KARACHI: Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Rashad Mahmood said on Monday that with the operationalisation of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Gwadar Port the responsibilities of Pakistan Navy would increase manyfold.

Speaking at the opening session of the Pakistan Navy’s biennial war games, Shamsheer-i-Bahr VI on Monday, he said he expected exercises to meet such challenges would be included in the conduct of the war games.

Underlining the significance of war games in the military planning process, Gen Rashad said currently the world was volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous so regular conducting of war games to evolve new concepts and doctrines was important. He lauded the realistic threat appraisal, exhaustive planning process and objective analysis presented by the force commanders.

Earlier, deputy chief of naval staff (operations) Vice Admiral Zafar Abbasi presented an overview of the war game outlining objectives set forth, and concepts to be tried. He highlighted the importance of ensuing impregnable seaward defence and the vital role of Pakistan Navy in the face of emerging challenges.

He said that being a tri-service event with representation from relevant ministries, Shamsheer-i-Bahr VI was a biennial exercise to try out various concepts which are then validated in subsequent navy-wide field exercises before being incorporated into naval strategy.

Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah was also present.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2016