KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) – The Pakistani navy launched a five-day multinational military exercise in the Arabian Sea on Friday as part of Islamabad’s years-long effort to secure security in the area, although local archivists have not been invited to India as usual. not.
The biennial “Aman” or peace exercise began with a ceremonial hoisting of flags of participating countries in the southern port city of Karachi. Senior military representatives, diplomats and Pakistani naval officials attended.
More than 40 countries, including the United States, Russia, Britain and China, are participating, and some are sending vessels, aircraft or special operational forces.
Russia has joined NATO forces in the area for the first time in many years, saying in a statement by the Ministry of Defense that its aim was to “strengthen and develop military cooperation between the countries involved in the maneuvers participate for the sake of safety and stability. “
Pakistan has been hosting the exercise since 2007, but has never invited neighboring India, and bitter relations continue after three wars fought between the two since the British government’s independence in 1947.
The exercise began days after Turkish troops arrived in Pakistan for a separate joint military exercise on land, in addition to sending a contingent to the floor exercises.