An impressive demonstration of live weapons firing by ships and aircrafts was conducted on Monday during a joint exercise, NASEEM AL BAHR, between Pakistan Navy and Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF), in the North Arabian Sea.
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Asif Sandila, along with Royal Saudi Naval Force’s Western Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Ibrahim Othman Al Delaijan witnessed the mega event and professional display of various other maritime manoeuvres at sea. The weapon firing marked the conclusion of a weeklong sea phase of the exercise, said a press release issued by Pakistan Navy.
The overall exercise included a wide range of operational manoeuvres encompassing major facets of maritime warfare, particularly operations related to counter terrorism, convoy protection, anti-air, anti-submarine, mine countermeasure and intelligence based operations conducted in multi-threat environment. The current exercise which was the 10th in the series, involved participation of four Royal Saudi Navy ships, aircrafts, Special Operating Forces and Marines besides participation of Pakistan Navy Destroyers, Missile Boats, Fleet Tanker, Submarine, Mine Hunters and Naval Aviation units. Fighter aircrafts from Pakistan Air force also participated in the exercise.
Admiral Sandila during his stay onboard said, to deal with the emerging challenges on the maritime scene, seafaring nations need to collaborate and assist in protecting each other’s interests. In this context, terrorism and piracy; being global challenges, demand a collective and coordinated response among all stakeholders as no single country can eliminate these menaces on its own.
He stressed that a potent and effective Navy is the need of the hour. Government of Pakistan, despite resource constraints, is making great efforts to equip Pakistan Navy so that it can effectively guard the national maritime interests at sea, he said. “I feel it is important for our national and global economy that a legitimate maritime order is maintained at seas,” said Sandila. He emphasised that Pakistan Navy’s outreach to regional and global navies in respect of defence collaboration is a manifestation of the government’s foreign policy objectives.
The Naval Chief expressed satisfaction on the successful conduction of the exercise and appreciated strengthening of maritime cooperation between Pakistan and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He also thanked Royal Saudi Naval Forces for their active participation in Exercise NASEEM AL BAHR. The spirited participation by RSNF units in the exercise is a clear manifestation of common professional working culture and strong foundation of brotherly relations that exist between the two nations since decades, he said.
