Pak navy to assume command of navies' coalition from Monday

Islamabad, Apr 22 (UNI) Pakistan Navy will assume command of the Coalition Maritime Campaign Plan (CMCP) from Monday.

Pakistan is the first non-NATO country, which is to take over command of the CMCP, comprising two task forces.

Rear Admiral Shahid Iqbal has already been named as the new CMCP commander of which Pakistan had become a member in April 2004 some three years after the multi-national counter-terrorism force was raised in 2001.

Pakistan Navy will lead the force for one year from the Naval Central Command (NAVCENT) headquartered in Bahrain.

The CMPC is the maritime component of the ''Operation Enduring Freedom,'' the US -led anti-terror international coalition, which routed government of radical Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001.

The CMPC operates in the Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea and Horn of Africa.

Pakistan navy's frigate ''Babur'' named after the Mughal emperor Zaheeruddin Babur has been conducting operations with American destroyer USS Sullivans and French Frigates FS Surcouf in the Gulf of Oman and has taken part in interdiction operations intended to disrupt terrorist's movement by sea.

Pakistan and the US, Britain, France, Australia, Italy, Japan, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain are members of the coalition.

UNI XC AD RAI2016