The Turkish and Pakistani navies conducted a bilateral exercise in the North Arabian Sea in order to enhance interoperability and contribute to regional maritime security, officials said Saturday.

The exercise covered a number of areas, including anti-air warfare operations, communication drills, and joint maneuvers by the participating surface ships, aircraft, and helicopters from both sides, said a statement by Pakistan's Navy.

Vice Adm. Zafar Mehmood Abbasi, Pakistan's deputy chief of naval staff (operations), and the Turkish mission commander witnessed the exercise on board Turkey's TCG Büyükada, which arrived in Pakistan last Thursday.

"The flag officers highly appreciated the professional competence of both navies and expressed their satisfaction at the level of proficiency displayed during the exercise," the statement said.

This bilateral exercise will provide valuable opportunities for navies of both countries to learn from each other's experience and refine warfare tactics, it added.

Turkey's TCG Büyükada is on a goodwill visit to Pakistan.

According to Pakistan's Navy, regular exchange visits and conducting bilateral exercises are testimony to the trust and cooperation between the two countries.

In the same context, the Büyükada's current visit will further enhance defense ties and mutual collaboration between the two counties in general and the two navies in particular.