ISLAMABAD, May 13: Pakistan Navy interdicted 3,200 vessels since deployment of warships in the Arabian Sea as part of the coalition maritime forces in the war against terrorism, officials told Dawn. They said the navy was operating in its own territorial waters under the command of a British officer as part of the coalition maritime forces to interdict nuclear smuggling and other illegal activities.

A spokesman for the Naval Headquarters (NHQ) said PNS Tariq was conducting the visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations in the Gulf of Oman, which fell in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Pakistan, under the command of British officer Commodore Tony Rix.

He said PNS Tariq’s participation in the operation was mandated by a UN resolution on the war against terrorism.

The spokesman said the command of the coalition forces changed on a rotational basis. Pakistan could get the command and a commodore from Pakistan Navy could head the coalition maritime forces, he added.

According to official information, Commodore Tony Rix, operates under the commander of US Naval Forces Central Command Task Force 150. The Task Force (CTF) 150 includes forces from the US, France, Germany, Pakistan and the United Kingdom. The coalition vessels conduct maritime security operations (MSO) in the Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, the Gulf and the Gulf of Aden to maintain maritime security and stability.

PNS Tariq was deployed to the Gulf of Oman for a second time on April 16 this year and has checked every vessel passing through its area of watch. The, ship was part of CTF 150 from June to August of 2004. PNS Tariq is one of six PN ships that have been deployed since April 2004.

Since deployment, PN ships are said to have checked a number of illegal activities at sea and in some instances taken some boats back to the shores of Pakistan for further investigations.

Information about questioning and interdiction of all the ships by Pakistan Navy is shared with the Commander, US Naval Forces Central Command.

Captain Mohammad Amjad, the Commanding Officer of PNS Tariq, leads a 250-man crew and one helicopter with 12 men.