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Pakistan inducts first locally built submarine into navy
Karachi, Dec 12: Pakistan inducted its first locally built naval submarine today, as the President vowed to keep strengthening the nation`s defence.
Karachi, Dec 12: Pakistan inducted its first locally built naval submarine today, as the President vowed to keep strengthening the nation's defence.
President Pervez Musharraf inaugurated the new Agosta
90-B submarine at a ceremony at the southern port of Karachi.
It is the navy's second submarine and was built with the help of French engineers. France built the first Pakistani submarine that went into service September 1999. Pakistan has started building a third with French help.
The Agosta submarine has successfully completed six months of trials in the Arabian Sea and is equipped with torpedoes, missiles and a French combat electronics system, officials said.
Musharraf said it gives ``a considerable boost to our defence capability”.
It was meant to be launched in 2002 but work was suspended after the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in America, and further delayed by a car bombing in Karachi in May 2002 in which 11 French engineers working on the submarine project were killed. Islamic militants were blamed for the bombing. Musharraf said he still feels sorry for the deaths of the engineers. He praised France for cooperating with Pakistan and said ``this shows a strong bond of friendship.''
He said the submarine was a further step toward Pakistan's ``self-reliance'' in its defense capabilities, also citing domestically built tanks and trainer jets.
``It is my commitment to the nation and my assurance to the armed forces that enhancement of defense capabilities will go on with the passage of time,'' Musharraf said.
Bureau Report
It is the navy's second submarine and was built with the help of French engineers. France built the first Pakistani submarine that went into service September 1999. Pakistan has started building a third with French help.
The Agosta submarine has successfully completed six months of trials in the Arabian Sea and is equipped with torpedoes, missiles and a French combat electronics system, officials said.
Musharraf said it gives ``a considerable boost to our defence capability”.
It was meant to be launched in 2002 but work was suspended after the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in America, and further delayed by a car bombing in Karachi in May 2002 in which 11 French engineers working on the submarine project were killed. Islamic militants were blamed for the bombing. Musharraf said he still feels sorry for the deaths of the engineers. He praised France for cooperating with Pakistan and said ``this shows a strong bond of friendship.''
He said the submarine was a further step toward Pakistan's ``self-reliance'' in its defense capabilities, also citing domestically built tanks and trainer jets.
``It is my commitment to the nation and my assurance to the armed forces that enhancement of defense capabilities will go on with the passage of time,'' Musharraf said.
Bureau Report