Pakistan Navy Concludes SEASPARK-2026, Reviews Combat Readiness for Maritime Threats
KARACHI: The Pakistan Navy has concluded SEASPARK-2026, its major biennial maritime exercise, after six weeks of drills designed to validate operational plans and test combat readiness against evolving maritime threats.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf attended the concluding session in Karachi as chief guest on Wednesday, according to a statement issued by the Directorate General Public Relations (Pakistan Navy).
The exercise, under way since September 1, rehearsed the full spectrum of maritime operations. It placed particular emphasis on Multi-Domain Operations, including Operations in the Information Environment and the cognitive domain, alongside conventional kinetic operations at sea.
SEASPARK-2026 tested modern warfare concepts
Addressing the closing session, Admiral Ashraf said current security challenges demand continuous review of operational plans through detailed deliberations and war-gaming exercises. He said the lessons drawn from SEASPARK-2026 would help align conceptual planning with strategic and operational realities.
The Naval Chief highlighted the importance of coordination among the three armed services, stressing tri-services synergy across both the physical battlespace and the information domain. Unmanned systems featured heavily in this year’s drills, reflecting how modern navies are adapting to drone and autonomous warfare.
The exercise sought to improve coordination between different operational elements and strengthen the Navy’s ability to gain advantage across interconnected domains during maritime operations. The concluding session drew officers from all three services, the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency and civil organisations.
From launch to conclusion
The exercise opened on September 2 with Admiral Ashraf presiding over the opening brief in Karachi, flanked by senior officers from across the armed forces. In his opening address, he had stressed that the evolving security environment demands uncompromising readiness and enhanced tri-service integration.
Midway through the drills, on September 20, the Naval Chief visited units at sea and in the strategically sensitive Creeks Area along the maritime border to review the conduct of the exercise. He expressed satisfaction over the professional excellence, morale and operational readiness of the participating personnel.
SEASPARK is conducted every two years to rehearse the transition from peacetime deployments to wartime operations. This year’s edition was explicitly framed around the changing character of war, with information-environment operations sitting alongside traditional naval manoeuvres.
Why it matters
Pakistan’s Arabian Sea coastline and its position along vital energy shipping lanes make maritime security a core national interest. Exercises like SEASPARK-2026 serve both as readiness checks and as signals of deterrence in a region where naval competition is intensifying. The Navy’s operational tempo has been high this year, from a major narcotics seizure in the Arabian Sea to the ongoing security challenges in the Strait of Hormuz.
The emphasis on multi-domain and information operations also mirrors a global shift. Modern maritime conflict is fought as much in the electromagnetic spectrum and cyberspace as on the water, and the Navy’s public messaging suggests it is organising accordingly.
Frequently asked questions
What is SEASPARK-2026?
It is the Pakistan Navy’s major biennial maritime exercise, held this year from September 1 to October 14, rehearsing the full spectrum of naval operations from peacetime deployments to wartime footing.
What was new in this year’s exercise?
SEASPARK-2026 emphasised Multi-Domain Operations, Operations in the Information Environment, the cognitive domain and the extensive use of unmanned systems.
Who attended the concluding session?
Admiral Naveed Ashraf was chief guest, with officers from the army, navy, air force, the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency and civil organisations present.
*Sources: Directorate General Public Relations (Pakistan Navy) via The Public Purview; ISPR statements, October 14, 2026.*
