Navy for drills with Friendly nations

[Sulman Badshah]

TANZANIA Naval Command will conduct a military training with their counterparts from Pakistan, China and South Africa that is geared towards fighting transnational crime and piracy in the Indian Ocean.

The Fleet Commander in Tanzanian Navy, Brigadier General Richard Makanzo, said in Dar es Salaam that the three-day training would be an ideal platform for four armies to share ideas and exchange experiences.

“We need collective efforts including sharing key information to fight piracy and transnational crime,” said the Fleet Commander after the arrival of three warships from South Africa, Pakistan and China es Salaam at Dar es Salaam Port.

Brigadier General Makanzo pointed out that Tanzania’s naval command has different programmes with the three armies and that the naval command would carry out the military training with the countries separately.

The South Africa ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Thami Mseleku, said the joint training cements the historical ties between Tanzania and South Africa, saying Tanzania played a great role during a liberation struggle in South Africa. In another development, Pakistan Navy ship (PNS) ASLAT yesterday docked at Dar es Salaam Port for a training visit in the city from March 10 to 16, this year.

In a statement issued by the Pakistan High Commission in Dar es Salaam, the stopover of PNS ASLAT in Dar es Salaam is part of the goodwill visits and training cruises to be undertaken to the Ports of some other friendly countries.

“The ship is paying this goodwill visit under the command of Captain Ijaz Ahmad of the Pakistan Navy,” read part of the statement. It said the visit is a landmark in the broader framework of close, cooperative and friendly relationship between the armed forces and navies of Pakistan and Tanzania and on the other, a reaffirmation of our commitment to promoting bilateral relations in diverse fields.

“The visit will also provide an opportunity to the Navies of the two countries to share professional experiences and discuss future prospects of cooperation,” the statement observed.

The statement further pointed out that the three-day visit to Dar es Salaam, will cover a host of activities including meetings and courtesy calls of Pakistan navy officers on high-ranking Tanzanian Navy, Air Force and Army officers as well as engagements such as a visit to a local school and orphanage in Dar es Salaam to participate in charity and social work.

According to the statement, the Charge d’ Affaires of Pakistan Amir Muhammad Khan will host a welcoming reception in honour of Pakistan Navy officers and Tanzanian dignitaries, and high ranking civil and defence forces officers.

The Commander and officers of PNS ASLAT will also host a reception on board the Ship. The Tanzanian and Pakistani Navies will also conduct joint training exercises. PNS ASLAT is Pakistan Navy’s frontline ship, which is fitted with stateof- the art weapons and sensors.

The ship’s motto, “Attack and Vanquish” signifies the ability and willingness of her crew to ensure that ASLAT is ready to thwart any peril to her nation’s security. ASLAT is “Sword of Pakistan Navy” serving the nation with honour, courage and commitment.