ISLAMABAD, July 13: Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Mohammad Afzal Tahir left here on Thursday on a visit to the United Kingdom and Bahrain.

During his visit, the naval chief will hold talks with his counterparts and other senior officials and discuss matters of mutual interest.

An official of the Pakistan Navy when contacted said Pakistan Navy had a long history of collaboration with the United Kingdom and most of the frigates in the naval fleet of Pakistan were purchased from the United Kingdom. He however said the naval chief had not gone to the United Kingdom this time on a procurement mission.

He said in Britain he would hold meetings with British defence officials besides attending an air show.

He said in Bahrain, he would visit Task Force 150 of the Coalition Maritime Campaign Plan, an international naval coalition comprising mostly NATO countries.

Pointing out that Pakistan had taken over the command of the Task Force in April, he said the naval chief would be briefed about the performance of the task force during his visit to Bahrain.