Pakistan and Oman have further strengthened their maritime partnership as senior naval officials from both countries held talks in Islamabad focused on regional security and enhanced naval coordination. The engagement resulted in the signing of an agreement to facilitate the exchange of information related to commercial shipping movements.
Rear Admiral Saif Bin Nasser Bin Mohsin Al Rahbi, Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman, called on Pakistan’s Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, at Naval Headquarters. The discussions centered on matters of mutual interest, including regional maritime challenges and opportunities to expand bilateral naval cooperation.
During the meeting, the Omani naval chief commended the Pakistan Navy for its professionalism and acknowledged its consistent contribution to maintaining maritime security and stability in the region.
As part of the visit, both sides signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at improving coordination through the sharing of “white shipping” information, which involves advance data on the identity and movement of civilian commercial vessels. This exchange is designed to enhance maritime domain awareness and support timely identification of potential risks along heavily trafficked sea lanes.
The Pakistan Navy stated that the agreement outlines structured procedures for information sharing, thereby improving mutual situational awareness and contributing to safer maritime operations.
The discussions also underscored the enduring professional relationship between the Pakistan Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman, marked by regular staff-level engagements, joint training initiatives, bilateral and multilateral exercises, and reciprocal port visits.
Pakistan and Oman’s close geographic location and shared maritime boundaries have long served as a foundation for robust defense cooperation, complemented by broader ties in trade, people-to-people exchanges, and security collaboration.
Earlier this month, an Omani naval flotilla visited Karachi to take part in the Thamar Al Tayyib 2025 exercise, part of a long-running bilateral drill series held since 1980, reflecting decades of close naval cooperation. The newly signed agreement is expected to further enhance coordination at sea and strengthen joint efforts to safeguard commercial shipping across the region.