Sardar Tee Shahid
SYMBOLISING world in its logo, United Nations aims for international peace, amenable relations among nations, global cooperation and harmonised international affairs.
International and regional cooperation forums — political, economic or military — are engines to propel the very aim. Aman Exercise of Pakistan affirmed that Aman (peace) is possible; turning competition into cooperation is practical.
The exercise continues to be a significant leap towards peace and security; rightly carrying slogan ‘together for peace’. Unveiling February 11, the exercise culminated magnificently on 16 February, to re-emerge in 2023.
Participation of 45 countries including USA, China, Russia, UK and other regional countries rendered Aman the largest military congregation at sea on globe under Pakistani flag. It concluded with splendid ‘International Fleet Review’ involving proud JF-17s of Pakistan Air Force.
Rightly professed that navies are strategic in nature, creating a strategic outcome and steer amalgam of a nation state’s foreign and defence policies.
Sodoes Pakistan Navy. It is a growing multi-dimensional force contributing in national security. Least visible to common eye, like thundering fighters or roaring tanks, Navy defends over 1000 Km of coastline, national maritime assets and maritime frontiers entailing an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 240,000 sq km and a Continental Shelf (CS) of 50,000 sq km — an area comparable to that of Baluchistan.
From disaster relief and humanitarian operations to hardcore naval operations, the force has evolved as an important player in the Indian Ocean. Domestic or international collaboration, it remains a robust maritime entity contributing to good order at sea. Aman-2021 stamped it.
Applicability and vitality of Navy increases manifold due to peculiar geography of Pakistan, country’s role in global affairs and geopolitical developments in the region.
Situated in accessible neighbourhood of energy-rich but landlocked Central Asia, Pakistan borders China and Afghanistan on northern and western frontiers, and oversees the maritime gateway to energy-supplier Middle East. Strategic role of Pakistan in Cold War, contribution in ongoing Global War against Terror, and peace-restoration efforts in Afghanistan are prominent ones. India’s growing Hindutva ideology, its manifestation in the Modi’s fascist actions, and growing militarization of the ocean add to regional instability.
Geopolitical developments of cooperation and competition circumvent Indian Ocean. Presence of Extra-Regional Forces, emergence of like-minded conglomerates like QUAD, and militarisation in hands of ‘expansionist’ India are turning Indian Ocean a hotspot. AMAN has been a rightful response to such regional situation.
Pakistan’s strategic and economic partnership with China, particularly China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and mega defence cooperation symbolised by JF-17, F-22P frigates, Type-054 frigates, Type-039A submarines and various naval and maritime security ships irritate rival countries who themselves are militarising the ocean and the region. CPEC, the flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which promises a common vision of shared prosperity for all the countries involved, not merely Pakistan or China, pinches opponents. Dilly-dallying and improving relations of Russia and Pakistan also cause anxiety to adversaries.
Today, the competing powers fetched their strategic antagonism far from their own homes–in the oceans. In the dominion of maritime security, all nations stretched-struggle battling against traditional threats that are hounding the national security.
With similar drive, maritime forces are consistently fighting non-traditional threats – such as piracy, maritime terrorism, Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, narco-smuggling, gunrunning, human trafficking, illegal immigration and environmental degradation – intimidating regional security.
All compatriots should know what sea means to their daily life – from fuel, pharmaceuticals, textile, gadgetries, automotive, to everything one can think of. Navy is invisible silent soldier for them.
The monster of traditional national security threats and non-traditional ones demand a collaborative and cooperative punch muscled on shared trust, commonality, and resources to render oceans safe, secure and rewarding for socio-economic prosperity of all citizens of the region and the world. Isn’t it the only key to unlock good order and tranquillity in the oceans, or elsewhere? Yes…! Pakistan’s Aman exercise, the biggest in the world, proudly pledges it.
Aman-2021, 7th of the series, aimed to cultivate collective maritime security, and economic prosperity through oceans. On the sidelines of maritime operations at sea, International Maritime Conference (IMC) was the hallmark of Aman that focused on issues of maritime security and Blue Economy.
Such an intellectual platform and talks by Subject Matter Experts sharing and exchanging idea on maritime challenges to the region and Pakistan is need of the time. A country deeply-hit and hurt by maritime blindedness must open up to developing itself through maritime gateway.
It is an enormously untapped arena, Pakistan’s government, policymakers, and well-wishers ought to think of it. Giving due attention to maritime and naval development would definitely bring security and prosperity to the nation.
Seeing Pakistan’s civil and military leadership waving from the deck of naval ship radiated unity, strength and combat-readiness. Such achievement by a nation with continental mindset speaks that sun of maritime awareness is rising.
Aman, today, in its literal sense, has become a platform of cooperation and collaboration. As the logo of UN signifies togetherness of the world, Aman embodies togetherness of maritime nations, under the flag of Pakistan.
Pakistan is being appreciated to bring together China, Russia and the US under one banner. World, even Indian analysts, are appreciating Pakistan and its Navy, and terming it as effective diplomacy of Pakistan.
Integrating a large number of nations, including those with competing and contrasting interests, shared objectives of collective security and peace.
It is reflective of the global trust posed by all in Pakistan, and Pakistan Navy, in Aman. It is another momentous step in military diplomacy of Pakistan towards securing peace.
Navy promoted and held Pakistan’s foreign policy of peaceful-co-existence and collaboration; and fetched gross diplomatic win to Pakistan.
Indeed…Pakistan, Pakistani government and Pakistan Navy deserve applaud…! Steps are right and in right direction. But, there is a lot to do, lot to go further.
Navy needs and merits companions at home, at every tier, in every column and colour..!
—The writer, an international affairs analyst, regularly writes on national security, foreign policy, international diplomacy and maritime affairs.
