Pakistan Navy Guided-Missile Frigate PNS Zulfiquar (FFG-251) and Japanese Destroyer JS Onami (DD-111) participated.
The aim of the exercise was to strengthen bilateral Pakistan-Japan Naval warfare collaborations and interoperability as well as to ensure maritime security in the region.
[7] PNS ZULFIQUAR participated in Passage Ex (PASSEX) with South Korean Navy Ship DAE JO YEONG in Gulf of Aden.
[9] At the time of the first exercise Chief of Staff General Mirza Aslam Beg described it as a test of an "offensive-defensive" military doctrine and a simulation of an invasion of India.
[4][12] In June 2013, the Pakistan Armed Forces started Azm-i-Nau IV to update the military's "readiness strategy for dealing with the complex security threat environment."
[13] February 4, 2016, Pakistan Army hosted first Counter Terrorism Eagle Dash-I exercise with Sri Lanka and Maldives consisting of special forces.
The two week-long exercises were held at Pakistan Army's renowned National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in Pabbi.
The centre's geography which includes hills and jungles offered participants the perfect environment to simulate operations against a fictitious terrorist group which could employ guerrilla warfare techniques and challenge the state's writ.
Designed to combat under various testing weather conditions in desert and plains, the participants are trained for winter battlefield environment.
The biennial event features social gatherings, sporting competitions amongst participating nations, and professional exercises and seminars.
Because of the induction of new aircraft and in the light of past experience, the rules governing this exercise were modified in 1996 to conform with the wartime role of the various squadrons.
[28][29][30][31] The initial targets, mainstream goals and purpose of the exercise are focused specifically on the threat from India, particularly that emanating from the Indian Air Force.
[34] Pakistan has carried out a number of joint military exercises with China,[35][36] Russia,[37] Saudi Arabia,[38] Iran,[39][40] and Turkey.
Blue Whale is held biennially as invitation only basis and considered as the largest anti-submarine warfare exercise in the Mediterranean.
Naval and air forces from Turkey, NATO, the United States, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Algeria, Qatar, Kuwait, Romania and Saudi Arabia were also present.
It involved Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy task group from its South Sea Fleet, special forces, aerial assets and, for the first time, submarines in a series of live-fire exercises.