KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 (Bernama) -- Pakistan Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Noman Bashir has commended the maritime security efforts at the Malacca Straits, citing it as one of the best examples of a successful multinational naval coalition.
He noted that the long-term commitment from the Malaysian, Singaporean and Indonesian navies had not only boosted maritime security but also effectively crippled piracy which was once rampant at the straits.
The 900km-long narrow straits is also one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, linking the Middle East and Far East.
"I think it is a good example of how Malaysian, Indonesian and Singaporean navies effectively man and safeguard the maritime security of the Strait.
"When I commanded a ship through this Strait, 15 years ago, I remember people were very scared of it, but it is not anymore," he told Malaysian reporters in an interview here on Tuesday.
Bashir is leading a 55-member Pakistani delegation to the Defence Services Asia (DSA) conference and exhibition currently held here.
On Pakistan, he said his country played an active role in the Combined Taskforce 150 (CTF150), a multinational coalition naval task force for counter-terrorism in the high seas, where it is also currently holding the command for the fourth time.
The CTF-150 conducts maritime security operations in the Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Red Sea and the North Indian Ocean, transversing some 2.2 million nautical miles.
On another development, Bashir hoped to seek better partnership with the Malaysian naval defence and was prepared to offer assistance, especially involving training in the submarine sector.
Yesterday, he met with his Malaysian counterpart, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar, and both leaders discussed the potential and scope of cooperation between the two navies.
"Malaysia and Pakistan enjoy strong bilateral ties where frequent joint trainings, visits were conducted. And we hope that this interaction can be further boosted.
"One of the fields that we have agreed to look into is the submarine, where we are ready to offer training and share our experience and expertise with our Malaysian counterpart," said Bashir.
Pakistan acquired its first fleet of submarines in the early 1960s, while Malaysia currently owned two French-made Scorpene submarines -- KD Tunku Abdul Rahman and KD Tun Razak.
He noted that the long-term commitment from the Malaysian, Singaporean and Indonesian navies had not only boosted maritime security but also effectively crippled piracy which was once rampant at the straits.
The 900km-long narrow straits is also one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, linking the Middle East and Far East.
"I think it is a good example of how Malaysian, Indonesian and Singaporean navies effectively man and safeguard the maritime security of the Strait.
"When I commanded a ship through this Strait, 15 years ago, I remember people were very scared of it, but it is not anymore," he told Malaysian reporters in an interview here on Tuesday.
Bashir is leading a 55-member Pakistani delegation to the Defence Services Asia (DSA) conference and exhibition currently held here.
On Pakistan, he said his country played an active role in the Combined Taskforce 150 (CTF150), a multinational coalition naval task force for counter-terrorism in the high seas, where it is also currently holding the command for the fourth time.
The CTF-150 conducts maritime security operations in the Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Red Sea and the North Indian Ocean, transversing some 2.2 million nautical miles.
On another development, Bashir hoped to seek better partnership with the Malaysian naval defence and was prepared to offer assistance, especially involving training in the submarine sector.
Yesterday, he met with his Malaysian counterpart, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar, and both leaders discussed the potential and scope of cooperation between the two navies.
"Malaysia and Pakistan enjoy strong bilateral ties where frequent joint trainings, visits were conducted. And we hope that this interaction can be further boosted.
"One of the fields that we have agreed to look into is the submarine, where we are ready to offer training and share our experience and expertise with our Malaysian counterpart," said Bashir.
Pakistan acquired its first fleet of submarines in the early 1960s, while Malaysia currently owned two French-made Scorpene submarines -- KD Tunku Abdul Rahman and KD Tun Razak.
No comments:
Post a Comment