Daily Times

As per an IMF forecast, Africa will be the second fastest growing region in the world between 2016 and 2020 with the annual growth of 4.5 percent. Seven African countries are posting annual growth rates well above 5.5 percent. Among the fifteen fastest growing global economies, eight are in Africa.

Notwithstanding the fact that the region is of great strategic and economic significance, Pakistan’s trade with Africa is only 0.8 percent of total three trillion dollar trade of the continent. Pakistan-Africa trade is languishing having a negligible value of mere $2.5 billion in comparison to that of China and India, which is over $200 billion and $80 billion respectively. We have not yet been able to tap the untapped potential of the continent primarily because of the lackadaisical behaviour of the nation at large.

Pakistan is the third largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping operations in Africaand a staunch supporter of African-led movements but still holds only 13 Resident Missions in 54 African countries. Hitherto, to address the issue, a major foreign policy initiative “Look Africa Plan” was commenced in 2017 to boost bilateral trade and economic ties with African nations. Though the introduction of this initiative was unquestionably a novel step yet bilateral ties requires robust engagements at all tiers of foreign policy determinants including ‘naval diplomacy’.

Pakistan Navy defines naval diplomacy in the Maritime Doctrine of Pakistan as:”An activity to influence behaviour of other states employing Navy as a diplomatic instrument to support, persuade… Frequent port visits and international collaboration are examples of Naval Diplomacy.” Pakistan Navy thus in line with its doctrine pay frequent port calls to various countries in a bid to enhance its interoperability mainly through such engagements as host meetings, briefings and receptions on board.

Pakistan Navy with full comprehension of not so remarkable relations between Pakistan and African states vows to abridge this gap by offering frequent port visits to demonstrate its strong resolve of maritime partnership with the African nations. Under the aforesaid guidelines, Pakistan Navy ships PNS ASLAT and PNS MOAWIN are visiting various African ports, aiming to further strengthen friendly ties, enhance naval collaboration, develop interoperability, and promote Human Assistance and Relief Operations.

In this regard, Casablanca was selected as the first port to be called on from November 11-142019.It is among the ten African countries out of fifty-four that constitute eighty percent of the African GDP. The cordial socio-political relations between the two nations are represented by the fact that Morocco is one of the thirteen African nations where we have a Resident Mission. It is also among sixteen African nations with which Pakistan shares a Joint Commission. The relations between the militaries of both sides are also reflected by regular participation in Pakistan Navy’s AMAN series of exercise and International Defence Exhibition and Seminar.

Pakistan is the third largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping operations in Africa and a staunch supporter of African-led movements

In the recent visit, Pakistan Navy officers onboard called on the Commander Centre Maritime Sector and Commander of the Military Region of Casablanca. A number of interactions and meetings with various Moroccan authorities were also held, which were amply utilised to strengthen the brotherly feelings with our Moroccan brethren. During the stay at port, a reception dinner was also hosted onboard, which was attended by a large number of guests, including senior officers of the Moroccan navy, members of diplomatic corps and prominent members of local community. On the occasion, the Mission Commander also updated the dignitaries about the deteriorating situation in the Indian-occupied Kashmir, atrocities being perpetrated, the plight of Kashmiri people, and Pakistan’s continued support to the just and rightful struggle of Kashmiris. In the last part of the visit, a bilateral exercise of Pakistan Navy ships with the Royal Moroccan Navy ships was also conducted.

It is pertinent to note that successful diplomacy is a continuous process and needs frequent reappraisals of the situation. Therefore, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs must needs to build on the grounds formed by the successful visits of Pakistan Navy ships to the African continent by enhancing bilateral trade and economic initiatives.

I would conclude this piece with Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s Urdu poem on his thirty-fifth death anniversary with the hope that every officer and sailor of Pakistan Navy would spread this message to the populace of Africa while sailing along the beautiful coasts of Africa.

Arrive, Africa! Come, I have heard the ecstasy of your drum/Arrive, the beating of my blood has become mad/Arrive, Africa! I have lifted my forehead from the dust/I have scrapped from my eyes the skin of grief/I have released my arm from pain/I have clawed through the snare of helplessness/Arrive Africa (English translation by Victor Kiernan)

The writer can be reached at ali.basit.mansoor@gmail.com