( Tazeen Akhtar has been serving as Editor of Newspapers. He brings out English International Magazine “Pakistan in the World” from Islamabad. He runs a news website www.pakistanintheworld.pk. He has been regular contributor to Navy News. His article comes in Hilal Magazine of ISPR. He covered AMAN – 2019. He published Special Editions in Urdu and English on consecutive AMANs. He covers all three wings of Armed Forces of Pakistan. )
The seas and oceans are the future of this world whose major part consists of water. Mankind is looking towards waters for their food, energy, economy and other requirements. This importance of the waters has given rise to new challenges of security as well. Many countries are forming different alliances in the marine regions that are sending alert signals to others.
The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is the most important as well as challenging marine area where continents of Africa, Asia, and Australia are connected. More than 2.5 billion people live around it. This marine region is the site of a significant amount of global trade, commerce, and energy.
Geo-economics is overriding geopolitics and is becoming a dominant strategic consideration with profound implications. Peace loving nations are trying to resolve the issues through collaborations like Pakistan is contributing for peace in the world.
Pakistan Navy (PN) is one of the main naval forces in Indian ocean. PN has excelled in many areas including defense of the marine boundaries of the motherland. An impregnable force in the waters has contributed a lot in the safe marine communication and connectivity in the seas that are the busiest routes of trade in the world.
A savior of the personnel of many countries including the neighboring India, Iran from their sinking ships is Pakistan Navy. Pakistani coasts are proof of PNs role in environment conservation. Plantation and cleanliness campaigns organized and supported by PN have promoted sense of civic responsibilities in the public and enhanced their tourist attraction as well.
With the passage of time and with new challenges the responsibilities of Pakistan Navy (PN) have been diversified and complicated. That needs a more equipped and alert navy in this region. PN has proved itself equal to every task. A large number of people still do not know that PN has an area of responsibilities that is almost equal to the size of the country (roughly 290,000 sq km).
Approximately 58.3% of the world’s oil and more than 45% of its natural gas reserves are in this region. The region has seven chokepoints (including major and minor), three of which are critical to global trade. Daily, about 21 million barrels pass through the Strait of Hormuz and 17 million through the Malacca Strait. Around 120,000 ships traverse the Indian Ocean annually, accounting for about 50% of global shipping.
PNs Maritime zone extends up to 350 nautical miles from the coastline, which includes the continental shelf. PN operates in the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman along Pakistan’s coastline. The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) is responsible for search and rescue in a large area that extends up to 840 nautical miles from the coast.
A remarkable and significant achievement of PN is ensuring peace in the seas with international marine diplomacy in shape of its strategic initiative of AMAN exercises and seminars. This activity brings together the navies of world community at one place to share there views, experiences, observations on how to avoid any confrontation and maintain peace in the seas and oceans for common benefit and shared development.
Pakistan Navy is now preparing to host another AMAN on 7-11 Feb coinciding with ‘AMAN Dialogue’ to be held on 8-10 February 2025. AMAN is a continuous process that was initiated by PN in 2007 and since then it is being held consistently that depicts strong resolve of state of Pakistan and PN for inclusive efforts with the international navies on board to promote peace and understanding as well as to curb international crimes and terrorism at marine side.
Growing global participation in AMAN over the years underscores the trust and confidence reposed by international community on PN efforts and its contributions towards advancing collaborative maritime security.
This forum will bring together naval chiefs, heads of coast guards, security organizations, maritime security experts, academia, think tanks, media, and maritime professionals take part in the AMAN activities . The combat troops take part in exercises enhancing their professional capabilities while the gov representatives participate in debates and dialogue for sharing their thoughts on the incumbent common challenges, suggesting their solutions that are helpful in building a consensus for policy making.
This is a unique phenomenon of the AMAN that can not be seen in any other such activity in the whole world. Pakistan Navy has earned a bright name for Pakistan in this regard. The highest level of the participants in their countries is one , and the only example in the world. Another exclusive achievement is the number of the navies and delegations.
50 countries sent their navy officials and personnel to Pakistan in AMAN 2023. The number of international observers was 116. AMAN-23 was conducted from 10-14 Feb 23. 7 x Ships from China, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and USA participated along with 4 x SOF, 6 x EOD and 5 x Marine Teams.
When we see PN’s international exposures , two multinational task forces are worth mentioning in which PN is playing a leading role performing extraordinarily for last many years. These are Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 and 151.
CTF 150 conducts Maritime Security Operations (MSO) outside the Arabian Gulf to ensure that legitimate commercial shipping can transit the region, free from non-state threats. PN has led this force for 13 times. CTF-151 is responsible for counter piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and Horn of Africa under the overall ambit of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). In the backdrop of a UN Security Council resolution, Pakistan Navy joined CTF-151 in 2009 to combat piracy. PN has led this force for 9 times.
Coming back to AMAN -2025, representatives from over 60 countries will collectively address pressing maritime issues through discussions, debates, and the exchange of ideas.
Like the previous AMAN exercises, aims to promote peace and regional cooperation, enhance interoperability with regional and extra regional navies thereby acting as a bridge between the regions. The participating navies will demonstrate united resolve against terrorism and crimes in the maritime domain.
AMAN Dialogue will promote shared understanding of maritime security issues and challenges confronting the region and their linkages with Blue Economy. Deliberate efficacy of existing mechanisms for maritime cooperation and need to adopt innovative solutions to address evolving challenges at sea. It will formulate suitable strategies in order to enhance maritime security. Showcase potential contribution of Blue economy towards overall economic growth of the country.
The AMAN exercise exemplifies Pakistan’s naval diplomacy, uniting diverse naval forces from the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC), NATO, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), especially bringing the US, Russia, Iran, and China to interact in a completely apolitical setting. This initiative not only bolsters Pakistan’s image as a regional power but also reinforces its commitment to peace and stability in the maritime domain.
