ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, May 16 (UPI) -- As part of its military expansion plans, Pakistan has ordered four frigates from Greece to beef up its warship arsenal and enlarged a military pact with China.
An Indian Navy intelligence report said Wednesday that Pakistan has added to an existing agreement with China to build four F-22P frigates in Karachi, beginning next year.
According to the report, the Pakistani Navy has seven frigates, compared with 13 owned by India. By the end of 2007, Pakistan will have 11 frigates to India's 14. By 2012, the two countries may have the same number of frigates in their navies.
"From the maritime defense point of view, Islamabad's move to build up its frigate strength is significant. While India has long held that its possession of an aircraft carrier gave it a sizeable operational edge over other navies of the South Asian region, including Pakistan's, both navies are now looking at frigates as compact and power-backed platforms capable of the full spectrum of offensive profiles," a senior Indian Navy official said.
Frigates, the official explained, are usually 3,000-4,000 ton warships, wedged in every sense between missile corvettes at the lower end and the much more heavily armed and longer range destroyers at the upper end, with specialization in anti-submarine warfare, though newer variants have multiple roles.
The report said the Indian Navy is also keeping tabs on the ongoing visit of Pakistani Navy Chief Admiral Mohammad Afzal Tahir to China to push ahead talks on co-production of F-22P frigates in Pakistan.
The Indian Navy has long been expressing concern over Beijing's rapid manufacture and procurement of warships.
