KUWAIT : 'Pakistan Navy has enjoyed good relations with the Kuwaiti Navy since its inception in the early 1980s when both naval forces began exchanging official visits and seafaring expertise,' Belal Abdul Nasser, Captain of the Pakistani naval ship PNS Tippu Sultan, told the Arab Times. Pakistan naval officials met with top navy officials, adding that a request for joint exercises with the Kuwait Navy had been and a response was awaited, added Captain Abdul Nasser. There is good cooperation between the navies of the two countries, since relations were established in the early 1980s, and several Pakistan Navy personnel had been involved in the maintenance and operations of various dockyard facilities in Kuwait. PNS Tippu Sultan recently docked at Shuwaikh Port for a four-day official visit to Kuwait. Nasser welcomed media practitioners aboard, saying that, PNS Tippu Sultan visited Kuwaiti territorial waters several times in the past. These visits, he said, signify the strength of brotherly ties between Kuwait and Pakistan.
Pakistani Navy Chief Commodore Hesham Khan Seddique, Defense AttachŽ of Pakistan in Saudi Arabia Brigadier Waseem Sadeq, First Secretary at the Pakistani Embassy in Kuwait Sajjad Ahmed and Captain Mohamed Moussa from the Kuwaiti Navy were also aboard the ship.
In their meeting with the Kuwaiti Navy Chief on Sunday, Seddique said the Pakistani officials discussed bilateral issues such as security, joint exercises and future visits. Lauding the Kuwaiti Navy for its professionalism, Seddique expressed his amazement at how the Kuwaiti Navy managed to bring together a number of experts in the field through the training of its staff in the best naval forces around the world.
Asked if the Pakistani Navy will support the US in case of a military attack against Iran, Seddique clarified 'considering the Pakistani Navy ships are part of the Coalition Maritime Campaign Plan (CMCP) under UN Resolution 1373, these ships will comply with the agreements made at the Security Council.'
All Type-21 Destroyers such as PNS Tippu Sultan took part in various naval exercises since the participation of Pakistani Navy at the CMCP in April 2004. Tasks performed at the CMCP include policing roles, anti-piracy operations, anti-smuggling operations, interdiction of drug traffickers, slave trading, terrorism and any form of illegal action as well as search and rescue. Pakistani Navy is now commanding CMCP operations in the Arabian Gulf region and nearby territorial waters for the second time.
Nasser disclosed the Pakistani Navy has asked the Kuwaiti Navy officials to carry out several exercises while PNS Tippu Sultan is in Kuwait. He added the ship will also visit the CMCP headquarters in Bahrain by the end of February to attend a ceremony for the Pakistani Navy pass on the command to the French Navy.
PNS Tippu Sultan is a leading ship of the 25th Destroyer Squadron within the Pakistani fleet. The ship is equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, along with a multi-purpose Allouette Helicopter as well as radars, sonar, missiles, torpedoes, medium caliber gun, soft kill weapons, and rocket launchers. It is regarded as the most efficient ship within the Pakistani fleet manned by 300 crew members.
By Dahlia Kholaif
Arab Times Staff and Agencies