Daily Times

Pakistan aims for improved bilateral relations with Kuwait on strategic grounds. Under the broader spectrum of overseas deployment of Pakistan Navy ships in the Arabian Gulf, Pakistan Navy Ship KHAIBAR and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency Ship ZHOB visited Kuwait.

PNS KHAIBAR is part of 25th Destroyer Squadron of Pakistan Navy Fleet capable to undertake variety of maritime operations in multi-threat environment while PMSS ZHOB is indigenously built OPV equipped with weapons/ sensors optimized for policing in Pakistan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Continental Shelf under the ambit of Pakistan Maritime Security Agency.

The Mission Commander along with Commanding Officers of KHAIBAR and ZHOB called on General Idrees Abdul Latif, Deputy Chief of Naval Forces Kuwait. Various matters of mutual interests were discussed under the realm of enhanced linkages; training of Kuwait Navy Officers and sailors in Pakistan Navy training institutes and ship construction projects in Pakistan. Pakistani delegation also visited Kuwait Navy Ship MASKAN and Kuwait Naval Base with Ship Lift System and Maintenance Support Workshop. Upon completion of port visit, Passage Exercise (PASSEX) was conducted between two navies.

A reception was also hosted onboard PNS KHAIBAR. The event was attended by a large number of notable diplomatic and military representatives. Colonel Khaled Hassan Alkandari of Kuwait Army represented the Kuwaiti armed forces. While Ambassadors of Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Guyana, Japan, Kenya, Laos, Nepal, Netherlands and Nigeria also attended the auspicious event. Defense aides of China, Egypt and Turkey were also present during the occasion.

Naval ties are a necessary ingredient of strategic military partnerships and such goodwill visits offer opportunities of engagement and mutual grounds of cooperation. It needs no further emphasis that Kuwait and Pakistan enjoy long term time tested brotherly relations.

Published in Daily Times, January 1^st 2019.