KARACHI: The military’s media wing said on Friday that the newly commissioned Pakistan Navy ship PNS Khaibar visited a Turkish naval facility and participated in a bilateral maritime exercise and coordinated patrols with the Turkish Navy during its maiden voyage to Pakistan.
According to a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations, the vessel made a port call at Aksaz Naval Base in Turkiye, where it took part in Exercise Turgutreis-XIII and conducted joint sea patrols alongside Turkish naval assets.
During the visit, the commanding officer of PNS Khaibar met with the Turkish Southern Sea Area Commander to discuss avenues for strengthening bilateral naval cooperation and promoting maritime stability through collaborative engagement. Senior Turkish naval officers, including the commander of Aksaz Naval Base, later boarded the Pakistani vessel as part of official interactions between the two sides.
Following the port engagement, PNS Khaibar sailed with the Turkish corvette TCG Heybeliada and an SH-70 helicopter to conduct Exercise Turgutreis-XIII. The drills included a range of operational manoeuvres designed to rehearse coordinated maritime responses and improve interoperability between the two navies.
Upon completion of the exercise, both ships carried out a coordinated patrol in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, demonstrating operational alignment and shared maritime interests.
The ISPR statement described the engagement as a reflection of the longstanding strategic relationship and defence cooperation between Pakistan and Turkiye, particularly in the maritime domain, where both countries continue to expand collaboration through port visits, joint drills, and training exchanges.
