Pakistan, Oman navies hold bilateral exercise to strengthen maritime security cooperation

Royal Navy of Oman arrives for Pakistan-Oman exercise at Karachi port in Karachi on December 6, 2025. (Pakistan Navy)
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Updated 06 December 2025
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Pakistan, Oman navies hold bilateral exercise to strengthen maritime security cooperation

  • Royal Navy of Oman flotilla arrives in Karachi for annual Thamar Al Tayyib exercise, says Pakistan Navy
  • Both navies’ personnel held professional dialogues, exchanged experiences during exercise, says navy

ISLAMABAD: A Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) flotilla visited Karachi to take part in the annual bilateral Thamar Al Tayyib (TAT) 2025 exercise, the Pakistan Navy said on Saturday, with both sides aiming to enhance maritime security cooperation. 

Pakistan Navy and the RNO have been conducting the TAT series of exercises regularly since 1980. TAT-2023 was conducted in Omani waters in December 2023. 

The 12th edition of the exercise saw the participation of RNO vessels Al-Rasikh and Al-Shinas, which were part of the flotilla. Upon their arrival at the port in Karachi, the Omani vessels were warmly received in a ceremony attended by senior officials of the Pakistan Navy. 

“Exercise TAT-2025 served as an important platform for mutual learning, enhanced interoperability and professional development,” the navy said. 

It said the flotilla’s visit included meetings with senior members of the Pakistan Navy leadership, onboard receptions and visits to key naval installations and training facilities. 

Personnel from both navies engaged in professional dialogues, operational discussions and exchanged experiences across various maritime domains, the navy added. 

The Omani flotilla’s visit concluded with naval ships from both forces conducting advanced operational maneuvers and joint exercises encompassing major facets of modern maritime warfare.

“Pakistan Navy remains committed to fostering regional maritime cooperation and strengthening ties with partner navies worldwide,” the navy said.

“The Royal Navy of Oman’s participation in TAT-2025 reflects the growing defense partnership between the two friendly nations and their shared resolve to promote regional peace, stability, and maritime collaboration,” it added. 

Pakistan enjoys cordial ties with Gulf nations, including Oman. The Pakistan Army, navy and air force regularly organize and participate in international exercises to strengthen defense ties with other countries, particularly those in the Middle East. 


At ECO meeting, Pakistan proposes ‘Regional Innovation Hub’ to curb natural disasters

Updated 21 January 2026
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At ECO meeting, Pakistan proposes ‘Regional Innovation Hub’ to curb natural disasters

  • Pakistan hosts high-level 10th ECO Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction in Islamabad
  • Innovation hub to focus on early warning technologies, risk informed infrastructure planning

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has proposed to set up a “Regional Innovation Hub on Disaster Risk Reduction” that focuses on early warning technologies and risk informed infrastructure planning, the Press Information Department (PID) said on Wednesday, as Islamabad hosts a high-level meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).

The ECO’s 10th Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is being held from Jan. 21-22 at the headquarters of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in Pakistan’s capital. 

The high-level regional forum brings together ministers, and senior officials from ECO member states, representatives of the ECO Secretariat and regional and international partner organizations. The event is aimed to strengthen collective efforts toward enhancing disaster resilience across the ECO region, the PID said. 

“Key agenda items include regional cooperation on early warning systems, disaster risk information management, landslide hazard zoning, inclusive disaster preparedness initiatives, and Pakistan’s proposal to establish a Regional Innovation Hub on Disaster Risk Reduction, focusing on early warning technologies, satellite data utilization, and risk-informed infrastructure planning,” the statement said. 

The meeting was attended by delegations from ECO member states including Pakistan, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Representatives of regional and international organizations and development partners were also in attendance.

Discussions focused on enhancing regional coordination, harmonizing disaster risk reduction frameworks, and strengthening collective preparedness against transboundary and climate-induced hazards impacting the ECO region, the PID said. 

ECO members states such as Pakistan, Türkiye, Afghanistan and others have faced natural calamities such as floods and earthquakes in recent years that have killed tens of thousands of people. 

Heavy rains triggered catastrophic floods in Pakistan in 2022 and 2025 that killed thousands of people and caused damages to critical infrastructure, inflicting losses worth billions of dollars. 

Islamabad has since then called on regional countries to join hands to cooperate to avert future climate disasters and promote early warning systems to avoid calamities in future.