'Drawn sword of Islam': Pak-Turk maiden naval exercise concludes in Arabian sea

The exercise covered a wide range of maritime operations encompassing anti-surface, air and submarine warfare

The maiden bilateral exercise Turgutries meaning 'Drawn sword of Islam' between the Pakistani and Turkish naval forces in North Arabian Sea has concluded.

"TCG Gelibolu, a frigate from Turkish Navy and Pakistan Navy ships Saif, Aslat, Nasr, Quwwut, Azmat and Zarrar including fixed and rotary wing aircraft of Pakistan Naval Aviation participated in the exercise," said the Navy in a statement on Tuesday.

"Fighters from PAF [Pakistan Air Force] also took part in the exercise," it added.

The exercise covered a wide range of maritime operations encompassing anti-surface, anti-air and anti-submarine warfare as well as maneuvering and communication exercises.

The communique further said that counter piracy drills were also carried out in which boarding teams demonstrated practical boarding operations on board a suspect vessel.



The main objective of [the] exercise was to enhance interoperability between [the] two brotherly navies.

It proved mutually rewarding to hone professional skills of participating personnel from both navies and learn from each other's experiences.

The statement said that Consul General of Turkey Tolga Ucake who was hosted on-board TCG Gelibolu and PNS Aslat witnessed the exercise at sea.

He congratulated the navies for successful conduct of first ever bilateral exercise and hoped that this will become a regular feature between both the navies in future.

The exercise, the communique added, is a testimony of Pakistan Navy's resolve to work towards regional peace and maintain close relations with all brotherly navies. It was aimed at further booting and strengthening ties between Pakistan and Turkish navies in times to come.