Replying to a question after giving a talk on `Safeguarding India's Maritime Interests' organised by The Indian Maritime Foundation here, the Vice Admiral said Pakistan held an impressive fleet of six submarines.

Besides Pakistan will be soon acquiring three new state-of-the-art submarines which have independent air propulsion system, which, he said, was an alarming development, while expressing serious concern over the latter's growing naval power.

The new submarines can remain submerged for 15 to 20 days in water which make them all the more devastating, he said. Vice Admiral Singh added that the neighbour was much better off than India in long range maritime patrolling.

``India needs to focus on this aspectas the navy essentially needs long range maritime patrolling aircraft for a better defence,'' he said.Emphasising on the need for a bigger share for the Navy in the nation's Defence budget, he lamented that while ``it was possible to convince the people but difficult to get the things done.'' ``Our life has been made more and more difficult due to lack of strategic thinking,'' he said while explaining the fact that Naval Defence plans had to be adjusted according to the budget outlay and not vice-versa as in ideal conditions.

Vice Admiral Singh also asserted that maritime interests were related to the national interests.