Manama, 20 January 2022 (TDI): Combined Maritime Task Force 150’s (CTF-150) Command for the 12th tenure was handed over to Pakistan Navy on 18 January at Naval Support Activity, Bahrain.
During the Change of Command Ceremony, Royal New Zealand Navy’s Captain Brendon Clark handed over Command to Pakistan Navy’s Commodore Vaqar Muhammad. Additionally, the commander of the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command presided over the ceremony.
#PakNavy assumed the Command of Combined Maritime Task Force 150 (CTF-150) for the 12th time. The Change of Command Ceremony held at HQ of US NAVCENT, Bahrain. Commodore Vaqar Muhammad of Pak Navy took over Command from Captain Brendon Clark of Royal New Zealand Navy. pic.twitter.com/diNRlB3PtZ
— DGPR (Navy) (@dgprPaknavy) January 20, 2022
Role and Task of Combined Maritime Forces
The Combined Maritime Forces abbreviated as CMF is a maritime partnership among various nations. Its main aim is to uphold the International Rules-Based Order. This partnership ensures the promotion of security and stability across international waters.
A total of three task forces operate under the Combined Maritime Forces. The Combined Task Force 150 shortened as CTF 150 is among the three task forces under the CMF.
This task force is the one that the Pakistan Navy assumed command of, on 18 January 2022. The region that this task force is concerned with is outside the Arabian Gulf. It conducts maritime security operations outside the said region.
Pakistan Navy holds a Distinction in Commanding CTF 150
Pakistan Navy has previously commanded the task force eleven times. This is the twelfth time. This distinction of commanding the task force so many times is proof of the trust that the coalition partners have in Pakistan as well as its Naval prowess.
Pakistan Navy along with being a protector of Pakistan’s maritime interests is also an active participant when it comes to participating in coalition operations at a global level. This participation is purely for the purposes of ensuring peace in the region.
The incoming Commander of CTF-150, of the Pakistan Navy, confidently said during his address that the team is ready to take the huge responsibility of ensuring peace and stability in the region.
Furthermore, it is significant to mention that ceremony was also attended by the Ambassador of Pakistan to Bahrain and the Ambassador of New Zealand to Bahrain. Not only that but senior diplomats and officials of other Naval forces were also there.
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