Amid rising tension in Middle East: Pakistan deploys its ship in Gulf of Aden

ISLAMABAD: Amidst the prevailing maritime situation in the Middle East and escalating tension in the region, the Pakistan Navy has deployed its ship, PNS TUGHRIL, in the Gulf of Aden.

It would ensure safety and security of merchant ships, carrying shipments to and from Pakistani ports, passing through one of the world’s busiest choke points, the media wing of Pakistan Navy said on Friday.

Pakistan Navy is committed to ensuring freedom of navigation on high seas and safety of international sea lines of communication besides safeguarding national maritime interests and trade through sea, the statement said.

It was maintained that Pakistan Navy is well cognizant of its national obligation with regard to maintenance of rule-based order in the region. “In the same spirit, Pakistan Navy regularly deploys its ships on Regional Maritime Security Patrols and also contributes to collaborative maritime security efforts under the ambit of Combined Maritime Forces,” the statement said.

Pakistan Navy Spokesman Commodore Syed Rizwan Khalid, when contacted by The News, said maritime situation in the Middle East was analysed during the Command and Staff Conference, and it was decided to continue with the deployment in order to protect national shipping and Pakistan’s sea line of communication.

“Protection of sea lines of communications is the prime role of all navies of the world,” the spokesman said. He said the PNS TUGHRIL has state-of-the-art technology to intercept long-range missiles and prevent the same hitting any ship.

The PNS TUGHRIL is the Chinese-built Type 054A/P frigate. It was inducted into the Pakistan Navy in January 2022, and it carries HQ-16 medium-range air defence missiles, an upgraded version of HQ-7, in a vertical launching system.