NEW DELHI: India’s major naval combat edge over Pakistan will begin to somewhat erode from next year onwards when the latter begins inducting eight advanced Hangor-class diesel-electric submarines from China. India’s long-pending conventional submarine-building plan, in sharp contrast, is yet to even kick off. Pakistan Navy chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf has confirmed in interviews to Chinese state media that the first Hangor-class submarine will enter active service next year. All eight boats, four each being built in China and Pakistan, under the estimated $5 billion deal, will be delivered by 2028. They will boost Pakistan’s ability to patrol the north Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean, he said. The Hangor or Type 039A Yuan-class submarines, in addition to having advanced sensors and

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