KARACHI, April 19: Pakistan will take part in joint naval patrols with a US-led fleet in the Arabian Sea to prevent arms and human smuggling and deter terrorism, a military official said on Monday.

Pakistan, a key ally in the US-led war on terror, would deploy one ship this week to strengthen the maritime programme of the coalition forces, said Commander Shahid Nabeil, a spokesman for the Pakistani navy.

Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Japan and New Zealand are also contributing ships for these patrols, he said. "We will remain inside our territorial waters," Nabeil added.

The joint patrols would increase the navy's ability to respond quickly to any terror threat and to curb maritime crime, he said. It is the first time the Pakistani navy will participate in any such programme with US-led forces.

Intelligence sources say that the Al Qaeda network and other extremist groups often use sea routes to move their militants around the world and to smuggle weapons. There are also fears that they could carry out attacks on shipping interests. -Reuters