Together for peace

8th Multinational Maritime Exercise AMAN- 2023

KARACHI: The Pakistan Navy conducted the sea phase demonstrations on the last day of the eighth Multinational Maritime Exercise AMAN-23 on February 14, where the Pakistan Navy carried out multiple demonstrations in the open sea.

The eighth edition of the AMAN exercise series was held between February 10 and February 14. The exercise is one of the major events of the Pakistan Navy held biennially to signify the commitment towards making seas safer for positive human activities, while inviting regional and extra-regional navies. The exercise included anti-piracy operations, surface firing, rocket depth charge (RDC) firing against submarines, fly past and international fleet review (IFR).

The Pakistan Navy replenishment tanker Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) Moawin; frigates PNS Tughril and PNS Taimur, Chinese Navy destroyer Nanning; along with other foreign countries’ ships participated in the exercise. Parts of the exercise included counter-piracy demonstration, in which the Special Operation Force (SOF) of the Pakistan Navy showcased their exceptional skills in clearing a ship occupied by the pirates.

Pakistan Navy Sea King helicopter and fast speed-boats deployed with the members of the SOF, carried out the mission to clear the ship as part of the demonstration. In the next phase of the demonstration, the PNS Tughril and Taimur simultaneously fired the RDC at their targets; followed by surface firing on killer tomato, in which PLA Navy’s Nanning also successfully shot its target along with the PNS Tughril and Taimur.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, graced the occasion as the chief guest. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi received the prime minister upon arrival onboard PNS Moawin.

Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Rana Tanveer, special assistant to the Prime Minister Fahad Hussain, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Chief of the Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman, NI(M) were also present on the occasion. The event also included ambassadors, high commissioners, senior military officers, defence and naval attaches from various countries, who witnessed the fleet review.

The prime minister lauded the Pakistan Navy for successfully hosting the exercise to promote peace and security in the region.

He thanked the participating regional and extra-regional navies for displaying their commitment to collaborative maritime security and joining hands for peaceful co-existence.

Sharif said that AMAN-23 will pave the way to make the region more peaceful and secure with the combined efforts by all the stakeholders.

The chief of the naval staff assured that Pakistan Navy will continue to play a dynamic role in enhancing regional maritime security individually, and in collaboration with the partner navies.

Admiral Niazi said that the successful conduct of PIMEC-23 is a manifestation of the Pakistan Navy’s resolve to promote maritime potential of Pakistan.

During the exhibition, around 20 memoranda of understanding (MoUs), one joint venture and one sale and purchase agreement of export of iron-ore were signed.

The exercise also featured fly past by the Pakistan Navy fixed wing aircrafts P3-C and ATRs, Sea King and Zolo-9 helicopters, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) JF-17s and Mirage aircraft along with PLA Navy Zolo-9 and NH-90 helicopter from Italy.

The exercise included the evolution of Man and Cheership, a collective mark of respect, in honour of the chief guest. It culminated with the participating ships forming up in traditional ‘AMAN Formation’.

During the maritime exercise, 50 countries, including Japan, the US, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and others, participated with their naval warships.

The AMAN exercise has seen tremendous success over the years, as it attracted the participation of more countries from across the world. The exercise was aimed at enhancing mutual cooperation, identifying common interests and to collectively contain the universal threats at high seas and coastal regions.

Earlier on February 12, the Pakistan Navy held various activities under the Maritime counter-terrorism demonstration at PNS Qasim Manora as part of the harbour phase of AMAN-23 exercise.

Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori participated at the event as the chief guest and appreciated the efforts of the Pakistan Navy in conducting the Multinational Maritime Exercise AMAN 2023.

The maritime counter-terrorism demonstration was divided into three parts; waterjet demonstration, static-line para jump and helocasting; followed by beach reconnaissance and clearance operation by the paratroopers and insurgence of the assault team of the special operation force.

The Pakistan Navy Sea King helicopters, fast speed boats and hovercrafts participated in the exercise. The members of the SOF were deployed through these assets, who successfully neutralised the terrorists occupying the compound built for exercise.

Following the counter-terrorism demonstration, two multiple-role tactical fast-speed boats and three Sea King helicopters of the Pakistan Navy demonstrated the synchronised bomb burst manoeuvre to showcase the Pakistan Navy’s skills at both sea and air.

The Pakistan Navy Sea Eagle team demonstrated their free-fall skills by jumping from Pakistan Navy fixed-winging ATR aircraft from a height of 10,000 feet, as the team carried the participant countries’ flags at the end of the event. The team leader presented the national flag to the Sindh governor.

The aircraft, ships, Special Operation Forces (SOF) and Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams from Turkiye were scheduled to participate in the AMAN-23. However, the country’s navy did not participate in the exercise, due to the devastating earthquake, which resulted in the loss of thousands of lives. To show solidarity with Turkiye, one of the Sea Eagle team members carried its flag.

The navies of nine countries were represented by their SOF and EOD setups, while marines from five navies represented their countries.

On February 11, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi, visited foreign ships of navies. The senior officers and commanding officers of the ships welcomed him upon arrival onboard foreign visiting ships, where he was presented with the guard of honour.

During the visit, the naval chief interacted with the senior officers and commanding officers and was given briefings onboard ships.

Admiral Niazi highlighted that Pakistan is effectively contributing to peace and stability in the region. The AMAN exercise demonstrates Pakistan’s commitment to peace, reinforces regional maritime security and enhances interoperability between regional and extra-regional navies.

The senior officers and commanding officers of the respective ships acknowledged the persistent efforts of the Pakistan Navy to bring the global navies towards shared commitment of maritime peace, stability and lawful order at sea.

The naval chief also called on Commander Djibouti Navy and Coast Guard separately, Commander Lebanese Navy, Flag Officer Commanding Naval Doctrine Command Nigerian Navy, Flag Officer Commanding Sri Lankan Naval Fleet and Commander Tanzanian Navy.

The exercise commenced on February 10, in a flag hoisting ceremony, at Pakistan Navy Dockyard, Karachi, to formally kick-start the proceedings of the Multinational Maritime Exercise AMAN-23.

A large number of senior military representatives from the participating countries, observers, diplomats and Pakistan Navy officials attended the ceremony. The opening of the exercise was marked with simultaneous hoisting of flags of all the participating nations of AMAN-23.

Admiral Niazi welcomed the participants of the exercise AMAN-23 and underscored that the exercise is a regular feature that involves regional and extra-regional navies to create a secure and favourable maritime environment for smooth and unhindered maritime activities in the region.

The naval chief also underlined that Pakistan Navy has been a forerunner in its quest for promoting collaborative maritime security in the region.

Commander Pakistan Fleet Vice Admiral Ovais Ahmed Bilgrami sought the participant countries’ cooperation in achieving the exercise objectives and expressed the hope that it would prove mutually rewarding for all. The Multinational Maritime Exercise AMAN-23 was conducted under the slogan of ‘Together for Peace’. The weeklong exercise provided the forum to various participating nations to interact and promote maritime cooperation.