MALACCA STRAITS SECURITY GOOD EXAMPLE OF MULTINATIONAL NAVAL COALITION

KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 (Bernama) -- Pakistan Chief of Naval Staff Admiral
Noman Bashir has commended the maritime security efforts at the Malacca Straits,
citing it as one of the best examples of a successful multinational naval
coalition.

He noted that the long-term commitment from the Malaysian, Singaporean and
Indonesian navies had not only boosted maritime security but also effectively
crippled piracy which was once rampant at the straits.

The 900km-long narrow straits is also one of the busiest shipping lanes in
the
world, linking the Middle East and Far East.

"I think it is a good example of how Malaysian, Indonesian and Singaporean
navies effectively man and safeguard the maritime security of the Strait.

"When I commanded a ship through this Strait, 15 years ago, I remember
people
were very scared of it, but it is not anymore," he told Malaysian reporters in
an interview here Tuesday.

Bashir is leading a 55-member Pakistani delegation to the Defence Services
Asia (DSA) conference and exhibition currently held here.

On Pakistan, he said his country played an active role in the Combined
Taskforce 150 (CTF150), a multinational coalition naval task force for
counter-terrorism in the high seas, where it is also currently holding the
command
for the fourth time.

The CTF-150 conducts maritime security operations in the Gulf of Aden, Gulf
of Oman, Arabian Sea, Red Sea and the North Indian Ocean, transversing some 2.2
million nautical miles.

On another development, Bashir hoped to seek better partnership with the
Malaysian naval defence and was prepared to offer assistance, especially
involving training in the submarine sector.

On April 19, he met with his Malaysian counterpart, Abdul Aziz Jaafar,
and both leaders discussed the potential and scope of cooperation between the
two navies.

"Malaysia and Pakistan enjoy strong bilateral ties where frequent joint
trainings, visits were conducted. And we hope that this interaction can be
further boosted.

"One of the fields that we have agreed to look into is the submarine,
where we are ready to offer training and share our experience and expertise with
our Malaysian counterpart," said Bashir.

Pakistan acquired its first fleet of submarines in the early 1960s, while
Malaysia currently owned two French-made Scorpene submarines -- KD Tunku Abdul
Rahman and KD Tun Razak.

-- BERNAMA



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