Islamabad, Feb 21: Dismissing reports that its joint
exercises next month with 27 other navies was part of a
mobilisation against Tehran, Pakistan on Monday said the
manoeuvres were planned a month ahead and had nothing to do
with the situation in Iran.
"The exercise Aman-07 had nothing to do with the
situation in Iran as it was planned a year ago," Pakistan
Naval Chief Admiral Mohammad Afzal Tahir said here.
He rejected reports in the media that the exercise was
linked to the huge build-up of western navies in the region
due to their standoff with Iran, The Dawn reported.
Chinese and western navies and Iranian observers will
participate in a multi-nation naval exercise to be held by the
Pakistan navy early next month.
Navies of 27 countries will take part in the exercise.
Eight of the countries will participate in the exercise with
their naval forces, naval aviation elements and special
operation forces and the rest will be represented by observers
one from each country.
The participating nations included Bangladesh, China,
France, Italy, Malaysia, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United
States, besides Pakistan.
Australia, Bahrain, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Libya,
Maldives, Myanmar, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Singapore,
Sudan, Spain, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Iran are sending their
observers.
The exercises would commence with an international
maritime conference at the Bahria University in which Indian
experts would also participate.
The Pakistan navy a part of the international coalition
against terrorism Aman 07 was aimed at displaying united
resolve against terrorism and projecting Pakistan as a country
contributing to peace and stability, as well as consolidating
the pnfs position in the regional maritime security matrix, he
said.
Bureau Report