ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Navy Ship ASLAT visited Port Algiers, Algeria as partof overseas deployment to Mediterranean & European countries.

Earlier, the ship had also visited Port Aqaba, Jordan.

This was the first ever visit by a PN Ship to Algeria. Prior entry to theterritorial waters of Algeria, Algerian Coast Guard Patrol Craft ARNAB(P-378) and DENEB (P-334) escorted PN Ship till the port. Moreover, DefenceAttaché of Pakistan Brigadier Shahzad Iftikhar Bhatti along with AlgerianNavy Liaison Officer boarded the ship at sea.

Upon arrival at port, PNS ASLAT was warmly welcomed in a traditional navalmanner. Ship was received by Colonel Azroulsghi, Commander Algiers NavalBase, along with Muhammad Tariq, 2nd Secretary Embassy of Pakistan,Algeria. Wide media coverage by Algerian Navy Media team along with aerialcoverage through military helicopters was undertaken upon Ship’s entry intoport.

PNS ASLAT Port Call to Algiers, Algeria was fully capitalized in terms ofprofessional and social interactions with host country. PN delegationheaded by Commodore Muhammad Faisal Abbasi held meetings with BrigadierGeneral Samah Zineddine, Commander Central Maritime Region Algerian Navy,Brigadier General Karboua Mourad, Chief of Operations HQ Algerian Navy andlmran Yawar, Ambassador of Pakistan. The PN delegation also visitedAlgerian Naval Academy and was warmly welcomed by the Commandant.

Highlight of the visit was a reception dinner hosted onboard on first dayof ship’s arrival which was attended by a large number of guests. BrigadierGeneral Samah Zineddine, Commander Central Maritime Region Algerian Navy,graced the occasion as chief guest.

Director External Relations Algerian MoD, Director South Asia MoFA Algeriaand Ambassadors of Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran,Japan, Libya, Mexico, Poland and Sweden attended the dinner. DefenceAttaches of China, Hungary, Japan, Mali, Russia, Officers from AlgerianNavy, Army and prominent local community were also present.

Naval exercises at sea comprising tactical manoeuvres, communicationexercises/ drills and Maritime Interdiction Operations procedures betweenPNS ASLAT and Algerian Navy Ship RAIS KORFOU were also conducted to enhanceinteroperability and to share each other’s experience.

PN Ship ASLAT visit to Algiers will play a vital role to support diplomaticand military ties between two countries. It is believed that the goodwillgenerated through ASLAT visit to Algeria will go a long way in furtheringPakistan’s Foreign Policy objectives and will provide impetus to existingbonds of friendship and brotherhood between two important Muslim countries.