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CNS Admiral Asif Sandila

PAKISTANI DELEGATION IN INDIAN OCEAN NAVAL SYMPOSIUM 2014

The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, commonly known as IONS, is a forum to increase maritime cooperation among the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.

Pak CNS with Australian Chief of Navy

The forum helps to preserve peaceful relations between nations, and thus is critical to building effective maritime security architecture in the Indian Ocean Region and is also fundamental to our collective prosperity (http://www.navy.gov.au/ions).

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Mohammad Asif Sandila Symposium

IONS – 2014 was held at Perth from 25-28 March. Pakistani delegation was led by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Mohammad Asif Sandila NI(M). Bilateral talks were also organized between Pakistan and delegations from Japan, Iran, Bangladesh, UAE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, US, UK, Spain, China and Singapore. Charter of business was approved at the end of symposium reiterating need for enhancing regional maritime cooperation.

CNS exchanging views with Indian and Bangladeshi head of delegations

The Admiral thanked Vice Admiral Griggs Chief of Royal Australian Navy for hosting IONs befittingly  and  for providing training facilities to PN officers and cadets.

Pak CNS with Saudi head of delegation

Mohammad Asif Sandila NI(M) highlighted Pakistan’s contributions in maintaining good order at sea as part of TF 150 and TF 151. He informed the participants that:

·        PN was the first Navy of the region to join Coalition Maritime Campaign Plan in 2004 and TF 151 in 2009.

·        We have so far contributed ships with embarked helos, 69 times to the CMCP.

 

Pak CNS with Sri Lankan Chief of Navy

·        Since April 2004, PN units have cumulatively clocked close to 78,000 hours at sea; having investigated over 8073 ships and undertaken over 100 boarding operations along with flag verification of many vessels.

·        Surveillance efforts of Embarked Helicopters are over 2246 hours whereas that of LRMPs is more than 100 sorties.

 

Pak CNS with US head of delegation

·        Our ships regularly undertake counter piracy operations along with Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA), due to which fortunately no untoward incident has occurred in our area.

 

 US head of delegation presenting Shield to Pak CNS

·        Pakistan Navy's proactive engagement with international coalition has also made it possible to effectively monitor and control drugs and arms smuggling in the North Arabian Sea. Besides PN, Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) is also actively contributing in Maritime Security Operations and SAR at sea in our region.

Pakistan Bangladesh bilateral talks about Navy

·        As a result of these operations, our Ships in conjunction with Pakistan Maritime Security Agency and at times with other coalition ships have seized more than 84 tons of narcotics in the last decade.

Pakistan UAE bilateral talks

Pakistan Navy regularly conducts a biennial maritime exercise named AMAN since 2007. Next exercise is scheduled in Feb 2015.

Pak CNS with Iranian delegation

·        A recent drug haul by PNS ALAMGIR in coordination with HMAS MELBOURNE is worth mentioning. The ships were operating as part of TF-150 and seized around 2 tons of cannabis east of Masirah Island on 18 February 2014. Estimated street value of the haul is US$ 102M.

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Mohammad Asif Sandila

·        Pakistan Navy regularly conducts a biennial maritime exercise named AMAN since 2007. Next exercise is scheduled in Feb 2015.

 

  CNS Admiral Mohammad Asif Sandila with escort officer and Defence Advisor Pakistan High Commission Brig. Muhammad Asghar

 

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