Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Pakistan among 12 submarine building states: Musharraf

IRNA

Islamabad, Dec 12, IRNA - President of Pakistan General Pervez 
Musharraf said Friday his country has joined the list of 12 major 
countries which have the capability to manufacture submarines. 
He was speaking at the commissioning ceremony of Augusta 90-B 
submarine made with the French technical cooperation which 
was handed over to the Pakistan Navy in the southern city of 
Karachi. 
"The induction of the Agosta submarine in the navy will 
strengthen our defense capabilities," Musharraf told the ceremony. 
It was the second out of the three Augusta submarines being built 
with the French technical help. Pakistan Navy Captain Tariq Iqbal 
Ashrafi was named first commanding officer of the submarine. 
Referring to the country`s nuclear and missile program, he 
said Pakistan`s nuclear scientists have made the country`s defense 
impregnable. 
Construction of the second submarine started in 1998 at PN 
Dockyard Karachi as part of the contract with DCN International of 
France for the construction of three Agosta 90B submarines including 
transfer of technology. 
The Agosta 90B has been designed to operate as anti-submarine, 
anti-surface, intelligence gathering and sea patrol etc. She is 
equipped with four bow torpedo tubes and is also capable to diving 
deeper than 300 meters with a maximum sprint speed of 20kt. 
Pakistan expects that the launch of the project will allow it to 
join the global market of defense industries for provision of 
military hardware at competitive rates. 
TK/TSH/213 
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