Pak assumes command of TF 150

Pakistan Navy Rear Adm. Muhammad Zakaullah assumed command of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 from French Navy Rear Adm. Alain Hinden during a change of command ceremony held on July 20 in Bahrain.Task force 150 conducts Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in the Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. Task Force 150 covers a large area starting from Gulf of Oman to Red Sea, approximately 2.4 million sq miles with a coastline stretching 6500 NM bordering 14 nations around GOO, North Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, Horn of Africa and Red Sea. The Task Force 150 has immense importance due to presence of three most important choke points of the world including Straits of Hormuz , Suez Canal and Bab ul Mandab in its area. Apart from other vital trade, one third of the world’s oil supply is being transported through Strait of Hormuz and other choke points.Rear Adm. Hinden not only carried out his mission with vigor, but seized the opportunity to improve the Coalition as a whole,” said Vice Admiral. Bill Gortney, Commander, Combined Maritime Forces. He created theater security cooperation opportunities in an area stretching from the Strait of Hormuz, to the northeast African coast to the Suez Canal as a means to help regional states broaden and deepen their own maritime capabilities.” Addressing the ceremony Rear Admiral Hinden said that the Coalition Task Force has shown that millions of square miles of ocean are not the property and playground of the smuggler, the pirate, the terrorist and the trafficker.We, on the high seas, in collaboration with our regional neighbours , will make every effort and bear the burden of enforcing the rule of international law of the seas, thousands of miles from shores”, he added

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