Pakistan, U.S. to hold joint naval exercise

[maddezmom]

KARACHI (Reuters) - The Pakistani and the U.S. navies will hold joint exercises from Tuesday in the Arabian Sea aimed at ensuring waters near some of the world's most important shipping lanes remain trouble-free, officials said on Monday.

The exercise, code-named "Inspired Siren," will last until June 28 and will involve two U.S. and two Pakistani frigates, said Captain Hank Miranda, commander of the U.S. navy's Destroyer Squadron 50.

"The purpose is to practice skills, such as communications, and try to keep the seas out here free for trade and commercial purposes, and strengthen ties as allies," Miranda told reporters on board the USS Kauffman, one of two U.S. ships taking part.

The Arabian Sea is near the Gulf of Oman and its Middle Eastern shipping lanes, through which much of the world's oil passes.

~snip~
more: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050620/pl_nm/pakistan_usa_exercise_dc_1

[liberal N proud]

1. Pakistan has a navy?

The little dingy that could.

[Just Me]

2. Whew, boy,...this makes me feel unsteady.

Cover for war preparations against Iran? :shrug:

[cliss]

3. "...and strengthen ties as allies,"

Allies? Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan is a dictator. He took over that country a few years ago in a coup.

And we want to strengthen our ties with this ally?