Pakistan welcomes Iran’s participation in AMAN-25 naval drill
The Chief of the Naval Staff of the Pakistan Navy welcomed the participation of Iran’s Navy in the international naval drill, dubbed AMAN-25, which is scheduled to be held in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi in February.
Pakistan deeply appreciates and thanks the Iranian Navy for its continuous presence in the past rounds of the AMAN naval exercise, said Admiral Naveed Ashraf in an interview with IRNA.
Islamabad enjoys constructive interactions with Tehran, he said, adding that Pakistan is eagerly ready to increase this cooperation with neighboring Iran.
During the official visit of the Chief of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri to Islamabad, Pakistan presented an official invitation to Iran to participate in the multinational exercise AMAN-25.
“We have a lot to learn from each other in maritime issues, and about the upcoming AMAN-25, the Pakistan Navy looks forward to close cooperation and establishing stronger relations with Iran,” Ashraf added.
The current level of relations between the two navies is “satisfactory,” he underlined.
AMAN exercises are held every two years. This year’s drill is scheduled to be held from February 7-11.
General Baqeri recently visited Pakistan, during which he said the Armed Forces of Iran and Pakistan should further cooperate to fight terrorist and separatist groups and improve security at the common border.
Baqeri stressed the need to strongly safeguard border areas between Iran and Pakistan “because the enemies seek to exploit our borders and we need more cooperation and coordination.”
In a meeting with Pakistan’s Army chief Lieutenant General Asim Munir, Baqeri said confronting the terrorist groups must continue with seriousness.
The Pakistani army chief, for his part, said that Islamabad is taking necessary and urgent measures to stop terrorist activities.
The common border between the two countries have been the scene of many terrorist attacks in recent years, which have claimed the lives of a number of Iranian and Pakistani security forces.