Daily Times

This month of February, 2019, has brought Pakistan enormous opportunities for development. Pakistan has successfully conducted their sixth multinational naval exercise Aman, 2019. Pakistan has hosted 45 foreign countries for this exercise. The purpose of this exercise is to enhance maritime cooperation among these countries to meet multifaceted non-traditional threats and challenges. These threats include piracy, maritime terrorism, drug trafficking, human trafficking etc. These nations have come together for peace on Pakistan’s first call to enhance interoperability and mutual understanding.

Exercise AMAN is organized by Pakistan Navy biennially since 2007. Pakistan Navy invited Navies from 83 x countries. Initially, Navies from 29 countries confirmed their participation with ships, aircraft, helicopters, SOF/EOD/Marines teams and Observers in this exercise.

The exercise concept is to develop Responses, Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (RTTPs) against non-traditional threats through tactical warfare planning, followed by high-end warfare serials at sea such as Naval Gunfire, Anti-piracy, Operations, Combine Anti-Submarine Exercise, Communications, Boarding and Air Defence. The principle objective of this exercise is to establish multilateral security operations to keep maritime environment safe and sustainable. Moreover, through this multilateral venture, the positive image of Pakistan as a contributory state in regional peace and stability will be enhanced.

It is a significant achievement of Pakistan Navy which would pave the way for further cooperation in the South Asian region. In the contemporary international political environment, Pakistan is attracting other countries, who realize its geostrategic importance because of China Pakistan joint venture ‘China Pakistan Economic Corridor under China Belt and Road Initiative’. CPEC includes a network of roads and railways, various energy projects, and the development of Gwadar Port, industrial cooperation, telecommunication, proposed special economic zones and social sector development projects. The whole game of CPEC revolves around the development of Gwadar Port which is a great asset of Pakistan and is a main feature of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. It is the key to the belt and road initiative. Pakistan’s Navy has established its Special Task Force-88 to make this area secure, as maritime traffic through Gwadar Port is expected to increase exponentially. One may say that the success of CPEC depends upon its maritime security.

According to the Economic Complexity Index (ECI), Pakistan is the 68th largest export economy in the world and the 98th most complex economy. It is stated that Pakistan has exported $24.8B and imported $55.6B in 2017 which led to a negative trade balance of $30.9B. In 2017, the GDP of Pakistan was $304B and its GDP per capita was $5.53k

A multifaceted approach is needed to meet all the security challenges by beefing up the security of Gwadar Port, directing security guards, coastal exercises and increasing maritime domain awareness in the region by engaging law enforcement agencies.

In addition to the challenges posed by India’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean, there are other challenges such as human trafficking and piracy. Therefore, Pakistan’s Navy is working on three main areas: Gwadar Port security, vessel security and the security of sea lanes. Initially India was the only country overtly opposing CPEC, but recently the US has started backing India, noting that the CPEC passes through a disputed area.

Pakistan with its geography, population, military preparedness and information etc has immense potential to add transit economy because of its strategic location. The Maritime sector holds a significant place in this project. China, an emerging economy (world’s second largest economy) is developing its underdeveloped western Xinjiang province under the umbrella of this project. Gwadar Port will provide an alternative shipping route to the Malacca Strait, which is frequently patrolled by the United States. The shipping route from the Middle East to China, via the strait, is about 12,000km long. So CPEC will reduce the time and distance giving an alternative route through the Strait of Hormuz.

Gwadar port with its deep waters will attract traders from many regional and extra regional countries such as ships from China, Central Asian States and South East Asian countries.

Therefore, there lies a great responsibility on Pakistan to secure its sea routes and the Gwadar Port to sustain its uninterrupted trade with other countries. Approximately, more than 95 percent of Pakistan’s trade is carried out by sea. Aman exercise has added value to Pakistan’s efforts to meet the challenges to ensure a smooth international trade flow.

It is pertinent to point out that according to the Economic Complexity Index (ECI), Pakistan is the 68th largest export economy in the world and the 98th most complex economy. It is stated that Pakistan has exported $24.8B and imported $55.6B in 2017 which led to a negative trade balance of $30.9B. In 2017, the GDP of Pakistan was $304B and its GDP per capita was $5.53k. Therefore, the mode of exports and imports should be secure and smooth so that international trade is increases. To conclude, Pakistan’s approach towards development and multilateral cooperation with the world will increase in future years. Pakistan’s Gwadar deep Sea port will be the hub of international trade. As Pakistan has a huge economic potential in the maritime domain because of its unique geostrategic position, the regional and extra regional states will rely on Pakistan (Pakistan’s sea trade routes). In the long run, Pakistan’s political position will be enhanced in international community due to regional integration.

The writer has completed her M. Phil in Defence and Strategic Studies from Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad

Published in Daily Times, February 24^th 2019.