Karachi, 9 Feb 25: The two-day AMAN Dialogue, a maiden event conducted as an adjunct to Exercise AMAN 2025, commenced at Pakistan Naval Academy, Karachi. The dialogue, organized under the aegis of the Pakistan Navy, has brought together Chiefs/Heads of Navies, Maritime Organizations, and renowned academicians from around the globe. The inaugural session was attended by the Defence Minister of Pakistan, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, as the Chief Guest.
The Inaugural Session was attended by the Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad ASIF, as the Chief Guest. Senator Mushahid Hussain SYED, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) of the Pakistan Navy, Admiral Naveed ASHRAF, Commander of Royal Navy of Oman Admiral Saif Bin Naseer Bin Al RAHBI, Commander of Iranian Navy Rear Admiral Shahram IRANI, Deputy Chief of Staff Qatar Armed Forces Maj. Gen. Sheyaq Bin Misfir Al Shahwani Al HARI, DG Border Guard KSA Maj. Gen. Shaya Bin Salim Al WADAANI, Commander of Primorsky Fleet Rear Admiral A. Y. SYSUEV and Commander of Royal Jordanian Naval Forces Col. Hisam Khaleel Al JARRAH were also among the high-ranking participants of the event.
Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad ASIF stressed the importance of collaboration, technological advancement, and sustainable development in securing the future of the maritime domain and stated that the global economic system is almost wholly dependent upon unhindered activity in the maritime domain, “The uninterrupted use of seas and oceans remain the strategic interests of all nations,” he added. At his address, Minister ASIF touched on various aspects of maritime security, international cooperation, and the evolving challenges of the global maritime domain.
Globalization and Interconnectivity: Minister ASIF highlighted how, in today’s interconnected world, national interests are best served by fostering a peaceful international system based on interdependent networks such as trade, finance, and communication.
The Importance of the Maritime Domain: He also emphasized the strategic importance of oceans, which carry over 80% of global trade, and particularly the Indian Ocean, which is rich in oil and gas reserves. “Our oceans carrying over 80 percent of global trade represent not only shipping lanes but the arteries of global prosperity,” the Minister said. He also highlighted the need for nations to synchronize their efforts to preserve maritime stability and prosperity. He called on countries to synergize their efforts to extract greater economic gains, saying that the maritime domain is at a “critical crossroads.”
In his welcome address, Chief of the Naval Staff underscored the significance of the AMAN Dialogue and emphasized the need for sharing experiences among maritime nations to formulate actionable strategies for countering emerging maritime threats.
He praised maritime leaders, professionals and academia from around the globe for joining them in pursuit of their shared objective of forging closer international collaboration for reinforcing peace and security in the maritime arena. Admiral ASHRAF underscored that through AMAN series of multinational maritime exercises, Pakistan Navy has continued to foster trust, enhance interoperability and streamline practices and procedures among the partner neighbors.
“Simultaneously, through AMAN Dialogue 2025, we acknowledge the need to engage in pragmatic and practitioner-centric discussions with racial and extra-regional stakeholders to arrive at shared understanding and a collective approach to maritime security in the region,” Admiral ASHRAF said. At his address Admiral ASHRAF highlighted that with AMAN Dialogue 2025 they aim to unite global leaders and experts to translate strategic foresight and unique perspectives into actionable solutions.
“This intellectual discourse is designed to help us discern security issues gripping the navies in the region. Identify avenues of collaboration, pool resources where possible and culminate into a cohesive and efficient cooperative mechanism,” Adm. ASHRAF added.
Delivering the keynote address, Senator Mushahid Hussain SYED (Former Minister of Information and Broadcasting of Pakistan) applauded Pakistan Navy’s efforts in promoting a collaborative approach to tackle complex maritime security challenges.
He also highlighted Navy’s contributions towards raising awareness about Blue Economy and supporting the socio-economic uplift of coastal communities at the national level.
Mushahid Hussain SYED encapsulated the importance of maritime security and economic cooperation, particularly in the context of Pakistan’s strategic role in the region and applauded Pakistan Navy’s efforts in promoting a collaborative approach to tackle complex maritime security challenges. He also highlighted Pakistan Navy’s contributions towards raising awareness about Blue Economy and supporting the socio-economic uplift of coastal communities at the national level. He also underscored the interconnection between maritime diplomacy, security, and the blue economy, which is central to the themes of the AMAN Dialogue.
Senator SYED emphasized that with representatives from 60 countries, the AMAN Dialogue 2025 is the largest-ever international maritime conference in Pakistan’s history. At his speech he also highlighted how the theme and logo of the AMAN Dialogue embody the vision of Pakistan’s founding father, Muhammad Ali JINNAH. He references JINNAH’s desire for “peace within and peace without” for Pakistan, which aligns with the goals of the AMAN Dialogue. He then elaborated on the symbolism of the Conference’s logo, which includes elements like the rising sun (representing hope and the dawn of the Asian century), a lighthouse (symbolizing direction), dolphins (for harmony and collaboration), a ship (representing naval power and connectivity), and four stars (linking the Navy, maritime practitioners, academia, and business sectors).
He also noted that 2025 is the 10th anniversary of Pakistan’s expansion of its continental shelf from 200 nautical miles to 350 nautical miles, marking an important step in enhancing the nation’s maritime jurisdiction and advancing its blue economy. At his address Senator SYED pointed out that ports are becoming central drivers of global commerce, connectivity, and transformation, emphasizing the importance of maritime infrastructure in shaping the future of global trade and pointed out that the Gwadar Port is a centerpiece of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Under the overarching theme, “Secure Seas, Prosperous Future,” the AMAN Dialogue features multiple panel discussions and deliberations by Chiefs of Navies and heads of delegations on a wide range of topics, including maritime security, maritime cooperation, blue economy, and the impact of technology on maritime security. The dialogue provides an exclusive platform for global naval leadership, supported by renowned academia, to devise strategies for a secure maritime future.
On the sidelines of the AMAN Dialogue, Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, held interactive meetings with Heads of Navies and Coast Guards attending the event. These meetings focused on contemporary maritime issues, matters of mutual interest, and prospects for enhanced maritime collaboration.
Pakistan Navy’s AMAN – 2025 , Exemplifies Naval Diplomacy, Uniting Diverse Forces -by Tazeen Akhtar
Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Mr. Chaudhry Ahsan Iqbal was Chief guest at the concluding session of AMAN Dailogue on 10 Feb 2025.
Addressing the gathering, Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal congratulated Naval Chief Admital Naveed Ashraf, Pakistan Navy, NIMA and all stakeholders for organising the insightful partnership building event.
He said that Indian ocean should not be the centre of tensions and strategic contention rather it should be a centre of opportunities and shared progress.
Further, he asserted that, Pakistan prefers Collaboration over confrontation and trade over tensions. AMAN Dailogue is an example of mutual trust and shared prosperity which signifies Pakistan’s commitment and resolve towards peaceful maritime sector, he continued.
He said that oceans are facing evolving challenges of illegal fishing, piracy, drug and human trafficking which can be only tackled by embracing the modern technology.
He briefed the audience that Pakistan is determined to pursue the fruits of blue economy which is reflected in Pakistan’s Uraan Pakistan program through which we are modernizing and digitizing the ports, engancing shipping trade routes, enabling AI in trade, and connecting the routes via CPEC corridors.
He hoped that relations built in AMAN Dailogue will turn in long standing partnerships for the betterment of maritime sector and that this Dailogue will yield results in shared progress and peaceful horizons.
He pressed the maritime community to embrace Artificial Intelligence and modern technology by developing ethical and legal guidelines in the sector.
The Minister expected that the international dignatries and guests will carry Pakistan’s message of peaceful maritime aspirations.
The Pakistan Navy decided to organize the two-day AMAN Dialogue to enable Chiefs of Navies, Coast Guards, Defense Forces and Academia, to provide them an opportunity to exchange views on global and regional security issues and adopt innovative solutions to emerging maritime challenges.
Co-hosted by the Pakistan Navy and the National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA), premier maritime-related think tank of Pakistan, which undertakes analysis and evaluation of National and International Maritime issues and policies in order to recommend solutions to advance the maritime interest of the country, the AMAN Dialogue 2025 Maritime Security Conference is themed: “Secure Seas, Prosperous Future,”
The AMAN Dialogue 2025 International Maritime Security Conference took place on February 9-10 at the Pakistan Naval Academy (PNS Rahbar) located in Manora, Karachi and focuses on security challenges in the Indian Ocean. These include strategic competition, piracy, narco-trafficking, non-state actors, resource exploitation, climate change, emerging technologies such as AI and unmanned systems, the blue economy and the need for global collaboration to ensure stability and prosperity.
