Pakistan on Saturday issued a naval navigational warning for live firing drills in the same region where the Indian armed forces are conducting their large-scale tri-services exercise, Trishul.
This development was first reported on X by independent satellite imagery expert Damien Symon. This move follows Islamabad's issuance of a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) that restricts multiple air routes across central and southern Pakistan from October 28 to 29.
India’s Exercise Trishul, underway from October 30 to November 10, is taking place near the Sir Creek area along the India-Pakistan border. The Defence Ministry described it as one of the country’s largest recent joint operations, aimed at showcasing inter-service coordination, technological advancement, and atmanirbharta (self-reliance).
Satellite imagery shared by Symon shows India reserving airspace up to 28,000 feet for the exercise, indicating its scale. The ministry said the drill features amphibious operations off the Saurashtra coast, offensive manoeuvres in the creek and desert sectors, and integrated missions across air, land, and sea. “Troops from Southern Command will actively participate to validate joint operations across diverse terrains,” it said.
Experts say these moves reflect deterrence more than escalation. “This is calibrated signalling, both sides asserting readiness,” said a regional military analyst to India Today. “But when activities occur in the same area, the risk of misinterpretation increases.”
Adding to the ongoing military activity, Pakistan has issued another NAVAREA alert for live firing exercises in the Arabian Sea from November 2 to 5, covering waters near the disputed Sir Creek region and India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The 135-kilometer notification advises commercial and civilian vessels to avoid the zone during the exercise window.
Defence sources suggest the drills may include missile testing and trials of upgraded submarine-launched torpedoes. This latest warning adds to a series of NOTAMs and NAVAREA restrictions issued by Pakistan throughout November, signaling heightened vigilance amid India’s Trishul exercise along the western front.
While both governments maintain that the exercises are routine, the timing and location, particularly near Sir Creek, underscore ongoing tension and strategic watchfulness along the maritime boundary.
According to defence officials cited by CNN-News18, Trishul is the first major tri-service wargame since Operation Sindoor and is designed to test and validate joint coordination across diverse terrains. The Indian Air Force is deploying Rafales, Su-30MKIs, UAVs, IL-78 refuellers, and AEW&C platforms, while the Navy fields frontline warships for realistic maritime combat simulations.
The Army has mobilised around 25,000 personnel with tanks, artillery, helicopters, and missile systems, alongside live testing of several indigenous platforms under operational conditions.
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