channel that connects India to the world and the world to India. 🎙️ Statecraft - Executive Editor Geeta Mohan cuts the noise, decodes the truth, and dissects the forces shaping global power, from geopolitical shifts to military strategies and economic levers. 🌐 Namaste World - Your daily wrap of the biggest stories from around the globe. Concise, sharp, essential. 🔍 Point of View - We hold people accountable. The questions others won't ask, asked here. 🗺️ Zoom In - Wars, conflicts, and tensions simplified with maps and context that actually make sense. 🤝 Diplomatic Diaries - Ambassadors have a public face. We show you the other one. No stone unturned. No question unasked. 🔔 Subscribe - because the world doesn't wait, and neither should you. Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/ITGGlobal Follow us on Instagram:   / indiatodayglobal   Follow us on Facebook:   / indiatodayglobal   Follow us on Website: https://www.indiatoday.in/global Watch our marquee shows: EXCLUSIVE: President Putin Says "We Will Take Donbas by Force" in His Most Shocking Interview    • EXCLUSIVE: President Putin Says "We Will T...   Trump Demanded Seven Countries Send Warships to Hormuz. Every Single One Refused | Statecraft Ep 307    • Trump Went to War With Iran, Begged for a ...   Afghanistan Claims Pakistan Bombed Kabul Hospital Killing 400, 250 injured | Namaste World EP 81    • Afghanistan Claims Pakistan Bombed Kabul H...   From B-52 to B-21 Raider: The Evolution of America’s War Machine | Zoom In With Sandeep Unnithan    • From B-52 to B-21 Raider: The Evolution of...   US Iran War: Military Bases in the Gulf, For Israel or the Arab World? | West Asia War | POV Ep 5    • US Iran War: Military Bases in the Gulf, F...   Inside Australian Envoy’s Delhi Residence | Diplomatic Diaries Exclusive    • Inside Australian Envoy’s Delhi Residence ...