Origin 's service as
Diablo in 1964 The Pakistan Navy Submarine Force was established on 1 June 1964, making it one of the earliest submarine forces in South Asia. The creation of the Submarine Force is attributed to vice admiral
Afzal Rahman Khan, who was the naval commander-in-chief at the time and played a central role in its development. Its formation served as
a significant development in the Pakistan's
maritime history. The force began operations with the induction of the USS
Diablo, later renamed PNS
Ghazi, a
GUPPY II submarine, from the United States
Early years (1960s–1970s) Following the induction of
Ghazi, the Submarine Force was deployed during
Operation Desert Hawk of the
Indo-Pakistani war of 1965. The submarine was stationed in the Indian Ocean, where its presence contributed to the
strategic positioning of the Pakistan Navy. During the conflict,
Ghazi was deployed off India's western coast, and its presence led to the
Indian Navy's
Western Fleet remaining in port, reducing the naval threats faced by Pakistan. In the 1970s, the Pakistan Navy Submarine Force expanded with the induction of three s from France. These submarines, commissioned as , , and between 1969 and 1970, increased the number of operational submarines in the fleet. During the
Indo-Pakistani war of 1971,
Hangor conducted a patrol along India's western coast, where it sank the Indian Navy's
frigate on 9 December 1971. This attack was the first submarine strike by Submarine Force on a
surface ship since
World War II. These actions contributed to the disruption of
Indian naval operations in the region and contributed to the protection to Pakistan-bound shipping.
Expansion After the 1971 war, the Submarine Force continued to update its services. In 1975, negotiations with the
Portuguese Navy led to the acquisition of a
Daphné-class submarine, which was renamed . The submarine underwent a major refit in France and was re-commissioned in 1977. In the late 1970s, the Pakistan Navy negotiated with France for the acquisition of
Agosta 70-class submarines, leading to the induction of two submarines, and , in the early 1980s. These submarines featured more advanced technology compared to earlier platforms in the component. In the 1990s, the Navy advanced its submarine capabilities with the introduction of s, accompanied with
air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems. The
Agosta 90B class, designed by DCN (
Direction des Constructions Navales), provided enhanced submerged endurance, improved
sonar systems, and updated weapons capabilities. This class incorporated several modern systems, including
VLF linear
towed array sonar,
photonics mast, and an integrated combat system designed to support
detection and response in various operational environments. == Role and responsibilities ==