KARACHI: The 109th midshipmen and 18th SSC course commissioning parade, comprising 45 Pakistani and 43 midshipmen from friendly countries as well as 54 cadets of short service commission (SSC) course, was held at Pakistan Naval Academy PNS Rahbar on Saturday.

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, who was the chief guest on the occasion, congratulated and extended felicitations to the graduating officers on achieving this milestone. He highlighted that in order to enhance spiritual combat power of the men, for the first time, 32 religious and motivation officers (RMOs) had been commissioned as part of the SSC course, according to an official statement.

The statement, however, does not elaborate what spiritual combat power is and why the need was felt to induct religious and motivation officers to enhance it.

While taking stock of the prevailing geo-strategic situation, Admiral Abbasi said that Pakistan stands for peace and amity in the region and seeks harmonious and peaceful co-existence in the comity of nations.

“However, it will be a mistake if our desire for peace is construed as our weakness. We are fully capable of giving a befitting response in case of any aggression against our country,” he said.

The naval chief reiterated the firm resolve of the Pakistan Armed Forces and underscored that they were at the forefront of the national resolve of cleansing Pakistan from the scourge of terrorism.

The naval chief also mentioned the strategic shift from erstwhile participation of Pakistan Navy in the Combined Task Forces 150 and 151 under the auspices of the Combined Maritime Forces to Regional Maritime Security Patrols. “In order to pursue our national interests with strategic autonomy, we have now decided to institute regional maritime security patrols in the Indian Ocean region in line with the UN Resolutions and UN Convention on law of the sea,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2018