India, Dec. 28 -- China's decision to supply Pakistan with eight advanced submarines is not just a defence deal-it is a calculated geopolitical manoeuvre that deepens South Asia's fault lines and entrenches Pakistan as Beijing's maritime proxy against India.

China's transfer of eight Hangor-class submarines to Pakistan, valued at nearly $5 billion, is one of the largest defence deals in the region's history. The first of these submarines is expected to be inducted by 2026, with all delivered by 2028. These vessels, equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems, will significantly enhance Pakistan's ability to operate stealthily in the Arabian Sea, extending its reach and complicating India's naval calculus.

At first glance, the...