Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy Ship Aslat visited Port Algiers, Algeria from as part of overseas deployment to Mediterranean and European countries.

Earlier, the ship had also visited Port Aqaba, Jordan.

This was the first ever visit by a PN Ship to Algeria. Prior entry into the territorial waters of Algeria, Algerian Coast Guard Patrol Craft Arnab and Deneb escorted PN Ship to the port. Moreover, Pakistani Defence Attaché Brigadier Shahzad Iftikhar Bhatti along with Algerian Navy Liaison Officer boarded the ship at sea.

Upon arrival at the port, PNS Aslat was warmly welcomed in a traditional naval manner. The ship was received by Colonel Azroulsghi, Commander Algiers Naval Base, along with the Second Secretary Embassy of Pakistan in Algeria Muhammad Tariq. Wide media coverage by Algerian Navy Media team along with aerial coverage through military helicopters was undertaken upon the ship’s entry into the port.

PNS Aslat Port Call to Algiers, Algeria was fully capitalised in terms of professional and social interactions with the host country. PN delegation headed by Commodore Muhammad Faisal Abbasi held meetings with Brigadier General Samah Zineddine, Commander Central Maritime Region Algerian Navy Brigadier General Karboua Mourad, Chief of Operations Headquarters Algerian Navy and Pakistani Ambassador lmran Yawar.

The PN delegation also visited Algerian Naval Academy and was warmly welcomed by the commandant.

The highlight of the visit was a reception dinner hosted onboard on the first day of ship’s arrival which was attended by a large number of guests.

Samah Zineddine and Commander Central Maritime Region Algerian Navy, graced the occasion as chief guest. Director External Relations Algerian MoD, Director South Asia MoFA Algeria and Ambassadors of Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Japan, Libya, Mexico, Poland and Sweden attended the dinner. Defence Attaches of China, Hungary, Japan, Mali, Russia, Officers from Algerian Navy, Army and prominent local community were also present.

Naval exercises at sea comprising tactical manoeuvres, communication exercises/drills and Maritime Interdiction Operations procedures between PNS ASLAT and Algerian Navy Ship Rais Korfou were also conducted to enhance interoperability and to share each other’s experience.

PN Ship Aslat visit to Algiers will play a vital role to support diplomatic and military ties between two countries. It is believed that the goodwill generated through Aslat visit to Algeria will go a long way in furthering Pakistan’s Foreign Policy objectives and will provide impetus to existing bonds of friendship and brotherhood between two important Muslim countries.

Published in Daily Times, July 15^th 2018.