The Pakistan Navy assumes command of anti-piracy coalition CTF-151

The Pakistan Navy has assumed command of Combined Task Force (CTF)-151, a multinational anti-piracy coalition, from the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy.

Commodore Muhammad Shuaib accepted the reigns from Rear Admiral Nam Dong Woo of the ROK Navy.

This is Pakistan’s eighth term commanding CTF-151, which is tasked with disrupting piracy and armed robbery in the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, Somali Basin and Southern Red Sea.

CTF-151 is one of three task forces under the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) umbrella. Pakistan is also a member of the counter-terrorism and maritime security-focused CTF-150.

CTF-151 members rotate leadership every three to six months. Pakistan will be assuming the leadership role for the next four months. The Pakistan Navy has been leading CTF-150 since August.

Notes:

CTF-151 was created out of CTF-150 in January 2009 with the aim of separating anti-piracy and maritime policing tasks from counter-terrorism operations at sea (which was kept under CTF-150).

CTF-150 itself was originally a U.S. Navy deployment in the region under U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. After 11 September 2001, the U.S. re-organized the entity into a multinational coalition.