Pakistan Defense News

RAWALPINDI: Commanders conference of Pakistan army would be held today (March 27) under the chairmanship of Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kiyani. The conference would discuss professional matters, security measures and the role of army in the general elections. According to ISPR, it would be a routine conference. online Corps Commanders conference today: ISPR

AMMAN: Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani met US Secretary of State John Kerry here on March 24. During the meeting both leaders discussed the reconciliation process in Afghanistan and security issues concerning the South Asia Region. COAS Kayani meets US Secretary of State Jon Kerry

* PN signs contract with KS&EW for 15,000-tonne capacity fleet tanker KARACHI: Two pusher tugs constructed at the Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works were formally handed over to Pakistan Navy on Tuesday in a ceremony held at Karachi Shipyard. Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Muhammad Shafiq was the chief guest on the occasion. Addition of these pusher tugs in Pakistan Navy fleet is an important milestone achieved towards self-reliance. Pakistan Navy has also signed a contract with KS&EW for construction of a 15,000-tonne capacity fleet tanker. Addressing the ceremony, the chief guest said that while Pakistan’s geographical location and geostrategic environment essentially necessitates building of a strong and balanced Navy to defend our maritime interests; realisation of our force goals through foreign acquisitions only is becoming increasingly difficult. The changing geo-political dynamics also suggest that the access to the foreign defence technologies, particularl...

ISLAMABAD — Faced with mounting casualties among security forces from roadside bomb attacks in its Tribal Areas, Pakistan is set to reveal an indigenous mine-resistant vehicle. A spokesperson for Pakistan’s state-owned vehicle manufacturer, Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT), has confirmed that its Burraq mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicle is nearing the end of its prototype phase and will be unveiled in “three to four months.” The announcement comes after years of development and failed efforts to acquire such a vehicle from other sources. The need for an MRAP is great, and the military has acknowledged the considerable menace improvised explosive devices (IEDs) pose to security forces, particularly in the Tribal Areas along the Afghan-Pakistan border in fighting with the Taliban. In what was perhaps the largest loss of life from an IED attack to date, 14 soldiers were killed and 25 wounded during a Jan. 13 attack on a Pakistani Army convoy in Waziristan. Pakistan has ...

Pakistan and Turkey have concluded air exercises aimed at excelling in the air combat capability, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) said. The International Air Exercise Indus Viper-II conducted between PAF and Turkish Air Force (TuAF) concluded at an operational air base of Pakistan, the PAF spokesman said Sunday. The Turkish Air Force contingent comprising five F-16s C&D, combat pilots and ground technical crew, participated in the air exercises conducted from March 4 to 16, reported Xinhua. ”Pakistan Air Force emphasizes on the combat training of its air and ground crew and regularly undertakes air exercises with allied air forces,” the spokesman said in a statement. Air Exercise Indus Viper II provided an opportunity to combat crew of both the air forces to acquaint themselves with applied tactics of air power in near real scenario, he said. He added the PAF has been participating in a number of international air exercises with some of the best air forces of the world, including Un...

KARACHI — Pakistan on Friday concluded a four-day multinational exercise and seminar aimed at promoting peace and stability in the region. The Aman-13 /Peace-13 exercise brought together ships from 13 countries — including the U.S. and China — and observers from 20 others. It was the fourth in the biannual series, which was designed to provide a platform for information sharing, develop tactics against asymmetrical and traditional threats and boost interoperability between all navies working in the region. Though there are other threats to regional peace and stability, the main ones in the Indian Ocean region remain terrorism and piracy. Some of the warships participating in the exercise regularly engage in missions to combat these threats. However, during the seminar, some questioned whether there was sufficient resolve to stamp out terrorism, given that the vast resources arrayed against the Somali pirates operating in the region have not been completely successful. Some ...

ISLAMABAD — The United States and China began naval drills in the Arabian Sea with Pakistan and other countries on Thursday, the Pakistani navy said, in a show of strength against terrorism and piracy. The AMAN-13 exercise involves ships from 13 countries and observers from 20 others and comes two weeks after China took control of a strategic Pakistani Arabian Sea port from Singapore’s PSA International. The five-day exercise, which began earlier this week with meetings and maneuvers in port, will end on Friday and is aimed at “information sharing, mutual understanding and identifying areas of common interest,” the navy said in a statement. The maneuvers — the fourth since 2007 — will also help develop and practice response tactics, techniques and procedures as well as improving cooperation between navies, the statement said. One of the main objectives is to “display united resolve against terrorism and crimes in maritime domain,” it said. The shipping lanes of the Indian Oce...

Aman exercise commences today Staff Report KARACHI: The multinational exercise Aman- 13 will be conducted from March 4 to 8, in which navy forces of 34 countries including Pakistan Navy (PN) are participating. This was stated by Commander Pakistan Fleet, Rear Admiral Khan Hasham Bin Siddique, at a media briefing here on Sunday. He pointed out that the Aman series of multinational exercises were started in 2007 with a view to promote regional cooperation and stability, greater interoperability and to display a united resolve against terrorism and crimes in maritime domain including Piracy. The Aman-13 is the fourth such exercise planned from March 4 to 8 at Karachi. Admiral Hasham pointed out that the concept of exercise was designed to: Provide common forum for information sharing, mutual understanding and identifying areas of common interest. The countries participating with the Naval assets are – Australia, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia (Special Operation Force only) Italy...