AMAN 2023 to bring global naval forces together

KARACHI: Pakistan Navy is holding the 8th edition of the multinational AMAN Exercise 2023 to bring together global naval forces for cooperation and understanding each other’s maritime concepts for combating maritime threats.

This year, the AMAN Exercise 2023, will be held between February 10 and 14. Special operations forces, ships, marine teams and aircraft from around 50 countries will participate in the exercise. The Pakistan Navy has been conducting AMAN multinational exercises since 2007.

Commander Pakistan Fleet Vice Admiral Ovais Ahmed Bilgrami said that as a maritime nation, Pakistan has substantial stakes in keeping its seas safe and secure.

“Our strategic interests are based on our extraordinary dependence on sea for trade, as around 95 per cent of our trade by volume is carried out through sea,” he added.

“Additionally, the operationalisation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Gwadar Port, besides our strategic location astride the global energy highway, making maritime stability an essential national security interest,” he remarked.

The exercise is divided into two phases; harbour and sea. The harbour phase, starting from February 10 till February 12, will involve activities such as seminars, operational discussions, professional demonstrations, international get-togethers and pre-sail planning of evolutions at sea.

The sea phase will begin on February 13 till February 14. It will include tactical manoeuvres, exercises related to maritime security such as anti-piracy and counter-terrorism, search and rescue, gunnery firings and air defence exercises.

While answering the questions of the media persons, Vice Admiral Bilgrami said that Pakistan has huge maritime potential. However, the country has been lagging behind in realising that potential, he added.

“There is a need to bring investors in this field and raise awareness among the maritime industry regarding the potential of Pakistan. We are also working towards self-sufficiency in this field, as the country has been building gunboats, frigates, mine-hunters and submarines indigenously,” he added.

There is a huge tourism potential along the coastline of Pakistan, which needs development, as it also has immense economic potential, he said.

The relevant ministries and the authorities will be present at the event, which will identify the areas to attract investments in this field, he added.

Although AMAN exercises focus on maritime security, climate change is a major issue that needs to be addressed. It disturbs weather patterns, results in rough seas and storms.

“The marine pollution is an important issue that needs to be addressed. The dumping of untreated sewage and industrial wastage in the ocean not only affects the ecosystem negatively but also ships, including naval,” he said.

There is a need to follow the rules and regulations to properly manage the industrial and residential waste and sewage, which will go a long way in minimising the negative effects of sea pollution, he added.

There are various challenges in the maritime domain ranging from privacy, terrorism, narco-arms trafficking to climate change. The vastness of the seas makes it difficult for any nation to deal with these diverse challenges alone.

This calls for collective efforts to ensure the seas remain safe and secure for all. Pakistan Navy is a firm believer of the concept of collaborative maritime security and has been actively participating in the Maritime Security and Counter Piracy Operations along with other partner navies since 2004.

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