By Zachary Keck
Iran and Pakistan are holding a naval drill as part of a larger effort to improve bilateral relations.
Iran-Pakistan bilateral relations appear to be on the upswing after a period of acrimony between the two neighboring states. This improvement is likely to be limited and only temporary.
On Tuesday, the Iranian and Pakistani navies began a joint naval drill in the eastern part of the Strait of Hormuz, the vital chokepoint through which 20 percent of global oil supplies traverse.
Over the weekend, Iranian media outlets began reporting that a Pakistani naval flotilla had docked at the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. According to Rear-Admiral Shahram Irani, the second in command for operations for Iran’s Navy, the Pakistani fleet was comprised of a “missile-launcher warship, a logistic warship and an advanced submarine.”
Irani also told reporters that: “The most important program of the Pakistani fleet during its presence in Bandar Abbas is holding joint naval drills with selected units of the Iranian Navy’s Southern Fleet in the Eastern waters of the Strait of Hormuz on April 8.” Iranian media also said commanders from both navies would hold meetings during the visit, which was expected to last four days.
The drill on Tuesday came just a day after the Iranian and Omani navies staged a joint rescue and relief exercise in the Sea of Oman.
Read the full story at The Diplomat