KARACHI, June 14: The chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Abdul Aziz Mirza, has said the Pakistan navy is closely monitoring the change in the regional maritime scenario, is fully alert to the present situation and prepared to safeguard the country’s sea frontiers.

He was speaking to the officers and the faculty members of the Air War College here on Friday morning, an ISPR press release said.

Admiral Mirza said Pakistan always wanted peace in the region and good relations with the neighbouring countries but our ambition for peace should not be regarded as weakness. “If war is thrust upon us, we are ready and capable to defend the country.”

He said, with the Grace of Allah, the navy had constructed missile boats, mine hunters and fast control craft by utilizing indigenous resources and also had the capacity to construct larger warships. As for the submarine construction, the Pakistan Navy was far ahead in it. The construction of Agosta 90-B submarine \ was an evidence of its expertise, he added.

Responding to a question about the construction work of the submarine Agosta 90-B, the Naval chief said it was in progress under Pakistani technicians and French technicians would also join soon.

Stressing the importance of naval forces, he said that during peacetime and, specially during the period when tension is high, one of the prime duty of a navy is to keep open the sea lanes of communication as 96 per cent of our trade is through sea routes. Pakistan Navy is fulfilling its responsibilities very effectively and its ships and submarines are providing assurance of safe passage to the cargo vessels by continuous patrolling at high seas.

Highlighting the importance of the Jinnah Naval base at Ormara, the chief of the Naval Staff said that this second naval port had provided us with an alternative base and flexibility in naval operations.

He said necessary logistic and maintenance facilities were being provided to PN ships and submarines at this base. Jinnah Naval Base, he said, had not only increased the striking capability of the PN fleet along the Makran coast but had also opened new avenues of economic development for the area.

Earlier, on his arrival at the War College, the chief of the Naval Staff, was received by the commandant the Air War College, Air Vice Marshal Maqbool Ali Shah.—PPI