ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy Ship ASLAT with an embarked AL-43 helicopter visited the Jeddah Port of Saudi Arabia as part of overseas deployment for Regional Maritime Security Patrols in the Arabian Sea, the Pakistan Navy said in a statement on Saturday.
Deployment of the Pakistani Navy ship is aimed at ensuring maritime security in the region in line with the Pakistan government’s policy and international obligations.
“PNS ASLAT is front line warship of Pakistan Navy Fleet and fourth ship of Sword Class frigate project; built at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works,” Pakistan Navy said, adding that “the ship is fitted with state of the art weapons and sensors, capable of undertaking wide range of maritime operations in multi-threat environment.”
Commander Replenishment Group Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) Western Fleet along with the Joint Operations Center Jeddah welcomed the Pakistani Ship at Jeddah port.
Commanding Officer ASLAT, Captain Shafiq Ur Rehman, met with Saudi Navy officials and highlighted that the visit was a part of a multifaceted long-term collaboration between the two navies.
“Pakistan and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are tied in eternal bonds of religion and brotherhood,” the Pakistan Navy statement said. “The visit by ASLAT will further enhance Pakistan Navy’s bilateral relations with Royal Saudi Naval Forces in diverse avenues.”
Last month, on June 29, three Saudi naval officers were among 175 graduates of the Pakistan naval academy’s 111th course commissioning parade in Karachi, where the commander of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, Vice Admiral Fahad Bin Abdullah Al-Ghofaily, was the chief guest.
While addressing the graduating officers, Al-Ghofaily highlighted the close collaboration between the armed forces of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, and said there was a common desire in both nations for regional peace and stability.
Pakistan Navy warship in Jeddah as part of regional security patrol
Pakistan Navy warship in Jeddah as part of regional security patrol
- Deployment aimed at ensuring maritime security in line with Pakistan's policy and international obligations
- ASLAT is a front line warship "capable of undertaking wide range of maritime operations in multi-threat environment”
Pakistan says it seized 32 square kilometers inside Afghanistan as border clashes escalate
- Security official describes ‘limited tactical action’ in Gudwana after Afghan assaults
- Islamabad accuses Kabul of sheltering militants as UN, China and Russia urge restraint
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has seized a 32-square-kilometer area inside Afghanistan following overnight fighting, a security official said on Saturday, as cross-border clashes between the two countries escalated sharply.
A Pakistani security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said troops carried out a “limited tactical action” in the Gudwana area opposite the Zhob sector along the frontier, capturing Afghan territory after responding to attacks on Pakistani positions.
“On the night of Feb. 26/27, posts opposite the Zhob sector launched anticipated physical attacks on multiple Pakistani positions,” the official said, referring to fighters linked to Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities, whom Islamabad identifies as Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan (TTA).
“In response to aggressive unprovoked fire and physical attacks, Pakistan security forces launched a limited tactical action on the night of Feb. 27/28 in the general area of Gudwana with a view to capture TTA Tahir Post,” he continued, adding that 32 square kilometers of Afghan territory were seized.
The official said special combat teams crossed the border after preparatory bombardment, supported by intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets providing “real-time battlefield awareness.”
He said 24 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed and 37 wounded, with no Pakistani casualties reported.
The claims could not be independently verified, and there was no immediate confirmation from Taliban authorities in Kabul of any territorial loss in the Gudwana area.
The latest clashes erupted after Pakistani airstrikes targeted what Islamabad described as militant hideouts inside Afghanistan over the weekend, triggering retaliatory fire along the frontier and sharply escalating long-running tensions. Islamabad accuses Kabul of sheltering Pakistani Taliban militants responsible for attacks inside Pakistan, an allegation that Afghanistan denies.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Saturday evening that 352 Afghan Taliban fighters had been killed and more than 535 wounded since the latest phase of hostilities began.
Tarar said Pakistani strikes had destroyed 130 check posts, 171 tanks and armored vehicles and targeted 41 locations across Afghanistan by air. Those figures could not be independently verified.
The United Nations, as well as China and Russia, have called for restraint.
The United States said Pakistan has the right to defend itself against cross-border militancy.
