Chief of Pakistan Navy Engages with Sri Lankan Vessel during Maritime Drill in Karachi
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Synopsis
Admiral Naveed Ashraf, the Chief of Naval Staff of Pakistan, visited the Sri Lankan Navy's SLNS Vijaybahu during the Aman 2025 maritime exercise in Karachi. He emphasized collaboration among navies for maritime security and peace.
Key Takeaways
- Admiral Naveed Ashraf visited SLNS Vijaybahu.
- Aman 2025 focuses on maritime security.
- Over 100 Sri Lankan naval officers participated.
- High-level defense meetings between Pakistan and Bangladesh.
- Concerns raised in India regarding ISI-Bangladesh interactions.
Karachi, Feb 11 (NationPress) The Chief of Naval Staff of Pakistan, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, made a visit to SLNS Vijaybahu, a state-of-the-art offshore patrol vessel belonging to the Sri Lankan Navy, during the ongoing multinational maritime exercise Aman 2025 taking place in Karachi, as reported by Lankan media on Tuesday.
Upon his arrival, Ashraf was received by Rear Admiral Thushara Karunathunga, Commander of the Northern Naval Area, along with several other officers, including Sri Lanka's Defence Attache to Pakistan, as he boarded the vessel.
A contingent of over 100 naval personnel has journeyed from Colombo to Pakistan to take part in the maritime drill, according to Daily Mirror.
"Aman signifies peace, but this event transcends mere exercises. Collaborating with the Sri Lankan Navy and other naval forces, it serves as an opportunity to demonstrate our unified determination and commitment to ensuring secure seas for future generations," Ashraf remarked to the prominent Lankan daily.
Additionally, General Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, recently met with Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hassan, Chief of Naval Staff of Bangladesh, in Rawalpindi. This was the second significant meeting between defense officials of the two nations in less than a month.
Earlier in January, a six-member military delegation from Dhaka, led by Lt. Gen. S M Kamrul Hasan, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division, visited Pakistan for its first official security-level discussions following the interim government in Bangladesh taking office in August 2024.
The delegation, headed by Hasan, engaged in extensive discussions with the Pakistan Army Chief during their visit from January 13-18.
Shortly thereafter, a four-member delegation from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), led by Major General Shahid Amir Afsar, arrived in Dhaka for a high-level meeting between the Pakistani intelligence agency and the Bangladeshi military, marking the first such engagement since 2009.
The interactions involving ISI and Bangladesh have raised concerns in neighboring nations, including India, which continues to grapple with significant security issues along its eastern and northeastern borders following the fall of the government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.
