The sea covers 71 per cent of the Earth’s surface. The oceans are of enormous importance in terms of resources, environment and conservation, trade and industry, marine sciences and leisure activity. Maritime transport is the backbone of international trade and the global economy. Around 80 to 85 per cent of global trade by volume and over 70 per cent by value is carried by sea, only one percent by air and about 15 by road. Indian ocean is the third largest in the world. It is hub of major sea routes connecting the Middle East, Africa and East Asia with Europe and the Americas. These vital sea lanes, facilitate maritime trade in the Indian Ocean region, carry more than half of the world’s sea-borne oil and host 23 of the world’s top 100 container ports. The Indian Ocean region has 36 littorals which contain one third of the world’s population. It is a source of an estimated 40 per cent of the world’s offshore oil production. The combined reserves of the Gulf and Central Asia account for 72.5 per cent of the world’s total oil and 45 per cent of gas. A part from the above-mentioned natural significance of the Indian Ocean, the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, Europe, Pakistan, & India, and many other nations import a substantial amount of their requirements of energy and merchandise imports and exports through this Ocean. There are seven choke points in the region, which include, Strait of Hormuz, Bab el Mandeb, Suez Canal, Malacca strait, Lombok strait, Sunda strait, and Mozambique channel. Strait of Hormuz is of strategic importance because it provides no alternate route to Persian Gulf, the major source of oil and gas. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that about 30% of the world’s crude oil and other liquids, as well as 30% of global LNG trade, is moved through this strait. The disruption of any of these choke points have overwhelming effects on the prices of oil and the food security of the world particularly strait of Hormuz.
Pakistan, specifically its Gwadar port occupies strategic location overlooking the Strait of Hormuz and the North Arabian Sea. All types of oil and gas imports and 95 percent of trade of Pakistan is through the sea. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has further enhanced its importance not only for Pakistan but for China, and other land locked countries like Afghanistan and in future for Central Asian states. Therefore, Pakistan is one of the important stake holders in the Indian Ocean security frame work, whether it is piracy, maritime terrorist activities, gun running, human or narco trafficking. Pakistan, a maritime state has always been an avid supporter of regional peace and stability in the region. Her commitment to the principle of ‘peaceful coexistence’ and desire for greater regional harmony and cooperation is also reflected through the armed forces participation in UN peacekeeping missions, UN mandated combined maritime Task Forces 150 & 151 as well as various bilateral and multilateral exercises. The Pakistan Navy (PN) provides assistance at the high seas to the vessels in distress, monitor activities of suspected vessels carrying contraband items and involved in nefarious activities such as potential asymmetric threats. PN also contributes in international forums such as the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium and Western Pacific Naval Symposiums. As an instrument of foreign policy to strengthen the friendly relations naval ships and submarines regularly visit friendly countries on flag showing missions.
The PN, took initiative in 2007 to hold Multinational Exercise by the name of AMAN 2007, to demonstrate Pakistan’s commitment to peace, contribute towards regional maritime security and enhance interoperability between regional and extra regional navies, predominantly against asymmetric threats. It was held in March 2007 in which 28 countries participated with ships aircraft or observers. A total fourteen ships, from China, USA, UK, France, Italy, Malaysia, Australia and Bangladesh took part. In addition, Special Operation Forces (SOF) and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams from Turkey and Bangladesh also participated. Moreover, 21 countries sent their observers. All the participating navies had the common objective of ensuring peace and freedom in maritime arena to provide safe and un interrupted flow of trade. The exercises at sea were aimed to enhance tactical proficiency, develop common tactics and techniques to counter asymmetric threats. This was the first time the Chinese Navy joined the mega international event. After successfully achieving the anticipated objectives, the PN decided to make it a biennial affair. Participation of navies has increased in the subsequent exercises which shows confidence reposed in PN for the safety and security of maritime assets in the region especially smooth flow of maritime traffic. Up till now six exercises have been conducted and the seventh Aman 2021 is scheduled from 11 to 16 Feb.
National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA) is organizing an International Maritime Conference (IMC-21) in tandem with Aman 2021 from 13 to 15 Feb in the Movenpick hotel, Karachi on the topic “Development of Blue Economy under a Secure and Sustainable Environment – A shared future for Western Indian Ocean Region.” Theme is “The potential of blue-growth in terms of addressing global challenges such as energy, environmental / marine pollution, climate change and food security, has brought it high on national as well regional agendas. The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) states have traditional bondage with respect to maritime trade apart from cultural, political and other common areas of interest. These shared areas can provide impetus for a common future of maritime collaboration under a secure environment for the nations of WIO states”. The conduct of IMC-21 will focus on analyzing various facets of ocean economy, the challenges that are faced with respect to its peaceful development and the imperatives of maritime security while identifying areas of collaboration for achieving common goals of maritime prosperity and security in the region. A total 26 eminent scholars ,16 from abroad and 10 from Pakistan, expert in maritime field of international celebrity will read their papers and interact with the delegates of visiting navies and learned invitees from Pakistan. Recommendations of the conference will be disseminated to the concerned government departments.
The mega exercise organized by Pakistan corroborates the profuse confidence in the professionalism of PN by the navies of the world. It validates peaceful security and safe environments in Pakistan. It also postulates that Pakistan enjoys a very respectable status in the comity of nations.
The writer is a retired commander of Pakistan Navy and holds PhD in international relations