Pakistan, US navies conduct bilateral exercise to 'enhance' interoperability

KARACHI: Pakistan and United States navies have conducted a bilateral exercise in the Arabian Sea with the aim to enhance interoperability and demonstrate their resolve towards regional maritime peace.

According to the the Pakistan Navy's (PN) media wing, US Navy Ship USS O'Kane visited Karachi and participated in a bilateral exercise at the Arabian Sea with Pakistan Navy Ship Babur.

"The visit and bilateral exercise reflect Pakistan Navy's commitment towards regional peace, stability and maritime order in collaboration with seasonal global partners," the media wing reported.

The collaborations have proved benefitting in countering menace of terrorism, piracy, narcotics, and human trafficking in the region and beyond, it added.

It said the visit of US Navy ship also manifests deep rooted bilateral ties between both the navies in general and nations in particular.

In July this year, Infantry Rifle Company Exercise 2024 between Pakistan and the United States was held in Pakistan.

An Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) news release on July 10 said the two-week long exercise’s closing ceremony was held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Pabbi, in Nowshera.

It was for the first time that Infantry Rifle Company Exercise 2024 was conducted between the two countries in the counter terrorism domain, the army’s media wing said.

One company each from both professional armies participated in the exercise that commenced on June 29 at Pabbi.

General Officer Commanding 17 Division attended the Closing Ceremony as Chief Guest.

Major General Charles G Kemper, Commanding General, 34 Infantry Division from United States Army also witnessed the closing ceremony.

The troops displayed highest standards of professional excellence during the conduct, the ISPR said.

Infantry Rifle Company Exchange was aimed at refining drills procedures besides sharing Counter Terrorism experiences vital for countering perpetual terrorism threat faced by both nations, it said.

The scope laid major emphasis on attaining marksmanship skills as well as tactical skills involved in urban warfare besides honing expertise at individual and collective level.