KARACHI: Pakistan Navy hosts 45 international navies for the AMAN-21 Naval Exercise from 11-17 February to hone a collaborative response to a global maritime domain riddled with traditional and non-traditional challenges

This was officially announced on Monday at Pakistan Naval Fleet Headquarters, Karachi by Rear Admiral Naveed Ashraf, Pakistan Fleet Commander, during a media conference. Exercise AMAN is the seventh multinational naval exercise organized by Pakistan on a strategic west Indian Ocean agreement linking Africa, Middle East, South Asia across strategic SLOCs with critical chokepoints. With the slogan ‘Together for Peace’, AMAN-21 is conducted every two years by the Pakistan Navy to project a gentle image of Pakistan. The exercise contributes to regional peace and stability, a resolution against terrorism in the maritime domain, collaboration to safeguard a safe and sustainable maritime domain, and most importantly, to increase interoperability between regional and extra-regional navies.

Rear Admiral Naveed Ashraf said Pakistan remained steadfast in fighting the forces of terror and tyranny at countless sacrifices and losses. He said the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic had added another dimension to an already complex security environment. However, timely and right leadership decisions have stabilized us. Pakistan remains a responsible country and will continue to play its role amidst various challenges. Like other maritime countries, Pakistan has a big share in the maritime domain. Our interest in safer and crime-free seas is rooted in three striking realities: First, our extraordinary reliance on the sea for trade, secondly the operationalization of the CPEC project; and lastly, our strategic location straddles global energy highways.

Cumulatively, this fact makes maritime stability an important agenda for our national security. As we truly believe in the centuries-old dictum that ‘The seas are united while the Land divides’, Pakistan considers that maritime security is not only important for itself but also for all other countries whose prosperity and progress are deeply tied to the sea, said the Fleet commander. Pakistan it.

When operating together, we must recognize that the contemporary global maritime environment remains fraught with traditional and non-traditional challenges that require a collaborative response by a friendly navy. No country alone can deal with the various threats that exist or new threats that arise every day.

The Pakistan Fleet Commander also highlighted that the Pakistan Navy strongly believes in the concept of having Collaborative Maritime Security and therefore has been actively participating in Maritime Operations and Counter-Piracy together with other partner navies since 2004.Since 2018, the Pakistan Navy carries out Regional Maritime Security Patrols, where our ships are continuously in important marine areas in the Indian Ocean Territory to contribute to maintaining order at sea. The AMAN platform provides a huge opportunity for participants to design the contours of this collective response. In this regard, Exercise AMAN-21 is an effort to foster regional friendship, enhance interoperability, and demonstrate ‘united determination against various threats.

With 45 countries including rivals US, Russia, China, Turkey and navies participating from Africa, Middle East, Central Asia and around the world, Aman has become the work of Collaborative Maritime Security which is the Scarlet Thread to ensure peace and stability in the region. . 135 observers also visited Karachi for a full week to review the port and sea phase of Aman -21. The International Maritime Conference is another major event to be held during a multinational exercise. The navy participates with surface and air assets, Special Operations Forces, marine teams and senior officers. Port activities will include seminars, discussions, demonstrations and international meetings. The sea phase will have anti-piracy, counterterrorism, cannon fire and search & rescue tactical maneuvers. The hallmark of the marine phase and Exercise AMAN – 21 is the International Fleet Review, witnessed by national and foreign officials.

Admiral Naveed Ashraf also emphasized that Exercise AMAN-21 will provide a common forum for sharing information, mutual understanding and identifying areas of common interest for all participating navies to achieve common goals of maintaining stability, peace and prosperity. He added that the exercise is a reflection that the state can play a constructive role in building new relationships, building innovative relationships and strengthening existing ones. The admiral also underlined that Exercise AMAN is about bridging the gap and enabling it to operate together in pursuit of common goals and that effective media coverage will project the real essence of the exercise equivalent to its theme ‘Together for Peace’ and the contribution of the Pakistan Navy in promoting peace at sea.