Pakistani, Turkish navies hold joint exercise to enhance maritime cooperation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani and Turkish navies have held a joint exercise to enhance maritime cooperation between the two countries, Pakistan Navy’s media wing said on Friday.
The newly commissioned Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) HUNAIN visited Turkiye on maiden voyage from Romania to Pakistan, according to Pakistan Navy’s Director General Public Relations (DGPR).
The Pakistani naval ship participated in the exercise, TURGUTREIS-X, along with a Turkish coast guard ship, GELIBOLU.
“The exercise focused on various Joint Maritime Operations with the aim to enhance interoperability between both Navies,” the DGPR said in a statement.
PNS HUNAIN, the third of four offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) being constructed at the DAMEN naval shipyard in Romania, this month set sail on a maiden voyage to Pakistan.
Prior to the exercise, the Pakistani naval ship visited Turkish ports at Golcuk and Aksaz, where it was received by senior officials of Pakistan embassy and Turkish Navy.
“During stay at Golcuk, Commanding Officer of PNS HUNAIN called on Turkish Navy Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Kadir Yıldız and Commander of Golcuk Naval Base Rear Admiral Ali Tuna Baysal,” the DGPR said.
“Professional matters of mutual interest and enhancement of bilateral cooperation between both the navies were discussed.”
During stay at port Aksaz, Commander of Turkish Navy’s 2nd Destroyer Squadron, Commodore Captain Cenk TASLI, along with commanding officer of Turkish coast guard ship GELIBOLU visited aboard PNS HUNAIN and appreciated Pakistan Navy’s role in maintaining “good order at sea in the region and beyond,” according to the statement.
The visit of PNS HUNAIN will further provide an opportunity to flourish and strengthen existing brotherly relations and provide impetus to diplomatic and defense relations between Pakistan and Turkiye, the Turkish naval commander added.
Earlier this month, Pakistan Navy warship PNS Yarmook conducted bilateral exercises with navies of allied countries as part of a Regional Maritime Security Patrol (RMSP) deployment in Bahrain, aimed at enhancing naval coordination and the capability of joint operations in the region.
In July, Pakistan Navy also assumed command of a multinational task force responsible for ensuring maritime security in the southeastern waters of the Middle East, operating in the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman and Gulf of Aden.