KARACHI, Aug 30 Pakistan Navy's frigate PNS Khyber departed on Sunday to participate in anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden as part of the Task Force-151.

According to the ISPR, it is the second Pakistani ship deployed with the TF-151 which will cover 1,300 nautical miles to reach the Horn of Africa region.

The task force is an international maritime coalition conducting operations off the coast of Somalia. Besides Pakistan, naval forces from China, Malaysia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the US, the UK, Italy, Germany, Spain, Greece, France, Belgium, Sweden and the Netherlands are participating in the initiative. Presently, the task force is being commanded by the US officials.

Pakistan Navy, which is also part of the TF-150, has decided to deploy its ships with the TF-151 on a regular basis to support anti-piracy operations.

The first such vessel, PNS Badr, provided anti-piracy cover in a high-risk area to Norwegian merchant ship MV Antisana Jorf which had developed a fault and her speed was restricted to 3-4 knots.

Covering a distance of about 145 nautical miles over two nights and two days, PNS Badr safely escorted the ship through the piracy-infested area and handed it over to the Yemeni coast guard.