KARACHI: Pakistan Navy ships PNS Nasr and PNS Shamsheer recently visited Yokosuka, Japan, and participated in the International Fleet Review (IFR).

The IFR was organised to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Japan Maritime Self Defence Forces (JMSDF).

The IFR formation comprised 38 units, including 18 ships and submarines, from different navies. The visit of the PN ships to Japan and participation in the IFR aim to strengthen bilateral ties, enhancing interoperability between navies and explore new vistas of defence cooperation.

Concurrent to the visit by the PN ships, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Mohammed Amjad Khan Niazi is also on an official visit to Japan.

The admiral attended the 18th Western Pacific Naval Symposium organised with the aim of strengthening mutual naval cooperation and discussing global and regional maritime issues among navies of the world.

The PN ships participated in the IFR with other naval ships at the Sagami Bay. The chief of naval staff witnessed the IFR from Japanese ship Izumo along with the Japanese prime minister and the naval heads of various navies.

On the sidelines of the IFR and symposium activities, Admiral Niazi had meetings with the chief of JMSDF, the chief of Japan Air Self Defence and naval chiefs of Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Colombia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore and Royal Navy of the UK.

During the meetings, matters of mutual interest, emerging shared security challenges in the maritime domain and bilateral naval collaboration were discussed.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2022