Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf has announced the launch of more frequent and integrated joint operational exercises with the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), stressing that operational readiness is the foundation of success in modern warfare.

According to a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Admiral Ashraf made the announcement during his visit to the PAF Air War College Institute in Karachi, where he praised the academic and professional training provided at the institution and its key role in preparing future military leadership to meet evolving battlefield challenges.

Addressing the participants of the air war course, the PN chief highlighted the importance of strategic foresight and continuous preparedness, especially in the context of recent developments along the eastern front.

He lauded Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu’s leadership, crediting him for significantly boosting the Pakistan Air Force’s operational capabilities through modernisation and rapid integration of technology, which has helped reshape the region’s defence balance.

Admiral Ashraf also noted that the Pakistan Navy’s capabilities have grown substantially across surface, sub-surface, and aerial domains, transforming the navy into a more agile and formidable force.

He emphasised the critical importance of inter-services coordination, underlining that a comprehensive national defence strategy requires seamless collaboration among the armed forces.

As part of technological advancements in modern conflicts, Admiral Ashraf pointed to the increasing importance of unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

He announced a strategic partnership between the National Aerospace Science and Technology Park (NASTP) and the upcoming Pakistan Maritime Science and Technology Park, focused on the development of indigenous unmanned aerial systems.

This collaboration, he said, will bolster Pakistan’s self-reliance in the defence sector and enhance its operational edge in emerging domains of warfare.