Pakistan naval ships visit Indonesian seaport

Two ships of Pakistan Naval fleet including PNS Shamsheer and PNS Nasr, headed by Commodore Bilal Abdul Nasir, are on a visit to Jakarta’s Tanjung Priok seaport from January 14-17.

Embassy of Pakistan and the mission commander hosted a reception at Pakistan Naval Ship Shamsheer in which a large number of Indonesian navy and government officers, city notables, diplomats, Pakistan community members and officials of Pakistan embassy participated, said a press release on Saturday.

Addressing the gathering, Pakistani Ambassador Muhammad Aqil Nadeem said that seeing Pakistan Navy in friendly waters of Indonesia was a matter of great pleasure.

He said that cooperation in the field of defense was a vital component of friendship between the two countries and such port calls not only promote goodwill and amity between the two navies, but also enhance cultural understanding and people-to-people contacts. The ambassador highlighted the help and support provided by Indonesia to Pakistan in 1965 War.

He also thanked the government of the Republic of Indonesia and Indonesian Navy for the generous hospitality extended to the officers and men of PNS Shamsheer and PNS Nasr. Earlier, an impressive and elaborated welcome ceremony of PNS ships at Tanjung Priok port of Jakarta was arranged by the Indonesian Navy.

The ceremony was attended by senior Indonesian naval and Pakistan Embassy officers. Special performances by the Indonesian cultural troupe marked the welcoming ceremony. Later, the officers and crew, led by the mission commander, had courtesy calls and meetings with Indonesian Naval Fleets officials and Pakistan Embassy and visited Indonesian Naval Sea Lift Command, Naval Command and Staff College and the sailors of the two navies took part in various sports activities. Number of schools had also organized children trip to the ships.

  ♔ dailytimes