The Pakistan Navy and Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) participated in the bilateral exercise Thamar Al Tayyib 2021 (TAT-21) in North Arabian Sea, according to a statement issued by DGPR Navy said.
The visiting fleet participating in the exercise comprised two Royal Navy of Oman ships, namely AL DHAFERAH and AL SEEB. Besides that, Maritime Patrol Aircraft of Royal Air Force of Oman also participated in the bilateral exercise.
Commanding officers of the visiting Royal Navy of Oman ships met the Commander Pakistan Fleet and Commander Coast in Karachi. During the meeting, matters of mutual interest were discussed. Both sides reaffirmed to enhance bilateral ties in all spheres. The visiting officers also appreciated Pakistan Navy and support staff for providing whole-hearted support during the Thamar Al Tayyib 2021 Exercise.
Both surface and air units participated in the naval exercise. The participating sides discussed operational and tactical plans and ideas during the harbor phase of the exercise. Pre-exercise conferences were also conducted.
During the sea phase of the exercise, counter-terrorism, anti-air, and anti-surface warfare operations were carried out with the overall objective of curbing illegal activities in the sea.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi also visited the Royal Navy of Oman ships and talked to the visiting officers and men on board.
“Exercise TAT-21 provided an avenue of mutual learning and inter-operability and opportunity for both navies to further hone their professional skills,” the press release issued by DGPR Navy read.
“Regular conduct of bilateral naval exercise between the Pakistan Navy and Royal Navy of Oman are indicative of longstanding brotherly relations between two countries in general and both navies in particular,” the statement read further.
Exercises between navies of Pakistan and Oman are regularly conducted. The first bilateral exercise was conducted in 1990, while the last exercise of the TAT series was conducted in Omani waters in 2019.