TEHRAN/KARACHI — The commander of Iran’s Border Guard, Brigadier General Ahmad Ali Goudarzi, arrived in Karachi on Monday to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Pakistan and serve as an observer at the 13th international “Barracuda” naval exercise, officials said.
The exercise, scheduled to take place in the northern Arabian Sea and Pakistan’s territorial waters near Karachi, involves 19 countries and focuses on search and rescue operations, enhancing maritime coordination, and regional security.
Goudarzi and his delegation were received at Jinnah International Airport by officials from Pakistan’s Maritime Security Agency, as well as Iran’s Consul General in Karachi, Akbar Eisazadeh, and military attaches from Iran’s armed forces.
The visit, at the invitation of the director general of Pakistan’s Maritime Security Agency (PMSA), includes bilateral discussions on maritime cooperation and regional security issues, in addition to observing the exercise.
During the visit, Goudarzi is expected to meet with PMSA Director General Admiral Shahzad Iqbal. The Iranian delegation will also hold talks with Pakistani officials on enhancing cooperation in maritime security and border management.
The Barracuda-13 exercise begins on Tuesday and will continue through Thursday, covering Pakistan’s territorial waters and the northern Arabian Sea.