Pakistan to respond forcefully if war imposed: naval chief

Admiral Zaka for maintaining highest state of preparedness

ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah on Wednesday said that if war was imposed, Pakistan would respond forcefully and in a befitting manner.

A Pakistan Navy spokesman said that the Command and Staff Conference of Pakistan Navy was held at the Naval Headquarters. During the conference, the PN chief was briefed about Pakistan Navy’s ongoing and future projects. The meeting reviewed the security of Gwadar Port and China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The spokesman said that while addressing the conference, the PN chief directed the officers to maintain high standards of professional preparedness. “If war was imposed on us, we will respond with full force. Achieving high professional standard is our objective,” he added. He also called for conducting joint exercise with law enforcement agencies to ensure maritime security at the sea belt.

He urged the field commanders to maintain the highest state of preparedness and constant vigil in the Area of Responsibility (AoR) to hit back with all might to crush any nefarious designs of the enemy. He took stock of the prevalent security environment and reiterated the PN’s unflinching resolve and stalwart determination to safeguard maritime frontiers of Pakistan against all threats.

The conference reviewed matters related to operational preparedness, prevailing security situation and developmental plans of the Pakistan Navy.According to a press release, Chief of the Naval Staff was given detailed briefings on various ongoing and future projects and plans of Pakistan Navy.

Besides assessing the war preparedness of Pakistan Navy, the participants of the conference reviewed the priorities pertaining to the security of Gwadar Port and sea lines of communication linked to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The naval chief highlighted that game changing development of CPEC with Gwadar Port as its pivot and enabler warrants vigilant and impregnable safeguards all along our coast, especially off Gwadar against both conventional and asymmetric threats.

Admiral Zakaullah underlined the need for conducting coastal security exercises regularly in coordination with other Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) and organizations to acquire the highest degree of professionalism and inter-operability.

He also expressed satisfaction over the operational preparedness of Pakistan Navy in the face of prevalent maritime challenges and lauded the morale and motivation of troops at all levels.The Command and Staff Conference is the apex decision making body of Pakistan Navy in which all Principal Staff Officers and field commanders undertake strategic review of Pakistan Navy’s policies and plans at least once in each quarter.