Pakistan Navy war game kicks off in Arabian Sea

Maritime exercise aims to enhance interoperability with PAF and Pak Army

KARACHI:

Pakistan Navy’s major maritime exercise Seaspark 2015 has kicked off in North Arabian Sea.

“The overarching objective of this exercise is to corroborate Pakistan Navy operational plans, assess war preparedness and enhance interoperability with PAF and Pak Army,” said Rear Admiral Kaleem Shaukat, deputy chief Naval Staff (operations), while briefing the media on Tuesday.



According to an official statement issued by Pakistan Navy all operational units of PN including ships, submarines, aircraft, UAVs, special forces and Pak Marines along with elements of PMSA, PAF and Pak Army are participating in the exercise.

During the exercise, full spectrum of threats would be exercised ranging from conventional to asymmetric, cyber and information warfare domains, it added.

Besides enhancement of operational preparedness, the statement said, the exercise will also focus on seaward defence of the coast and response against emerging non-traditional threats emanating from sea.



The communiqué stated that being located at the confluence of worlds’ major sea routes, the strategic location of Pakistan can be exploited to our advantage through the development of maritime sector and a strong Navy for its effective defence, adding that Pakistan Navy’s operational and developmental plans are therefore focused to maintain a potent and well balanced naval force to deter aggression at sea.

PN, being an essential appendage to state’s foreign policy, also strives to foster stronger Navy-to-Navy relations through regular exercises and ships visits with regional as well as extra regional navy’s, the statement noted.

Earlier, opening brief of the exercise was also conducted in Karachi which was attended by Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah, Chief of Naval Staff and other senior officers from PN, PAF and Pakistan Army.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th, 2015.