Demonstrating the growing maritime synergy between Islamabad and Ankara, the newly commissioned PNS KHAIBAR visited the Aksaz Naval Base on February 13, 2026. The visit, part of the ship’s maiden voyage from Türkiye to Pakistan, served as a platform for high-level naval diplomacy and advanced bilateral tactical training in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Newly commissioned PNS KHAIBAR, during her maiden voyage from Türkiye to Pakistan, visited Aksaz Naval Base, Türkiye. Commanding Officer called on the Base Commander V/Adm Rafet Oktar, while senior Turkish officers later visited the ship. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/2937sxTmYi
— DGPR (Navy) (@dgprPaknavy) February 13, 2026
Naval Diplomacy at Aksaz
Upon arrival at the strategic naval facility, the Commanding Officer of PNS KHAIBAR called on Vice Admiral Rafet Oktar, the Turkish Southern Sea Area Commander. The meeting focused on:
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Bilateral Naval Cooperation: Discussions on future joint operations and technology sharing.
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Regional Stability: Collaborative efforts to ensure secure sea lines of communication (SLOCs).
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Professional Exchange: Senior Turkish Naval officers subsequently visited the Pakistani warship, a MILGEM-class corvette, to inspect its state-of-the-art systems and meet its crew.
Exercise TURGUTREIS XIII & CORPAT
Following the port visit, PNS KHAIBAR participated in Exercise TURGUTREIS XIII, a signature bilateral naval drill designed to refine high-end combat interoperability. The exercise featured:
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Joint Maneuvers: Coordinated sea evolutions with the Turkish Navy ship TCG HEYBELIADA.
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Air-Sea Integration: Tactical drills involving a Turkish Navy SH-70 Seahawk helicopter.
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Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT): The engagement culminated in a joint patrol in the Eastern Mediterranean, demonstrating the capability of both navies to operate seamlessly in a complex maritime environment.
About PNS KHAIBAR
Commissioned in December 2025 at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard, PNS KHAIBAR is the second of four Babur-class (PN MILGEM) corvettes. Displacing nearly 3,000 tons, the ship is a multi-mission powerhouse equipped for:
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Surface Warfare: Armed with six Harbah dual-role cruise missiles.
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Air Defense: Features a 12-cell VLS for Albatros NG (CAMM-ER) missiles.
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Sub-Surface Warfare: Equipped with advanced hull-mounted sonar and lightweight torpedoes.
