Pakistan leads Combined Task Force for ‘tenth time’

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Staff Reporter

Pakistan is leading the Combined Task Force for the tenth time now. This came as Pakistan Navy Commodore Ahmed Hussain relieved Royal Jordanian Navy Col Mohammad Al Tarawneh as commander of Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 during a changeof-command ceremony at Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) headquarters in Bahrain.

“The Royal Jordanian Navy is a key part of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and will continue supporting efforts to provide stability and safeguard peace in the region,” said Col Al Tarawneh.

“The great efforts, cooperation and professionalism that my team from nine different nations provided guided the success of my mission. It has been an absolute pleasure to lead CTF 151 for the first time for the Royal Jordanian Navy.” Col Al Tarawneh returns to Aqaba, Jordan, to serve as deputy commander of the Royal Jordanian Navy.

Commodore Ahmed is reporting from Pakistan Navy Headquarters where he served as the assistant chief of Naval Staff for communications. During the change-of-command ceremony, Ahmed told the audience the Pakistan Navy believes in collaborative efforts to maintain security and stability for the uninterrupted flow of maritime traffic through the Middle East. According to a statement issued by CTF 151, this is the 10th time Pakistan is leading the command.

The CMF provides maritime security and stability in the region, including counter-narcotics and counter-piracy operations, across approximately 3.2 million square miles of international waters, which encompasses some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.

The CMF’s main focus areas are counter-narcotics, counter-smuggling, suppressing piracy, encouraging regional cooperation, and engaging with regional and other partners to strengthen relevant capabilities in order to improve overall security and stability, and promote a safe maritime environment free from illicit non-state actors.

When requested, CMF assets at sea will also respond to environmental and humanitarian incidents. Last month, The Daily Tribune reported about the United Kingdom Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose (F236), operating as part of the Combined Task Force, seizing more than six tons of illicit narcotics from a fishing vessel while conducting patrols in international waters in the Gulf of Oman.

The seizure consisted of 6,566 kilograms of hashish, with an estimated value of $9 million. The narcotics were confiscated and loaded aboard HMS Montrose for analysis and destruction.