Islamabad – Pakistan Navy and Iranian Navy would undertake naval drills in the Pakistani waters this month or early next month.
Well-placed sources in the defence establishment told The Nation that four Iranian naval vessels are scheduled to visit Pakistan for the joint drills ahead of ‘Aman-17’ exercise, which the Pakistan Navy will host early next year.
Pakistan Navy is also preparing to host its annual international naval exercise ‘Aman-17’ in North Arabian Sea early next year in which navies of Russia, China, Turkey and Iran are expected to participate.
This is the 6th exercise of Aman series. Aman meaning ‘Peace’ and slogan of Aman exercise is ‘Together for Peace’.
The objective of the exercise is to exchange naval experience and improve regional security. Geo-Strategic role of Pakistan has increased manifold because of rapidly changing geo-political dynamics in the western Indian Ocean.
The situation is changing after India secured a multi-million dollars two berths concession at Iranian Chabahar Port, showing it as a parallel to the Chinese’ Gwadar Port project.
Experts say one of the primary factors is the growing role of Chinese Navy in the region because of its ambitious multi billion dollars ‘One-Belt One-Road’ project. Pakistan has awarded 40 years concession of its deep seaport Gwadar to a state-owned Chinese company.
China and Pakistan are also undertaking a hefty $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project that will connect Gwadar Port with China through a Motorway, which will be eventually developed into a six lanes road link between China and Pakistan. http://nation.com.pk/national/26-Sep-2016/pakistan-iran-navy-drills-soon
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