RIYADH, 28 November 2005 — Pakistani and Saudi Arabian navies will hold joint exercises in the Arabian Sea off Karachi from today, Pakistani ambassador said yesterday.
“The two navies will engage in war games and other exercises aimed at enhancing technical know-how, communications, understanding and war techniques, Ambassador Rear Adm. (retd.) Abdul Aziz Mirza said.
The Saudi naval ships, around half a dozen in number, will be mainly missile crafts, officials told INP. They will be welcomed in Karachi with a 21-gun salute.
“We will first do the harbor phase and then go for deep sea exercises in the first week of December,” Mirza said.
The commander of Saudi Naval Task Force, Rear Adm. Sammi ibn Mansoor Al-Rafi, is already in Karachi.
“Saudis are mainly interested in enhancing their defensive capabilities,” said an official.
The Pakistan Navy has sent a number of warships to Saudi Arabia in the past. Presently a Pakistani frigate, Badr (PNS 181), is at a Saudi port. Last week, Pakistani and Chinese navies held joint naval exercises in the Arabian Sea.
Military sources said Pakistan will get four F-22P frigates and six Z-9C helicopters from China to improve the navy’s capabilities. In November 2003, a Pakistani squad held the first joint exercise with the Chinese Navy in the East China Sea.
