ISLAMABAD - Royal Navy Ship HMS LANCASTER with embarked helicopter visited Karachi and conducted bilateral exercise WHITE STAR-IV with Pakistan Navy. According to a press release received here on Thursday, upon arrival at Karachi Port, the Royal Navy Ship was warmly received by senior officials of Pakistan Navy and British High Commission.
On completion of the port visit, Pakistan Navy Ships TAIMUR, ASLAT, Pakistan Navy Maritime Patrol Aircraft, helicopters and PAF fighters carried out two-day bilateral exercise with Royal Navy Ship and helicopter. The bilateral exercise covered a range of advanced operational drills encompassing major facets of maritime warfare, operations, live gunnery firing and defence against asymmetric threats. The exercise is aimed to further enhance collaboration through mutual exchange of experience and improve interoperability between the two navies. Exercise WHITE STAR is a testimony of PN’s resolve to contribute towards regional peace and stability and enhance interoperability. The visit of Royal Navy Ship and conduct of exercise has further strengthened the ties between two navies, said the press release. Concurrent to the ship’s visit, Deputy Commander Combined Maritime Forces Commodore Philip Edward Dennis RN also visited Pakistan and called on senior Pakistan Navy officials. During the calls, matters of mutual interest and avenues of future collaboration to enhance regional maritime security were discussed, the press release concluded.
