Turkish naval chief receives Pakistan’s military award

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan

Pakistan on Monday awarded Commander of Turkish Naval Forces Vice Admiral Adnan Ozbal with one of the country’s highest military medals, an official statement said.

Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain conferred Nishan-e-Imtiaz (military) to Ozbal at a special ceremony held at the President House in the capital Islamabad, said the statement issued by the President House.

“It is hard for me to describe the depth of relations between Pakistan and Turkey. The two countries have always cooperated with each other on all international forums with respect to several issues,” the president said while talking to Ozbal after the ceremony.

Pakistan’s naval chief Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, and Turkish ambassador to Pakistan Ihsan Mustafa Yurdakul also attended the ceremony.

“Pakistan deeply respects Turkey for the role it has played vis-à-vis resolution of different issues confronted by the Muslim Ummah. We are proud of friendship with Turkish people, the government and President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan”, Hussain was quoted as saying.

President Hussain hailed the role of Erdogan in regard to resolution of conflict in war-stricken Afghanistan.

Eulogizing the generosity that the Turkish people and the government have shown for Syrian refugees, Hussain noted that unity among the Muslim Ummah was need of the hour in order to face the simmering challenges.

Admiral Ozbal thanked Pakistan government for honoring him, and pledged that he would do his part for further strengthening the military ties between the two brotherly countries, the statement added.

Later, the Turkish naval chief visited the Pakistan Navy’s headquarters in Islamabad and called on his Pakistani counterpart Abbasi, who was awarded the Turkish Armed Forces’ Legion of Merit during his visit to Turkey in December 2017.

Pakistan's army and air force chiefs were also awarded the same medal in June and July 2017, respectively.

According to a statement issued by Pakistan Navy, the two chiefs discussed various issues pertaining to ongoing professional cooperation, including joint naval exercises and mutual training, between the two forces.

A contingent of Pakistan Navy presented Ozbal a guard of honor.