Somalia-Pakistan Defence Ties Draw India’s Attention in the Indian Ocean

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s rapidly expanding defence ties with Pakistan are drawing India’s attention as New Delhi closely monitors Islamabad’s emerging role in the Horn of Africa and the western Indian Ocean.

The development comes after Somali Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi visited Pakistan this month with senior military officials, including the heads of Somalia’s navy and air force.

During the visit, Fiqi held talks with Pakistan’s army, air force and navy leadership. The two sides agreed to expand cooperation in military training, counterterrorism, maritime security and the development of Somalia’s defence capabilities.

The delegation also visited Pakistani military educational institutions and defence industries, suggesting that the partnership extends beyond military training.

India said on Aug. 7 that it was closely monitoring developments in relations between Somalia and Pakistan, as New Delhi also watches shifting security dynamics in the Middle East, Red Sea and Indian Ocean.

Gurjit Singh, a former Indian ambassador to Ethiopia, Djibouti and the African Union, has described Somalia as a potential new strategic frontier for Pakistan in the region.

Singh has argued that the growing ties between Mogadishu and Islamabad go beyond a conventional defence partnership and could have implications for the wider competition for influence in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.

Somalia’s strategic location is central to the issue. Its long coastline stretches along the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, while the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a key maritime passage linking the Indian Ocean with the Red Sea and Suez Canal, lies to its north.

India has long regarded maritime security off Somalia as strategically important. Its navy has conducted anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and off Somalia since 2008, helping protect commercial shipping.

Pakistan, meanwhile, is a major military power in the Indian Ocean and a longstanding rival of India in South Asia.

A deeper military relationship between Pakistan and Somalia could therefore carry broader strategic significance for New Delhi, even if the partnership is primarily focused on Somalia’s security needs.

There is no publicly announced agreement giving Pakistan a military base in Somalia, permanent access to a port or permission to deploy combat forces there.

The cooperation announced so far has focused on training, counterterrorism, technical assistance, institutional development and maritime security.

However, the scope of recent engagements suggests Islamabad is seeking to develop a broader defence relationship with Mogadishu.

Fiqi met Pakistan’s Chief of Naval Staff Adm. Naveed Ashraf, with discussions focusing on maritime security and strengthening Somalia’s naval and coast guard capabilities. He also met Pakistan’s air force leadership to discuss training and support for Somalia’s air capabilities.

The Somali delegation visited Pakistan’s National Defence University and Global Industrial & Defence Solutions, a state-owned defence company, further highlighting the potential for cooperation in defence technology and equipment.

For Somalia, the partnership comes as the government seeks to strengthen its armed forces and assume greater responsibility for national security amid its long-running fight against Al-Shabaab.

Pakistan could offer Somalia military training, counterinsurgency experience and expertise in air and maritime capabilities, while Islamabad could gain greater diplomatic and strategic engagement in a region of growing importance.

The relationship also comes as Pakistan expands its security ties beyond South Asia, including with Turkey and Saudi Arabia, both of which maintain significant strategic interests in Somalia and the wider Red Sea region.

There is no indication that Somalia, Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia are forming a joint military alliance. But Pakistan’s growing engagement with Somalia places it in a region where several of its partners already have established security and strategic interests.

For now, the expanding Somalia-Pakistan defence relationship does not amount to a new military confrontation with India. But its growing scope and Somalia’s strategic position mean New Delhi is likely to continue watching Islamabad’s activities in the Horn of Africa and the western Indian Ocean closely.

GAROWE ONLINE