India’s ‘Trishul’ Military Drill Reflects Panic, Not Power: Pakistan Stays Measured Amid Provocation Near Sir Creek

Pakistan has calmly responded to India’s provocative Trishul tri-services drill near Sir Creek by issuing a precautionary NOTAM to ensure airspace safety. Islamabad views the exercise as a politically driven show of force, reflecting India’s insecurity and frustration after repeated military setbacks against Pakistan. While New Delhi engages in aggressive posturing, Pakistan’s measured and responsible approach highlights its strategic maturity and commitment to regional peace and stability.

 Islamabad | October 25, 2025

India’s announcement of its Trishul tri-services military exercise near the Pakistan border has stirred regional attention but in Islamabad, the move is seen less as a show of power and more as an act of desperation after consecutive military setbacks.

The large-scale exercise, running from October 30 to November 10 near Sir Creek, will involve India’s Army, Navy, and Air Force conducting joint operations in desert and coastal zones. The timing and location have raised eyebrows in Pakistan, which views the maneuver as a provocative attempt to project dominance following recent embarrassing losses in air confrontations.

In response, Pakistan issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) restricting parts of its southern airspace for October 28–29, a standard precaution to ensure civilian flight safety but also a subtle reminder of its preparedness.

Balakot to May 9: India’s Lingering Wounds

Pakistan’s defense observers trace India’s current aggressive behavior back to February 2019, when India conducted an airstrike in Balakot. The strike, which New Delhi claimed targeted militant camps, failed to inflict any significant damage. In retaliation, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) carried out Operation Swift Retort, shooting down two Indian jets and capturing a pilot, dealing a severe blow to India’s military prestige.

Those scars deepened on May 9, 2025, when tensions flared again and the PAF reportedly shot down seven Indian aircraft, including four Rafale fighter jets the pride of India’s air fleet. The engagement, widely discussed in regional defense circles as India’s ninth major aerial defeat, reinforced Pakistan’s superiority in air combat strategy, technology, and discipline.

Since then, Indian defense officials have faced mounting pressure to restore the military’s credibility. Analysts say that Trishul positioned near Pakistan’s maritime border is an attempt to rebuild domestic confidence and send a symbolic message of strength after repeated operational failures.

Provocation Disguised as Preparedness

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s recent remarks that any Pakistani move in Sir Creek would “change both history and geography” have been seen in Islamabad as a provocative escalation aimed at stoking nationalist sentiment before upcoming Indian elections.

Pakistani analysts say this rhetoric is not grounded in genuine security concerns but in political optics designed to distract from domestic discontent and defense embarrassments.

Satellite imagery showing Indian military activity up to 28,000 feet in the Sir Creek region underscores the unusual scale of the drill, suggesting a deliberate show of muscle near Pakistan’s borders. Yet, Pakistan’s restrained and procedural approach marked by the timely NOTAM reflects its strategic composure and confidence in deterrence.

Pakistan’s Posture: Readiness with Restraint

Officials in Islamabad stress that Pakistan has no interest in confrontation, but remains fully prepared to defend its sovereignty. The Sir Creek estuary, a disputed but manageable zone along the Sindh-Gujarat coast, has long been an area where restraint and communication are essential to avoid escalation.

“India’s military theatrics cannot change the balance of power,” said one senior Pakistani defense source. “We have demonstrated before and will demonstrate again if necessary that Pakistan’s defense is based on capability, not noise.”