Pakistan Navy Ship Khaibar departed Sunday for participation in Anti-Piracy Operations in the Gulf of Aden as part of Task Force-151. An ISPR (Navy) statement here said that it is the second Pakistan Navy Ship deployed with TF-151 which will cover a distance of 1,300 nautical miles till Horn of Africa and the area of deployment.
It said that the Task Force-151 is an international maritime coalition conducting Anti Piracy Operations off the coast of Somalia. Apart from Pakistan, naval forces from China, Malaysia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, USA, UK, Italy, Germany, Spain, Greece, France, Belgium, Sweden and the Netherlands are participating.
Presently, the Task Force is being commanded by US NAVCENT. Pakistan Navy, which is also a part of TF-150, had decided to deploy its ships with TF-151 on regular basis to support Anti Piracy Operations.
The first ship PNS Badr during its deployment, vigilantly provided Anti-Piracy Cover in a high risk pirates area to a Norwegian Merchant Ship MV ANTISANA JORF which had developed a machinery defect and her speed was restricted to 3-4 knots.
Covering a distance of about 145 Nautical Miles during two nights and two days, PNS Badr safely escorted the ship through piracy infested area and handed it over to Yemeni Coast Guard.