Pakistan, US navies hold anti-terror exercises

KARACHI: Pakistan and the United States embarked on a two-week joint naval exercise Monday to enhance their skills in counter -terrorism, and human and drug smuggling, an official said.           

"The exercises will help the navies to check terrorism, and human and drug smuggling through sea routes," Lieutenant commander Salman Ahmed of the Pakistani Navy said.   

"It's a regular feature and it gives a chance to both navies to learn from each other's skills," he said. Pakistan and the US held a similar exercise last year, he added.      

The joint exercise comprises three phases including harbour, sea and analytical skills, he said.       

The sea phase would be conducted in the northern Arabian Sea in Pakistani territorial waters, Ahmed said. The exercise would involve two naval ships, a submarine and an aircraft carrier from the US, plus two ships and a submarine from Pakistan.            

Other small ships and aircraft will also be the part of the exercise, he added.