Pakistan launches naval exercises

[sonicboom]

Pakistan launches naval exercises

BEIJING, March 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Marines and commandos from the Pakistan navy are overseeing mock-anti-terrorism operations at sea, as part of multi-national naval exercises in the region.


Pakistan's navy have assembled for the multinational Exercises named " Peace-11 ", which is being conducted from March 8th to the 12th in the Arabia Sea.


Countries participating include Australia, China, France, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the UK and the US.

Addressing officials in Karachi, Pakistani Naval vice admirals emphasized the importance of the exercises.

Abbas Raza, Vice Admiral, Pakistan Navy, said, "Such multinational gatherings provide a forum for collaborative and collective security which is so important for meeting the multifarious threats at high sea nowadays."

Tayyab Ali Dogar, Vice Admiral, Pakistan Navy, said, "This is a maritime counter-terrorism demonstration, which we've arranged for our guests from 27 countries. We want to reassure them that our forces are ready to fight terrorism, and we will not hesitate from giving any sacrifice to do that."

China has also sent naval ships to participate in the exercises. They were given a warm welcome upon arrival in Karachi harbor.

The naval exercises are the third in a biannual series conducted off the Pakistani coast. The first drills were held in March 2007.

Pakistan launches naval exercises