Pakistan Navy ship arrives in Turkey for joint drills with NATO Navies

[Zain Malik]

ISLAMABAD: (APP) Pakistan Navy Ship, PNS ALAMGIR (FFG 260), a multi-mission Frigate of 25th Destroyer Squadron arrived at Aksaz Naval Base of Turkey with an embarked ASW Helicopter to participate in the Multinational Maritime Exercise MAVI Balina 2016.

The exercise, featuring NATO Navies, is being hosted by Turkish Navy in the Eastern Mediterranean, a press release received here Monday said.

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PNS ALAMGIR, commanded by Captain Imtiaz Ali, was given a very warm welcome on its arrival at Aksaz Naval Base.

On Sunday evening, Captain Imtiaz and Embassy of Pakistan hosted a reception onboard PNS ALAMGIR. Admiral Veysel K™SELE, Fleet Commander of Turkish Naval Forces was chief guest.

A large number of senior officers of Turkish Navy, participating navies, foreign defence attaches based in Turkey, and dignitaries of Mugla province attended the reception.

Rear Admiral Waseem Akram of Pakistan Navy and Naval Attache of Pakistan in Turkey Capt. Khan Mahmood Asif also attended the reception.

Welcoming the guests at the reception, Capt. Imtiaz said Pakistan and Turkey historically enjoyed close and brotherly relations.

Pakistan and Turkish navies also maintained warm and cordial relations since decades, he said.

The interaction between the two navies include regular exercises, port calls, training exchange programmes and collaboration in naval construction.

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“PNS ALAMGIR’s participation in Mavi Balina-2016 is manifestation of strong bondage between the two navies and firm commitment to cooperate for enhancing interoperability and mutual understanding,” Capt. Imtiaz said.

He said Mavi Balina-2016 will provide an opportunity to the participating navies to rehearse and refine tactics, techniques and procedures in a multinational maritime environment.

In his remarks, Admiral Veysel K™SELE appreciated Pakistan Navy’s active participation in Mavi Balina and hoped that the exercise would provide an opportunity for participating navies to share experience in responding to contemporary challenges.

Pakistan Navy ships have regularly been participating in Mavi Balina Exercise in the past as well while PNS ALAMGIR has the honour to participate for second time in this exercise.