New Delhi is closely monitoring Pakistan's expanding defense ties with Somalia following a new military cooperation agreement signed recently in Islamabad. India's foreign ministry confirmed on August 7 that it is tracking these developments, as the partnership brings Islamabad closer to the strategically important western edge of the Indian Ocean. The defense relationship gained further attention following a recent Firstpost analysis by Gurjit Singh, a former Indian ambassador to Ethiopia, Djibouti, the African Union, and ASEAN. Singh argues that the agreement represents more than just a training pact. He suggests it offers Pakistan an opportunity to establish a strategic presence across a maritime region connecting the Gulf, the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean. Somalia and Pakistan are moving well beyond standard diplomatic exchanges. Somali Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi travelled to Islamabad this month alongside senior military commanders to deepen cooperation in counter-terrorism, capacity building, and military training. During the visit, Fiqi met directly with the leadership of Pakistan’s army, navy, and air force, indicating a push for a broad institutional relationship rather than an isolated training program. A significant portion of the talks focused on maritime security. Fiqi met with Pakistan's naval chief, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, to discuss strengthening Somalia’s maritime capabilities as Mogadishu works to secure its more than 3,300-kilometre coastline along the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. The Somali delegation also visited Pakistan’s National Defence University and the state-owned Global Industrial & Defence Solutions, which markets Pakistani military equipment internationally. This follows reports from February that Somalia was in discussions to acquire up to 24 Pakistani JF-17 fighter jets, though no purchase has been finalized. India's concerns stem from Somalia's critical position near the Gulf of Aden and the approaches to the Bab el-Mandeb strait. This waterway connects the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, acting as a crucial route for Asian trade and energy shipments. The Indian Navy has maintained an anti-piracy presence off the Somali coast since 2008 to protect merchant shipping. With Pakistan acting as India's primary regional rival, Islamabad's sustained military engagement on the opposite side of the Arabian Sea alters New Delhi's strategic calculus, even without the establishment of a formal military base. Indian analysts had already begun questioning the implications of the defense pact last year. Pakistan's engagement in Somalia aligns with its growing security role beyond South Asia. Islamabad recently signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, both of which already maintain significant interests in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea. Türkiye currently operates a major military training facility in Mogadishu and recently extended its mission there until 2028, while Saudi Arabia is increasingly focused on Red Sea security to protect its western coastline. While there is no announced joint military bloc, Pakistan is establishing ties in a region where its closest partners already hold substantial influence. Pakistan historically played only a limited security role in the Horn of Africa, outside of its participation in UN operations in Somalia during the 1990s. Despite the expanding cooperation, there are no confirmed plans for a Pakistani military base, permanent port access, or combat troop deployments in Somalia. Singh notes that Pakistan is unlikely to send large numbers of troops to fight Al-Shabaab. Instead, the current agreements center strictly on training, institutional development, and defense technology. Mogadishu views the partnership as a practical step to rebuild its armed forces and secure its waters using relatively affordable defense technology. Somalia adds Pakistan to a list of international military partners that includes Türkiye and the United States, while simultaneously maintaining diplomatic ties with India, recently thanking New Delhi for supporting Somali sovereignty. For Somali citizens watching the ongoing transition of security responsibilities, the immediate effect of this defense partnership will appear in military procurement and training pipelines rather than the arrival of foreign combat troops. If discussions regarding hardware like the JF-17 fighter jets result in a finalized purchase, it introduces a new supplier of military equipment for the national armed forces as they gradually take over domestic operations from departing international missions.