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Pirates becoming symbol of threat for the whole world: Rear Admiral Muhammad Asif Sandeela
KARACHI, Jul 01, 2009 (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX) --
Pakistan Navy ship PN-Badar has left for Somalia to join joint anti piracy campaign for 15 days. This was told by Commander Pakistan Fleet rear admiral Muhammad Asif Sandeela while addressing a press conference here Wednesday. He went on to say pirates had become a symbol of threat to the entire world including Pakistan. However the efforts being launched at global level would help eliminate piracy, he hoped.
Piracy had become a source of grave concern for the whole world, he said adding the world countries would have to work jointly to deal with this problem. Pakistan navy had played its due role for world peace and in this connection Pakistan Navy ship Badar had left for Somalia on June 29 to combat pirates on the coasts of Somalia and Gulf of Eden. It would remain in the territorial waters of Somalia for 15 days. The joint task force -151 formed against the pirates include US, Turkey, Singapore and South Korea.
Piracy reached its peaks during the period from 1999 to 2005 but no attention was paid to address this issue at international level. Following the adoption of a resolution by UN Security Council, Pakistani ship had joined global efforts for the first time to combat piracy. It was aimed at securing Pakistani ships from pirates and ensuring coastal stability besides taking part in the efforts being launched globally against piracy, he told.
He pointed out 134 incidents of piracy took place in 2008. Pirates remained successful in 49 incidents and 85 attempts were foiled. Somali was worst affected region by pirates where incidents of piracy were outnumbering other countries. 242 persons from 17 ships of different countries were under the custody of pirates in Somalia for the purpose of ransom.
Muhammad Asif Sandeela indicated talks were underway to purchase modern war ships from US to build Pakistan Navy on modern lines. One Pakistani fleet manufactured in China would join Pakistan Navy in September, he told.
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