Turkey: Pak Navy Ships, Aircraft, applauded in Int’l drills

Pakistan Navy ships PNS Alamgir and P3C Air Craft participated in international naval drills held in Turkey.

According to Navy Spokesperson, the exercises held from 9^th till 21^st November. Pakistani ships also participated in a bilateral exercise between Pakistan and Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean along with the Turkish Navy.

Spokesperson said that Pak Navy has always been instrumental in ensuring the region’s maritime security.

Organized under the administration of the Turkish Naval Forces Command and launched on Nov. 9, the drill included the participation of 40 observers from Azerbaijan, Brazil, Georgia, Italy, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Qatar. Frigates and other naval crafts from Pakistan, Bulgaria, Romania, the U.S. and Jordan also participated in the Eastern Mediterranean-2019 Drill, the exercises aimed at enhancing skills and tactics.

During drills, the international community’s attention was also drawn on Indian atrocities in Kashmir and the principle of Pakistan’s stand on Kashmir.

On the other hand, Turkish media also reported that the spokesman of the Pakistani Embassy in Ankara, Abdul Akbar said that “Pakistan and Turkey enjoy close fraternal ties. As brothers in arms, Pakistan and Turkey’s navies have also maintained warm and cordial relations for decades. The interaction between the two navies includes regular exercises, port calls, training exchange programs and collaboration in naval construction.”

“The PNS Alamgir’s participation in Eastern Mediterranean-2019 is a manifestation of the strong bond the two navies enjoy and our firm commitment to cooperation in the name of enhancing mutual understanding,” Akbar added.

Turkish media also reported that as a country that has significantly geared up its cooperation with Ankara, particularly in the naval sphere, Pakistan was the prominent participant in the drill, contributing with its PNS Alamgir (F260), an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate, as well as a maritime patrol aircraft and a naval Special Forces team.