Indian Ocean serves as linkage spot for global Sea Lines of Communications (SLOCs) emerging from both hemispheres. Presence of oil rich states in Middle East & transportation of major chunk of Oil trade through Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman is of significant eco strategic importance. The rise of two Economic Giants i.e. China & India in lieu of their Export-Import based trade economy has put Indian Ocean in lime light. Pakistan, a smaller economy but credible military power, also heavily relies on its sea- based trade for business and power-energy supplies making it direct competitor against India. This leading role has put New Delhi & Islamabad eye to eye particularly in maritime competition in lieu of rapidly developing China Pakistan Economic Corridor project (CPEC). CPEC project has significantly merged the interests of both China & Pakistan. As a result, both states are supporting each other at every level to secure their mutual interests. India, in similar fashion, in cooperation with United States is looking to tackle the combined threat of China & Pakistan in Indian Ocean. For China, Indian Ocean is survival route for its economy & back up for its supplies provided that Washington & its allies put blockade in South China Sea following some conflict. For United States, dominance in Indian Ocean can guarantee the monopoly of Washington over Global petroleum trade resulting in overwhelming advantages at economic, diplomatic & strategic levels. 

India, the fastest growing economy & second largest population do not have its own hydrocarbon energy sources. In North & West, it is isolated by hostile neighbors with natural source rich Central Asia & Middle East. In West, there is no state with natural sources. This has put restriction on India to rely purely on sea for oil supplies. Thus, the security of its SLOCs in order to keep supplies open for Civilian & Military consumption is of prime focus for India. Moreover, India fears the existence of Chinese Pearl of Stings Strategy, which upon implementation can introduce People Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in Indian Ocean, can threaten Indian dominance. Beijing can achieve this strategy by winning military & political support in South Asian states in order to project power as pressurizing tool against India provided that a conflict emerge in the specific region. This dual threat has forced Indian navy to develop an offensive doctrine involving usage of its both Eastern command & Western naval commands. 

Indian Eastern command head quartered in Vishakhapatnam is specifically raised to repel any Chinese naval threat and keep neighboring smaller states in check. Along-side mainland India, it also has naval bases in strategically important Nicobar & Andaman Islands. Both these Islands serve as first line of defense for Indian navy by choking any possible PLAN strike force in Malacca straits. Key assets deployed by IN in this command are, INS Chakra which is SSN (Nuclear powered submarine) and in near future IN will move air craft carrier INS Viraat in Eastern Indian waters for developing carrier builder group (CBG) supported by Rajput class destroyers, Shavlik class frigates and Sindhu Ghosh class diesel electric subs. This CBG will be used for long range power projection in Eastern Indian Ocean against any eminent threat. 

The Western Indian Ocean strategic environment is pretty interesting as it involves both Pakistan & India directly and China & United States in directly in competing grounds. India has specifically designed its Western fleet which has Head Quarter (HQ) in Mumbai. This fleet has air craft carrier INS Viraat which will be eventually replaced by INS Vikramditya. 

INS Vikramditya along-side Kolkata class destroyers & Delhi class frigates are specifically meant for offensive power projection in Arabian Sea. This fleet is very likely to collide with Pakistan Navy (PN) in case of Sea conflict. The doctrinal posture of Western fleet revolves around the concept of naval blockade of Pakistan for choking Pakistan’s supplies and secure its own oil SLOCs originating from Persian Gulf. This posture has seen its implementation by deployment of Anti Access – Area Denial (A2A-AD) assets like Maritime Petrol Air craft (P8 Neptune) and conventional hunter killer submarines (SSK).