Pakistan Assumes Command of Combined Task Force 150: DVIDS

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Nathan Schaeffer

MANAMA, Bahrain - Pakistan Navy Rear Adm. Muhammad Zakaullah assumed command of Combined Task Force 150 from French Navy Rear Adm. Alain Hinden during a change of command ceremony held July 20 in Bahrain.

The ceremony concluded the French Navy's sixth successful command of CTF 150, a task force which conducts Maritime Security Operations in the Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.

"Rear Adm. Hinden not only carried out his mission with vigor, but seized the opportunity to improve the coalition as a whole," said Vice Adm. Bill Gortney, commander, Combined Maritime Forces. "He created theater security cooperation opportunities in an area stretching from the Strait of Hormuz, to the northeast African coast to the Suez Canal as a means to help regional states broaden and deepen their own maritime capabilities."

Hinden took the time to praise the Sailors under his command for their professionalism and dedication, while giving special recognition to the boarding teams; noting how their efforts in particular have helped bring about a lawful maritime order.

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'Aman-2009 takes Pakistan into naval diplomacy era’: The News

KARACHI: Pakistan Navy’s multinational Naval Peace Exercise "Aman 09" began here on Thursday.

According to Pakistan Navy spokesman, formal inauguration of “Aman 09” will take place at Karachi Dockyard in evening.

The navies of 38 countries of the region and the world are participating in these exercises. Out of these 38 countries, the naval forces of 11 countries are going to actively participate in the exercises with their battleships, maritime aircraft, sailors, and other special forces. The international maritime manoeuvres will continue till March 14.

The spokesman said that extensive briefing and debriefing sessions would be held before and after the main sea manoeuvres phase of the exercise in order to enhance understanding and information regarding operations of different navies among the participants. Bahria University will also hold an international maritime conference on the sidelines of the Aman exercise.

He said that geographically Pakistan is located at an important maritime location where its naval forces have been operating at the frontlines to combat international sea menaces of pirates, drug and human trafficking, and terrorism.

He said the epicentre of the international maritime threat in the shape of pirates had moved closer to the region, and the Pakistan Navy has to spare its assets to actively participate in international naval operations against the pirates operating near the Gulf of Aden.

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Pakistan offers UN help to combat high sea piracy: Dawn

By Our Correspondent

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 25: Pakistan on Monday offered to help the international community combat the menace of piracy off the coast of Somalia and the Red sea.The offer to supplement United Nations’ efforts to combat piracy was made at a meeting between Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN Adbullah Hussain Haroon and Belgian Minister of Defence Pieter De Crem and heads of UN peace-keeping operations.

They were discussing issues relating to the peacekeeping troops presently being deployed by the United Nations world over under the UN Security Council mandate.

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