Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Margaret Adamson and Chief Minister Sindh, Murad Ali Shah welcomed Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Arunta, her commander Cameron Steil and ship’s company, to Karachi last night at an on-board reception to celebrate Australia Day.

HMAS Arunta is visiting the Port of Karachi to participate in Exercise AMAN during her deployment to support Australia’s efforts to promote maritime security, stability and prosperity in the Middle East region.

High Commissioner Adamson reflected on the depth and breadth of the 70-year relationship between Australia and Pakistan, noting in particular the longstanding exchange of military officers through both countries’ defence training academies.

“Australia works closely with Pakistan in maintaining maritime security and stability in the Indian Ocean with our Navy ships working closely together in the Combined Maritime Forces.  We are also members of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), which aims to strengthen member states’ collaborative capacity, notably through the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, Counter-Piracy and Information Sharing Working Groups,” Ms Adamson said.

HMAS Arunta and her ship’s company of 191 departed HMAS Stirling naval base at Rockingham, Western Australia for Operation MANITOU in the Middle East Region in November last year. During her nine-month deployment, HMAS Arunta is conducting maritime security operations including counter terrorism, counter piracy and narcotics interdiction as part of the multi-national Combined Maritime Forces in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean.