Defence Turkey: Sir, first of all thank you for sparing your time for our readers. Your three year tenure began on October 7, 2023, what have been your most pressing domestic and regional problems? How successfully would you say you have tackled these?

PN CNS Adm. Naveed ASHRAF: Since I have assumed Command of Pakistan Navy, the geopolitical environment ofour region is changing rapidly especially due to ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict with its butterfly effect in Yemen & Iran. The already volatile maritime security environment coupled with diverse range of traditional and non-traditional maritime threats necessitates a robust, adaptive and technologically advanced Navy with well-trained HR. Therefore, since assuming command as Chiefofthe Naval Staff, the most pressing challenge was to enhance combat readiness through optimal utilization of resources and completion of ongoing Projects under financial constraints in order to boost Pakistan Navy's prowess in increasingly complex maritime security environment in the region.