Beijing has delivered two warships to Pakistan and completed a four-frigate deal which was inked back in 2018, as per a Pakistan Navy statement on Thursday.
The two Type 054A/P frigates, PNS Tippu Sultan and PNS Shahjahan, were commissioned in the Pakistan Navy in the presence of Pakistan Navy chief Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi, who was the chief guest at the occasion, at the Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard, Shanghai, as per the statement.
Details About Chinese Warships for Pakistan
Niazi said that the commissioning of the frigates “ushers in a new chapter in Pakistan-China friendship”.
He underscored that the 4,000-tonne frigates have “enormous” surface-to-surface, land attack, surface-to-air and underwater firepower, and extensive surveillance potential, as per the statement.
It added that the new vessels will contribute to maintaining regional peace and security and protect Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCS).
Niazi said the Pakistan Navy would now be able to “engage in multiple naval operations to counter maritime threats”.
The naval chief noted that with the help of Beijing, the Pakistan Navy has “undertaken substantial measures to strengthen its force structure and progressive capability enhancement”.
“The Chief Guest underscored that completion of Type 054 A/P Project is a major leap towards strengthening capabilities to respond to maritime threats and contribution to peace and stability in the region”, as per the statement.
Meanwhile, experts quoted by Chinese state-backed Global Times said that the vessels would also be a shot in the arm for the Pakistan Navy to safeguard the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which runs from Xinjiang to Gwadar, a Pakistani port on the Arabian Sea.
Pakistan Navy Chief’s Visit to China
The commissioning of the frigates took place amid the Pakistan Navy chief’s visit to China. As per a Chinese Defence Ministry statement, Niazi met Chinese Defence Minister General Li Shangfu in Beijing on 8 May.
The statement noted that the military-to-military relationship between Pakistan and China constituted an “important part” of bilateral ties.
"The two militaries should explore new areas of exchange, spark new highlights of cooperation, continuously improve their ability to tackle various security risks and challenges, and work together to safeguard the national and regional security interests," Li said.
For his part, Niazi said the Pakistan Navy was willing to “establish closer cooperation mechanism” with the Chinese Navy and “deepen pragmatic exchanges and cooperation” to maintain regional security and stability, the Pakistan Navy statement noted.