Indian Navy Conducts Missile Drills Near Pakistan Amid Rising Tensions

Defense & Strategic Affairs Bureau, NEW DELHI - Amid simmering regional tensions, the Indian Navy has announced a series of live-fire exercises off the Gujarat coast—just 85 nautical miles from an area where Pakistan is currently conducting its own naval drills in the Arabian Sea. The Indian Navy has issued four "green notifications" valid from April 30 to May 3, 2025, signaling an intensified phase of operational readiness and strategic signaling in the region.

What Are Green Notifications?

In maritime parlance, a “green notification” is an official public advisory issued by naval authorities to alert civilian and commercial maritime traffic of scheduled live-firing exercises in a specified zone.

Image via: India Today

These notices are critical for ensuring maritime safety and avoiding accidental interference with military operations.

Close Proximity to Pakistan Naval Activities

The location of these Indian naval drills is noteworthy, lying in close proximity to where Pakistan has simultaneously been issuing its own missile firing notifications. 

Over the past week, Pakistan has released four such advisories, although none of the announced missile launches have materialized so far, according to defense sources familiar with regional surveillance activities.

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The Indian Navy, which has been tracking these developments closely, views Pakistan's repeated notifications without action as a potential signaling move—either as a deterrent or a test of regional responses.

Strategic Context: Heightened Security Following Pahalgam Attack

These naval maneuvers come against the backdrop of escalating hostilities following a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives. 

Indian defense officials believe the incident has heightened the strategic stakes, leading to a more visible demonstration of force in the maritime domain.

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“The timing and proximity of these exercises are not coincidental,” said a senior Indian naval analyst. “They’re meant to reaffirm India’s preparedness while sending a clear message of deterrence.”

Display of Firepower: BrahMos Missile Launches

In recent days, Indian Navy warships have executed a series of high-profile missile drills in the Arabian Sea, including successful firings of the supersonic BrahMos anti-ship and anti-surface cruise missiles.

These exercises are designed to validate both offensive strike precision and defensive combat preparedness.

Indian Navy’s long-range precision strike capability was demonstrated today when land-attack version of BrahMos missile was fired by a warship on target at maximum range.

The missile was launched by guided missile destroyer & it achieved desired mission objectives. pic.twitter.com/1XZGbZbQDF

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) May 1, 2025

Images and footage shared by the Navy reveal BrahMos missiles being launched from frontline destroyers under combat simulation conditions—underscoring India’s maritime strike capabilities and technological edge in the region.

A Broader Strategic Signal

Military experts believe these parallel exercises—conducted by both Indian and Pakistani navies—reflect a broader pattern of show-of-force tactics increasingly common in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). 

The Indian Navy’s emphasis on real missile firings, as opposed to notifications without action, may be intended to highlight its operational credibility.

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“The message is that India will not only monitor the maritime front but is ready and willing to act decisively if the situation demands,” said Lt. Gen. (Retd) D.S. Hooda, a former Northern Army Commander.

The Bigger Picture: Regional Naval Dynamics

This latest development adds another layer to the complex naval landscape of the Arabian Sea, a critical waterway for global trade and regional power projection. 

With China expanding its maritime footprint through Pakistan's Gwadar Port and growing Indian-U.S. naval cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, the Indian Navy’s current posture is also a broader reflection of India’s strategic ambitions.

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Both nations remain on high alert, and while these drills are routine in appearance, their timing and location point to a calculated calibration of power, posture, and preparedness in an increasingly volatile maritime theater.

Sources: Indian Navy, Defence Ministry (India), regional defense analysts, verified public maritime alerts, and open-source intelligence.