ISLAMABAD: Demonstrating its readiness to safeguard maritime frontiers “against all threats”, the Pakistan Navy on Friday successfully tested a live surface-to-surface anti-ship missile along the North Arabian Sea.
“The exercise was conducted to validate war fighting concepts under a hybrid threat environment involving the support of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and the army,” a statement released by the navy’s media wing read on Friday.
As part of a major maritime exercise, ‘Seaspark-18’, Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee, General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, witnessed the test onboard the “PNS Moawin” — a newly-commissioned logistics support ship for combat purposes.
Chief of Air Staff, Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan and senior officers from the three services were also part of the audience. He appreciated the joint operations, especially the enhanced coordination between the Pakistan Navy and the PAF in the maritime activities.
“The anti-ship missiles were successfully fired by Pakistan Navy’s ships, Shamsheer and Shahjahan. The live firings at sea remained highly successful as both missiles hit their targets affirming PN war fighting capability,” the statement added.
Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, said that the navy was ready to defeat any misadventure and aggression against Pakistan. “Pakistan Navy fleet is a four dimensional force which is combat ready and prepared to tackle Grey Hybrid Warfare threat,” the Naval Chief said.
The statement said that the test was an expression of the navy’s resolve to shoulder the sacred responsibility of defending Pakistan, with General Hayat adding that the Pakistan Navy has transformed into “a strong and formidable force in protecting national maritime interests in the region and beyond”.”
The maritime exercise — which is conducted biennially in order to assess war preparedness and validate operational plans of the Pakistan Navy — commenced on October 15, taking cognizance of the emerging regional and global challenges.
All operational units of the navy, including ships, submarines, aircraft, UAVs, along with the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency, the army and the PAF participated in the exercise, the statement said.
Pakistan Navy tests anti-ship missiles in Arabian Sea
Pakistan Navy tests anti-ship missiles in Arabian Sea
- Exercise sought to validate country’s war-fighting abilities
- Move to address challenges posed by emerging regional and global threats
UN torture expert decries Pakistan ex-PM Khan’s detention
- Khan’s party alleges government is holding him in solitary confinement, barring prison visits
- Pakistan’s government rejects allegations former premier is being denied basic rights in prison
GENEVA: Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan is being held in conditions that could amount to torture and other inhuman or degrading treatment, the United Nations’ special rapporteur on torture warned Friday.
Alice Jill Edwards urged Pakistan to take immediate and effective action to address reports of the 73-year-old’s inhumane and undignified detention conditions.
“I call on Pakistani authorities to ensure that Khan’s conditions of detention fully comply with international norms and standards,” Edwards said in a statement.
“Since his transfer to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on September 26, 2023, Imran Khan has reportedly been held for excessive periods in solitary confinement, confined for 23 hours a day in his cell, and with highly restricted access to the outside world,” she said.
“His cell is reportedly under constant camera surveillance.”
Khan an all-rounder who captained Pakistan to victory in the 1992 Cricket World Cup, upended Pakistani politics by becoming the prime minister in 2018.
Edwards said prolonged or indefinite solitary confinement is prohibited under international human rights law and constitutes a form of psychological torture when it lasts longer than 15 days.
“Khan’s solitary confinement should be lifted without delay. Not only is it an unlawful measure, extended isolation can bring about very harmful consequences for his physical and mental health,” she said.
UN special rapporteurs are independent experts mandated by the Human Rights Council. They do not, therefore, speak for the United Nations itself.
Initially a strong backer of the country’s powerful military leadership, Khan was ousted in a no-confidence vote in 2022, and has since been jailed on a slew of corruption charges that he denies.
He has accused the military of orchestrating his downfall and pursuing his Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and its allies.
Khan’s supporters say he is being denied prison visits from lawyers and family after a fiery social media post this month accusing army leader Field Marshal Asim Munir of persecuting him.
According to information Edwards has received, visits from Khan’s lawyers and relatives are frequently interrupted or ended prematurely, while he is held in a small cell lacking natural light and adequate ventilation.
“Anyone deprived of liberty must be treated with humanity and dignity,” the UN expert said.
“Detention conditions must reflect the individual’s age and health situation, including appropriate sleeping arrangements, climatic protection, adequate space, lighting, heating, and ventilation.”
Edwards has raised Khan’s situation with the Pakistani government.
