Pakistan Navy ship docks in Dubai as goodwill gesture

Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) 'Saif' has arrived at Dubai's Port Rashid as part of a goodwill gesture amidst growing bilateral ties between the UAE and Pakistan.

Saif is Pakistan Navy's frontline ship fitted with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors and takes part in anti-piracy patrolling as well as safeguarding international waters. The ship will remain docked till January 5, carrying 14 officers and 188 CPOs and sailors.

Captain Hamid Sajjad Lillah, commanding officer of Saif, said Pakistan and the UAE enjoy close and fraternal relations, which can be traced back to the UAE's formation phase of 1971 and have since developed into a broad-based cooperation in various fields.

"Navies of both countries have maintained very close and fraternal ties over the years. Brotherly relations between Pakistan and the UAE are bound to grow further and strengthen manifolds. Pakistan is a peace-loving country and we strongly believe in promoting and ensuring peace," he said.

"Pakistan believes in promoting peace and stability in the region and has remained committed to the international community for maintaining stability in the region and for maintaining stability and to curb terrorism in all its forms," added Captain Hamid.

He said the Regional Maritime Security Patrol is a Pakistan Navy initiative with the objective to maintain presence along with the critical choke points in international waters to fulfill global obligations of safeguard national shipping while observing freedom of navigation across high seas.

"Pakistan has been a staunch supporter of an integrated approach to combat the menace of piracy. We share the will and desire to make all efforts for eradication of piracy and elimination of its underlying causes," Captain Hamid said onboard Saif.

Reflecting the growing relations among the two nations, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, made his first visit of 2020 to Pakistan on Thursday.

waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com