The fleet, comprising three warships—PNS Azmat, PNS
Rasadgar, and PNS Dasht—is on a mission to strengthen the ties between Pakistan
and Iran. This marks the sixth visit to the port since 2016, the most recent
being in January, 2024.
The arrival of the Pakistani flotilla was celebrated with an
official ceremony, attended by commanders from the Imam Khomeini Naval Region, the
Pakistani political consul, and the naval attaché in Iran.
Commodore Omid Moghadam, commander of the Surface Flotilla
of the Imam Khomeini Naval Region, expressed his satisfaction with the presence
of the Pakistani naval ships in Bandar Abbas.
"These friendly interactions between the naval forces
of allied nations are customary and vital for bolstering our maritime
cooperation," he stated.
Captain Omid Maghami, commander of the Surface Navy Brigade
of the First Naval Area, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing that the
presence of the Pakistani warships is a testament to the deepening ties between
the naval forces of the two countries.
"Such friendly exchanges between navies enhance
educational and military cooperation, as well as the exchange of maritime
experiences," he noted.
During their four-day stay in Bandar Abbas, the Pakistani
naval group will have a busy agenda, including meetings with the commander of
the Imam Khomeini Naval Region, paying respects at the martyrs' cemetery, and
visiting cultural and social sites in the city.
The itinerary also features friendly sports competitions
between the Iranian and Pakistani naval teams, meetings with political leaders
of Hormozgan province, a friendship dinner on board both Iranian and Pakistani
warships, and joint military exercises in the waters of the Persian Gulf and
the Strait of Hormuz.
The recent docking of the Pakistan Navy's Peace and
Friendship Fleet in Bandar Abbas underscores the commitment of both Iran and
Pakistan to fostering stronger military and security ties.
This visit builds on past agreements, such as those signed
during the late President Ebrahim Raisi's 2023 visit to Pakistan, aimed at
enhancing security cooperation and paving the way for future collaborations in
maritime security and regional stability.
