'Navy fully trained to meet challenges of modern warfare'

Pakistan Navy was fully trained to meet the challenges of modern warfare, senior officers of Pakistan Navy said here on Thursday.
The officers expressing these views were Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (Operations), Rear Admiral Iftikhar Rao and Commanding Officer PNS Bahadur, Commodore Pervaiz Ahmed Khan.
They were briefing a team of journalists on various projects of peacetime training. The team was visiting Pakistan Navy establishments from Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.
Answering a question, Admiral Rao said that Pakistan had given assurance for providing necessary security to the stakeholders in connection with the laying of the proposed Iran and India gas pipeline project through the territorial waters of Pakistan.
Replying another question regarding submission of scientific study report to the United Nations for the enhancement of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) from 240,000 square kilometres to 300,000 square kilometres.
He said that a French company was being awarded a contract to carry out the study for its subsequent submission to the UN well ahead of 2007, which was the deadline set for the purpose by the world body.
According to UN Law of Sea Convention 1982, all the littoral states were awarded exclusive economic zone up to 200 nautical miles and for their further enhancement of their respective shallow waters submission of this report to the UN was made mandatory.
In the year 2002, the Government of Pakistan had given a comprehensive policy dealing with the maritime matters of the country and two hydrographer research vessels were to be purchased for the purpose.
Admiral Rao informed that the Arabia Sea was a part of the Indian Ocean, which was very important from the communication aspect as well for the world supply of oil from the Middle East.
He further pointed out that about 95 percent of country's trade were done through the sea route.
He said that Pakistan had a 990 kilometre long coastline while their exclusive economic zone consisted of 24,000 square kilometres.
He said that the Indian designs are to try and assert control over the Indian Ocean.
He stated that Pakistan Navy was fully capable of protecting its territorial waters and maritime interests.
The Commanding Officer of PNS Bahadur, Commodore P.A. Khan, spoke of the training mission of Pakistan Navy.
He said that the training in Pakistan Navy was divided into three distinct areas ie basic, operational and technical training both for officers and men.
Commodore Khan stated that the training philosophy in the Pakistan Navy was progressive in nature, objective-oriented and was aimed at producing professionals of very high calibre.
He also pointed out that the Pakistan Navy had a long tradition of training officers and men from the allied, countries. The Naval Academy had been imparting basic training to the cadets from friendly countries primarily from the Middle East since late 60s.