Pakistan Vows to Enhance Naval Cooperation with Iran

Governor General of Iran’s Hormuzgan Province Jassem Jadari and Pakistani Navy Task Force Commander Commodore Zain Zulfiqar in a meeting in the Southeastern port city of Bandar Abbas stressed enhancement of cooperation between the two countries’ naval forces.
The Pakistani navy fleet has berthed in Bandar Abbas port sine a few days ago to take part in the joint naval exercises with Iran.

The governor general of Hormuzgan province welcomed the Pakistani naval commander, and said, “Such visits should continue as naval diplomacy is one of the best tools for improving relations among nations.”

According to a press release by the Pakistani embassy in Tehran, Commodore Zulfiqar expressed his gratitude for the hospitality of the Iranian Navy and the hospitable people of Bandar Abbas during the meeting with Jadari.

“The visiting navy officer also called on the Bandar Abbas Friday Prayers Leader Ayatollah Naeemabadi and conveyed the good wishes and aspirations of the people of Pakistan and the Pakistani Navy,” it added.

“Expressing Pleasure in the visit by the Pakistani navy ships to Iran, the Bandar Abbas Friday prayers leader hoped that commonalities of the two countries’ culture would help bring both nations closer,” the press release said.

In his remarks, Commodore Zain Zulfiqar referred to the historic and brotherly relations between Pakistan and Iran, and said, “I hope that visits to Iran will be more frequent in future and vice versa.”

The press release of the Pakistani embassy further stated that the Commander of Iran’s 1st Naval Zone Commodore Hossain Azad has hosted a dinner in the honor of the Pakistan Navy officers also attended by senior provincial officials.

Pakistan navy ships, including an Agosta class submarine, docked at Bandar Abbas on April 5th for four days.

The press release said that the Pakistani navy ships’ visit to Bandar Abbas is expected to enhance naval cooperation between Pakistan and Iran.

On Saturday, a senior Iranian Navy commander announced that Iran and Pakistan plan to conduct joint naval exercises in the Persian Gulf.

“The most important program of the Pakistani fleet during its presence in Bandar Abbas is holding joint naval drills with selected units of the Iranian Navy’s Southern Fleet in the Eastern waters of the Strait of Hormuz on April 8,” the Iranian Navy’s Deputy Commander for Operations Shahram Irani said.

He noted that Pakistan’s naval fleet will have a four-day presence in Bandar Abbas during which the two countries’ naval commanders will have meetings.

Iran’s naval power has even been acknowledged by foes. In a Sep. 11, 2008 report, the Washington Institute for the Near East Policy said that in the two decades since the Iraqi imposed war on Iran, the Islamic Republic has excelled in naval capabilities and is able to wage unique asymmetric warfare against larger naval forces.

In a Sep. 11, 2008 report, the Washington Institute for the Near East Policy said that in the two decades since the Iraqi imposed war on Iran, the Islamic Republic has excelled in naval capabilities and is able to wage unique asymmetric warfare against larger naval forces.
According to the report, Iran’s Navy has been transformed into a highly motivated, well-equipped, and well-financed force and is effectively in control of the world’s oil lifeline, the Strait of Hormuz.

The study says that if Washington takes military action against the Islamic Republic, the scale of Iran’s response would likely be proportional to the scale of the damage inflicted on Iranian assets.