A planned joint naval exercise between Pakistan and Sri Lanka near the strategically vital Trincomalee harbour was quietly called off weeks ago after India raised objections, PTI reported, citing sources.
The drills, part of routine military ties between Colombo and Islamabad, were shelved following New Delhi’s intervention.
Trincomalee, on Sri Lanka’s northeastern coast, is considered a strategic asset with the potential to dominate the Bay of Bengal and northeast Indian Ocean.
In recent years, India has stepped up its strategic engagement in Sri Lanka, especially in Trincomalee, with plans to develop the area into a regional energy hub.
A defence pact was also inked, institutionalising military cooperation nearly four decades after relations were strained by the Indian Peace Keeping Force’s intervention.
India has also provided military aid, including a Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft in 2022 to support Sri Lanka’s security needs.
