Pakistan Navy vessels visit Cape Town

Two Pakistan Navy vessels have arrived in the Cape Town naval port of Simon’s Town for a short port visit.

The destroyer PNS Tippu Sultan and the combat support ship PNS Nasr are visiting from 10 to 13 December. Their entry into the port was slightly delayed by the strong South Easter wind blowing in False Bay.

The purpose of the ships’ visit is to maintain the Pakistan Navy’s international contact with the South African Navy and also to enhance bilateral relations between Pakistan and SA.

According to the SA Navy, the relationship between the two navies has been increasing steadily and this visit to Simon’s Town by the Pakistan Navy ships presents an ideal opportunity to further strengthen the existing ties between the two navies. To further cement the closeness between the Pakistani and South African navies, chief of the staff, Pakistan Navy, Admiral Mohammed Asif Sandila would also visit SA at the same timeframe.

The Pakistan Navy has been part of Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151) since January 2009 in an effort to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden. CTF-151 is the international naval task force that operates in the Gulf of Aden and off the eastern coast of Somalia. The Pakistani Navy will soon take over from the Turkish Navy as the Command of Combined CTF 151.

Prior to arriving in South African waters, the two vessels visited the Seychelles, where discussions centred on the anti-piracy efforts in the region and the work of naval coalitions.

In a departure from the norm for foreign vessels berthed in Simon’s Town, the two ships will be open to the public from 3pm to 5pm on Tuesday 11 December.