Pakistan Chief of Navy Staff visits U.S. military commanders, Pakistan Navy pilots and aircrews in Florida

MAYPORT, Fla., Mar 24, 2010 - Pakistan Navy (PN) Chief of Naval Staff Adm. Noman Bashir and Commander, Navy Region Southeast Rear Adm. Tim Alexander gather with Sailors of Pakistan Navy No. 28 Squadron at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida.

March 26, 2010

Islamabad - Pakistan's Chief of Naval Staff Adm. Noman Bashir visited several U.S. military facilities in Florida during his 10-day trip to the United States to discuss opportunities for continued coordination and cooperation between the U.S. and Pakistan Navies.

While in Florida, Adm. Bashir met with students from Pakistan Navy No. 28 Squadron at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla., March 24.  He was greeted by Rear Adm. Tim Alexander, Commander, Navy Region Southeast, who provided details on cooperative programs between the U.S. and Pakistan navies.

Pakistan Navy pilots and aircrews are training with their U.S. Navy counterparts at Patrol Squadron 30 (VP-30), based at NAS Jacksonville, to "bolster Pakistan's search, surveillance and control capabilities in support of maritime interdiction operations," said Alexander.

Capt. Frank McCulloch, U.S. Navy liaison officer to Commander, Defense Representative -Pakistan, said that Adm. Bashir's visit to NAS Jacksonville and VP-30 is important for the Pakistan Navy maritime patrol and reconnaissance force in order to strengthen the relationship between the two maritime nations.

As part of the visit, Adm. Bashir participated in a familiarization flight aboard a P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft with U.S. and Pakistani Navy aircrews.

"(Adm. Bashir) is the driving force for improved equipment and training," Capt. McCulloch said. He explained that the training Pakistan Navy students are receiving with VP-30, "will greatly expand their intelligence and anti-submarine warfare capability."

Adm. Bashir also visited Naval Station Mayport, Fla., March 24, for lunch and a tour aboard the guided-missile frigate USS Klakring (FFG 42). Bashir and several members of his military staff were greeted on Klakring's quarterdeck by Cmdr. Scott Smith, the ship's commanding officer who provided a tour of the ship and hosted the delegation for lunch.

"The opportunity to host a naval leader of one of our allies is a singular honor," said Smith. "It provides an opportunity to reaffirm the bonds of mariners while allowing the crew to show off the pride they have in the ship."

Capt. Ron Bach, U.S. Naval Attaché to Pakistan, and Adm. Bashir's U.S. Navy escort during the visit pointed to the Pakistan Navy's superior support of anti-piracy efforts and peacekeeping operations with the United Nations.

"It's significant that the Pakistan Navy has commanded Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 four times since the task force was established by the United Nations in 2001. Their active leadership engenders trust and confidence among other Islamic nations to also participate," explained Bach.

CTF-150, a multinational task force, conducts maritime security operations in and around the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.  The task force was created to counter terrorism, prevent smuggling, and deter other destabilizing activities in the maritime environment.

A day earlier, Adm. Bashir met with U.S. Central Command Commander, Gen. David Petraeus in and U.S. Special Operations Command Commander, Adm. Eric Olson, in Tampa, Fla., Mar. 23, to reaffirm the strategic partnership between Pakistan and the United States.

Gen. Petraeus and Adm. Bashir discussed Pakistan's efforts to combat drug trafficking, terrorism, and piracy, while highlighting positive U.S.-Pakistan military-to-military relations. Adm. Bashir reinforced the Pakistan Navy's commitment to strengthening the bonds between the U.S. and Pakistan Navies.  He also discussed the Pakistan Navy's anti-piracy efforts and peacekeeping operations with the United Nations.

Adm. Bashir is in the United States on a ten-day visit at the invitation of the U.S. Navy.  While there, he is scheduled to meet with various U.S. military and government officials to discuss opportunities for continued coordination and cooperation between the U.S. and Pakistan Navies.