Over 50 navies from around the world, including China, Iran and Israel, will participate in the International Fleet Review to be held off Vishakhapatnam in February next year. Pakistan has turned down India’s invitation to the event.
“As far as Pakistan is concerned, our High Commission in Islamabad has informed us that they have not received a favourable response from them,” Navy chief Admiral R.K. Dhowan said at a press conference in the national capital. It is not that Pakistan has always kept away from naval events organised by India. Admiral Dhowan said Pakistan had participated in the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) in 2008.
The IFR would be held on the eastern seaboard in Visakhapatnam from February 4 to 8, 2016, the Navy chief said. IFR would be reviewed by President Pranab Mukherjee. Prime Minister Narendra Modi would attend the event as would several guests.
International fleet reviews are deployed by navies to enhance cooperation and promote friendship among the seafaring community. A naval statement said the review would provide the Indian navy an opportunity to assure the country of its “preparedness, high morale and discipline.”
“During the International Fleet Review, navies of the world will come together at Visakhapatnam to strengthen bridges of friendship. We may be separated by geography, but we are certainly united through oceans,” Admiral Dhowan said.
“As far as the participation of China is concerned, from the information available to us from our embassy, the PLA Navy is likely to participate with a ship as well as a delegation,” he said.
The Navy chief said no foreign submarine had confirmed its participation. Both the aircraft carriers of the Indian navy, Vikramaditya and Virat, would be participating in the review.
The February edition would be the second international fleet review to be hosted by India. The first was organised in Mumbai in 2001.
