Pakistan marked Hangor Day with tributes to the unmatched courage of the submarine Hangor and its crew, whose actions in the 1971 war reshaped naval history in the region. Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, recently appointed as Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and serving as Chief of Army Staff, led the commemoration, honouring the legendary feats of the crew. On 9 December 1971, Hangor sank the Indian Navy’s frigate INS Khukri and severely damaged INS Kirpan, shattering the adversary’s naval confidence and establishing Pakistan’s undersea warfare credentials.
A Legacy That Still Defines Naval Deterrence
Field Marshal Munir said the heroism displayed by the Hangor crew remains deeply etched in the enemy’s memory. He noted that the Pakistan Navy stood as a steel barrier at sea in 1971 and continues to serve as an impregnable shield of national defence today. Hangor Day, he added, reminds the world that Pakistan desires peace, while remaining unwavering in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Navy Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf said the Pakistan Navy is carrying forward the glowing legacy of Hangor. He announced that eight next-generation Hangor-class submarines will soon join the fleet, further strengthening Pakistan’s underwater capabilities. The Navy, he said, is fully prepared to respond to threats across every maritime front, just as it did in the past.
To commemorate the occasion, the Pakistan Navy released a documentary film titled Hadaf, based on the wartime diary of Hangor’s commanding officer, Vice Admiral (Retired) Ahmad Tasnim.
