PNS Iqbal

{{short description|Pakistan Navy's base for special operations forces.}}

{{infobox military unit

|unit_name= PNS Iqbal

|image=Pakistan Navy emblem.svg

|caption=Badge of Pakistan Navy

|dates={{start date and age|1966}}

|country= {{flagicon|Pakistan}} Pakistan

|allegiance=

|branch= {{navy|PAK}}

|type= Naval Base

|role=

|size=

|command_structure=

|garrison=Karachi coast, Sindh, Pakistan

|garrison_label=

|nickname=IQBAL

|patron=

|motto=

|colors=

|colors_label=

|march=

|mascot=

}}

The Pakistan Navy Station Iqbal (reporting name: PNS Iqbal) is a naval base located off the Karachi coast, Sindh, Pakistan.{{rp|280}}{{cite book |last1=Shah |first1=Mian Zahir |title=Bubbles of Water: Or, Anecdotes of the Pakistan Navy |date=2001 |publisher=PN Book Club Publication |isbn=9789698318031 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=goDfAAAAMAAJ&q=Iqbal |accessdate=21 February 2019 |language=en}} The PNS Iqbal serves as the command post of the Pakistan Navy Special Service Group that were commissioned in 1966.{{cite web|last1=Navy ISPR|title=Pakistan Navy Official Website|url=http://www.paknavy.gov.pk/iqbal.html|website=www.paknavy.gov.pk|publisher=Navy ISPR|accessdate=16 November 2016}}{{rp|280}}{{cite book |last1=Shah |first1=Mian Zahir |title=Bubbles of Water: Or, Anecdotes of the Pakistan Navy |date=2001 |publisher=PN Book Club Publication |isbn=9789698318031 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=goDfAAAAMAAJ&q=Iqbal |accessdate=21 February 2019 |language=en}}

Besides serving as the headquarter of the Special Service Group (Navy), the PNS Iqbal is a submarine base for the Cosmos-class submarine, and served as a submarine base since its establishment in 1968.{{cite web|title=PNS Iqbal|url=http://www.paknavy.gov.pk/ssg_Marines.html|website=www.paknavy.gov.pk|publisher=Pakistan Navy Official Website|accessdate=16 November 2016}}{{rp|286}}{{cite book|last1=Hiranandani|first1=G. M.|title=Transition to Triumph: History of the Indian Navy, 1965-1975|year=2000|publisher=Lancer Publishers|isbn=9781897829721|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zFyMKROi46kC&dq=PNS+Iqbal+1967&pg=PA108|accessdate=16 November 2016|language=en}}{{rp|78}}{{cite book |last1=Sharma |first1=Rajeev |title=Pak Proxy War: A Story of Isi Bin Laden and Kargil |date=1999 |publisher=Kaveri Book Service |isbn=9788174790354 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gQxvAAAAMAAJ&q=PNS+Iqbal |language=en}}

The School of Special Operations Forces is also based in the PNS Iqbal where navy personnels are trained, qualified, and certified for special operations including qualified in advanced underwater diving courses.

In 1991, the PNS Iqbal was selected to be served as the temporary operational base for the Pakistan Marines when the 1st Marines Battalion was established before the Marines were relocated at Qasim Fort located in the PNS Qasim in Karachi coast.{{rp|584}}{{cite book |last1=Jane |first1=Frederick Thomas |title=Jane's Fighting Ships |date=2010 |publisher=S. Low, Marston & Company |isbn=9780710629203 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WcsqAQAAMAAJ&q=Iqbal |language=en}}