Pakistan Navy denies involvement in US-led naval coalition against Houthis

Pakistan has turned down a US invitation to join the US-led Task Force 153, a naval coalition created to counter the Houthi attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea.

Pakistan Navy’s spokesperson said that the deployment of its ships in the Arabian Sea is for the security of its own trade routes and has nothing to do with the US operation against the Houthis, Mashriq TV website reports.

According to security sources, the US had invited Pakistan to join Task Force 153, which was formed in April 2022 to “focus on international maritime security and capacity building efforts in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb and the Gulf of Aden”. Egypt is a partner with the US in this effort. The task force operates within Operation Prosperity Guardian.

However, Pakistan declined the invitation and made it clear that it is not part of Task Force 153 or Operation Prosperity Guardian in the Red Sea, and has no connection with the US-allied attacks against the Houthis. Security sources said that Pakistan does not intend to join any coalition that is against the Palestinian cause.

Task Force 153 has gained more attention after the escalation of attacks by the Houthi rebels in Yemen on international shipping vessels in the Red Sea since October 2023. The Houthi movement is considered a proxy of Iran. Analysts indicate that these attacks are part of the rising tension in the Middle East region since the beginning of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.

The Houthi rebels have declared their support for Hamas and said they will target any ship traveling to Israel or supporting the Israeli occupation of Palestine. They have claimed responsibility for several attacks on commercial vessels with drones and missiles in the Red Sea.

In response, the US has launched an international naval operation to protect ships. Countries including the UK, Canada, France, Bahrain, Norway, and Spain have joined. Major shipping firms including the Mediterranean Shipping Company, Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, and the oil company BP have all said they are diverting vessels away from the Red Sea.

Washington has accused Iran of being “deeply involved” in planning operations against commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

The Pakistan Navy’s spokesperson emphasized ongoing patrols in the Arabian Sea to safeguard trade routes, including continuous aerial surveillance of commercial passages for the safety of both Pakistan and international merchant ships. Clearly stating the navy’s commitment to maintaining maritime peace, the spokesperson asserted that the Pakistan Navy is not aligned against the Palestinian issue or Hamas.

Affirming support for the Palestinian cause as per government policy, the spokesperson clarified the navy’s non-involvement in conflicts, highlighting its strategic presence at vital maritime passages like the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. The consistent naval presence in the Arabian Sea aims to secure Pakistan’s trade routes.