Qatar-India maiden bilateral maritime exercise flagged off

The maiden bilateral maritime exercise between the Qatari Amiri Naval Forces (QANF) and Indian Navy started yesterday. Named Za’ir-Al-Bahr (Roar of the sea), the five-day exercise is carried out in order to enhance co-operation between the two forces.  The exercise will be attended by Indian Navy Guided Missile Stealth Frigate INS Trikand and Patrol Aircraft P8-I that arrived at Hamad Port yesterday and Anti-Ship Missile equipped Barran Class Fast Attack Craft along with Rafale multi-task fighter aircraft. While addressing a joint press conference that marked the formal launch of the exercise, Indian ambassador P Kumaran said the venture will help the two countries continue the co-operation and the ability to work to combat maritime piracy, terrorism and ensure security.  “The joint exercise will strengthen the competence of the two forces,” he said.Indian embassy defence attache Captain Kapil Kaushik, QANF Marine Major Ghanim Abdullah al-Kaabi and INS Trikand commanding officer Captain Vishal Bishnoi also attended the press conference. Captain Kapil Kaushik said that the exercise assumes significance as it will strengthen the ties between the two countries.  The exercise includes a three-day harbour phase and two days’ sea phase. The first phase that runs until tomorrow includes seminars, professional interaction, official visits, sports activities and social and cultural events. The sea phase features a tactical maritime exercise involving the domains of surface action, air defence, maritime surveillance and interdiction operation. Captain Bishnoi, who said the Indian Navy is proud to join hands with Qatar Navy, cited that such initiatives will help the two forces share the ideas and strengthen the multi-dimensional co-operation. Major al-Kaabi said Qatar is looking to expand the areas of co-operation with India. INS Trikand, one of the frontline frigates of the Indian Navy, is equipped with a versatile range of weapons and sensors. The ship is part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet and is under the operational command of the flag officer commanding-in-chief, Western Naval Command, based in Mumbai. The P8-I Maritime Patrol Aircraft incorporates the latest technology for maritime surveillance.