https://arab.news/w8gfk
- Admiral Naveed Ashraf says maritime security is not just a military requirement but a cornerstone of sovereignty
- Newly inducted hovercraft enhance Pakistan Marines’ ability to operate across land, sea and shallow littoral zones
KARACHI: Pakistan is capable of defending its maritime frontiers, the country’s naval chief said on Saturday, as he inducted three state-of-the-art 2400 TD hovercraft to further strengthen the navy’s operational capabilities, according to an official statement.
Admiral Naveed Ashraf made the remark while visiting forward posts in the country’s creek region, where he reviewed operational preparedness and combat readiness.
Addressing officers and men on the occasion, he said the induction of the new platforms symbolized the Pakistan Navy’s vision to modernize and bolster the country’s defense.
“We know how to defend our sovereignty and every inch of our maritime frontiers from Sir Creek to Jiwani,” he said, according to a statement circulated by the Directorate General Public Relations.
Ashraf reaffirmed the navy’s “defense capabilities stand as strong as our unwavering morale, from the shores to the sea.”
The official statement said the newly inducted hovercraft were capable of operating over a variety of surfaces, including shallow waters, sand dunes, marshy and boggy littoral zones and could move in areas where traditional craft are neither suitable nor designed to operate.
It added this unique capability of undertaking simultaneous operations over land and sea was expected to provide an edge to Pakistan Marines in performing their assigned tasks.
The admiral further reiterated that sea lines of communication and maritime security were not just military requirements but “a cornerstone of our nation’s sovereignty and a vital pillar of economic prosperity and stability.”
He described the Pakistan Navy as the “vanguard of peace and stability in the Indian Ocean Region” and a significant stakeholder in regional maritime security.