ISLAMABAD: The Chief of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, Vice Admiral Abdulrahman Al-Ghuraibi, paid an official visit to Pakistan on Tuesday and held high-level talks with Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf at Naval Headquarters in Islamabad.
According to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Saudi naval chief was given a formal welcome with a guard of honour by a smartly turned-out contingent of the Pakistan Navy. He also laid a floral wreath at the Shuhada’s Monument to honour the sacrifices of Pakistan’s naval personnel.
During the meeting, the two naval leaders exchanged views on matters of mutual interest, regional maritime security challenges, joint training opportunities, and naval operational cooperation. They discussed expanding bilateral engagements in exercises, port visits, and technical training, especially in the context of growing strategic convergence between the two nations.
Admiral Naveed Ashraf briefed Vice Admiral Al-Ghuraibi on the Pakistan Navy’s regional security initiatives, including the Regional Maritime Security Patrols (RMSP), efforts under the Aman Exercise, and Pakistan’s contributions to multinational maritime coalitions. He also emphasised Pakistan’s commitment to ensuring safe seas for trade and stability in the Indian Ocean Region.
Vice Admiral Al-Ghuraibi appreciated the professional excellence and operational readiness of the Pakistan Navy. He praised the quality of training imparted to Saudi cadets at the Pakistan Naval Academy and expressed satisfaction over ongoing defence cooperation. He reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to further strengthening the already close naval and defence ties with Pakistan.
The ISPR stated that the visit will contribute significantly to further enhancing defence collaboration, particularly in the maritime domain, and reinforce the time-tested brotherly relationship between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.