PORT CASABLANCA – Pakistan Navy WarShip SAIF visited Port Casablanca,Morocco for training visit. PNS SAIF is the frontline warship of PN Fleet s18th Destroyer Squadron. The ship is fitted with state of the art weaponsand sensors for undertaking all types of Maritime Operations inmulti-threat environment. The ship is also embarked with organicAnti-Submarine Warfare helicopter Z9EC.
Upon arrival at Port Casablanca, the ship was received by Moroccan NavyLiaison Officer and officials from Embassy of Pakistan in Rabat.
Pakistan and Morocco enjoy close and brotherly ties at all levels ofdiplomatic and defense relations. Pakistan Navy is duly cognizant of theneed to enhance maritime collaboration with navies of friendly countries inthe form of regular ships port visits, extension of its trainingfacilities, participation in bilateral/ multilateral exercises and visitsof senior PN officers to explore new avenues of bilateral cooperation. Thisship visit came after a gap of 13 years as last port call by PN ships tothis important North African Muslim country took place in year 2005.
Rear Admiral Moazzam Ilyas, the Commander Coast (COMCOAST) represented PNduring official engagements on the occasion of ship s port call. Duringstay at Casablanca, COMCOAST called on senior naval officials from MoroccanNavy including Rear Admiral Lahcen Lyamlouli, Flag Officer CommandingMilitary Region Casablanca and Captain Vice Major Tahin, Deputy Chief ofNaval Operations.
Matters of mutual interests were discussed in the meetings and both sidesagreed to further enhance bilateral cooperation in various the maritimefields. During these interactions, COMCOAST also conveyed well wishes fromChief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi to the people ofMorocco in general and Moroccan Navy in particular. He also extended hisgratitude for the whole-hearted support provided by Moroccan Navy andCasablanca Port Authorities in making ship s stay comfortable andprofessionally rewarding.
PNS SAIF visit to Casablanca was given wide coverage both in electronic andprint media of Morocco. During three days stay at Casablanca, PN crewmembers visited Moroccan Navy Ship SULTAN MOULAY ISMAIL (F-614) whereasMoroccan Navy officers visited PNS SAIF for professional interactions. Areception was also held onboard which was attended by large number ofdiplomatic community, Defense Attaches and Senior Moroccan militaryofficials.
On completion of port visit, PNS SAIF conducted trilateral passage exercise(PASSEX) off Casablanca with French Navy Ship MISTRAL (L-9013) and MoroccanNavy Ship ALLAL BEN ABDALLAH (F-941). Trilateral PASSEX was aimed toenhance cooperation and interoperability at tactical level and sharing ofmutual experiences at sea with friendly Naval Forces.