With an extensive coastline stretching 1046 km along the Arabian Sea and geographical proximity with strategically important Persian Gulf, Pakistan holds paramount importance in maritime domain. Pakistan total maritime area is 290,000 sq-km comprising of 240,000 sq-km of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and 50,000 sq-km of extended continental shelf. Pakistan's primary area of interest is North Arabian Sea, while extended area of interest covers broader Western Indian Ocean. Pakistan relies on maritime trade for almost 95 percent of its exports and imports. In sum, Pakistan is overwhelmingly dependent on maritime domain for its sustenance and progression.

The maritime boundaries are difficult to monitor making them vulnerable to cross-border illicit activities. Many important maritime choke points in the Indian Ocean region are located in proximity of politically unstable regions. This has resulted in spread of low-intensity and non-traditional threats, like piracy, human smuggling, arms trafficking, narcotics, and maritime terrorism. These non-traditional threats are inter-linked and are more prominent in Red Sea and Horn of Africa.

Piracy in the Indian Ocean, particularly near Horn of Africa, has been a non-traditional security threat to regional maritime trade. Pirates, operating from the Somali coastline, often target commercial vessels, using small, fast boats to board and hijack larger ships and take crew as hostage for ransom. Frequent pirates attack compromise the safety of shipping, crew members, and cargo transportation, compelling shipping companies to undertake security measures or even shift to longer routes which results in higher expenditure. This badly affects the regulated flow of maritime transit from Indian Ocean to Mediterranean Sea via Red Sea.

To counter piracy, collaborative measures have been taken by nations to secure global sea transit. In this regard, Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151) has been functional which specifically focuses on counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia. CTF-151 aims to deter, disrupt, and suppress piracy in the region, contributing to the safety of maritime traffic and the protection of critical shipping lanes. Till date, CTF-151 has been led by Bahrain, Brazil, Denmark, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, the Philippines, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, the UK, and the U.S. The successful deployment of naval task forces and increased security measures by the shipping industry contributed to this positive trend. Pakistan Navy has commanded CTF-151 ten times. (29 Nov 2010, 27 Sep 2011, 13 Dec 2012, 06 Jun 2013, 27 Feb 2014, 26 Feb 2015, 21 Dec 2015, 27 Oct 2016, 09 Dec 2020, 14 Apr 2022), and is expected to command CTF-151 in future too.

Beside multi-lateral CTF-151, in parallel, PN also undertakes Regional Maritime Security Patrols (RMSP) to ensure maritime security and counter non-traditional threats including piracy, trafficking, and terrorism etc. With growing requirement and enhancement in capability, PN has recently expanded area of operation for RMSP. Unlike, past, when only RMSP-North and RMSP-South were conducted, PN is now undertaking RMSP-North, RMSP-South West and RMSP-South East. This expansion will allow PN to play even bigger role in curbing non-traditional security threats - including piracy in IOR.

To better full-fill its security obligations, PN has undertaken necessary force modernization program. The recent commissioning of four Off-Shore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) named PNS Yarmook, PNS Tabuk, PNS Hunain, and PNS Yamama, is most eminent step in this regard. These mid-size OPVs have low operational costs, and can comfortably operate in open-seas. These OPVs can carry helicopter and UAVs and are equipped with variety of weapon systems - both lethal as well as non-lethal, to better adopt according to flexible mission requirements. Previously, PN front line surface combatants, i.e. frigates were used for high-end as well as low-end duties. But with commissioning of mid-tier assets, like aforementioned four OPVs, the top-tier frigates will now be more focused towards traditional security roles. Interestingly, these OPVs are also designed to support anti-ship cruise missiles. This indicates that in case of hostilities, these OPVs can be equipped with guided weapons, essentially transforming these ships into corvettes and making them suitable for traditional as well as non-traditional security duties. Currently, however, these OPVs have low operational costs and are now being deployed for patrolling and policies duties in IOR. The increased presence of PN in IOR will help to secure regional sea-lines of communication from non-traditional threats, including piracy, and will also contribute in consolidating mutual collaboration with regional as well as extra-regional naval powers.

Globally, number of pirates attack world-wide gradually reduced from 445 incidents to 115 incidents in time period of 2010-2022. However in 2023, according to IMB annual report, 120 incidents of maritime piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported. In 2024, 103 piracy and armed robbery related incidents have been reported world-wide including only eight incidents in Indian Ocean. Since 01 January 2023, the designation of the Indian Ocean High Risk Area (HRA) put in place by the shipping industry has been rescinded, due to the improved piracy situation in the region.

While the primary focus of piracy has historically been in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia, the proximity of these piracy-prone areas to Pakistan's maritime routes in the Arabian Sea makes the threat relevant to the country. Surprisingly, highest incidents have been observed in the Singapore straits. A dedicated task force for counter-piracy operations in Singapore straits can help curbing this emerging threat. Pakistan can share its experience as well as learning with Singapore, Malaysia and other regional players to counter rise of piracy. Although threat of piracy is often downplayed and it does not receive as much coverage as other maritime threats, but its ramifications can extend beyond security concerns, affecting the economy by depriving the government of revenue and disrupting maritime economy. Since oceans are global common, therefore continued collaborative efforts are required by all stake-holders to ensure good order at sea.