Pakistan Navy just concluded Aman 2023 naval exercises with multinational naval participation. Naval vessels, aircraft, special operation forces, marines, and sailors from around 50 countries participated in the five-day multinational exercise hosted by the Pakistan Navy in the Arabian Sea. The eighth edition of the naval exercise, called AMAN 23, was held from February 10 to 14, 2023 and began in Karachi with a vibrant flag-hoisting ceremony held at the Pakistan Navy Dockyard
which was attended by senior military representatives from participating countries, observers, diplomats, and Pakistan Navy officials with the flags of all 50 participating nations hoisted at the event. Navies of the United States, China, Turkey, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh as well as African Union countries took part with ships, aircraft, special operations forces, marine teams, and observers. This eighth series was aimed at developing synergy between participating naval units to tackle maritime security challenges by enhancing interoperability between regional and extra-regional navies. The exercise was held in two phases.
The harbor phase (February 10 to 12) involved seminars, operational discussions, professional demonstrations, international get-togethers and pre-sail planning of evolutions at sea. The sea phase (February 13-14) included tactical maneuvers, exercises related to maritime security such as anti-piracy and counter-terrorism, search and rescue, gunnery firings, and air defense exercises to demonstrate unified resolve against maritime terrorism, piracy, and other prevalent illicit activities at sea.
In addition to the exercise, the Pakistan International Maritime Expo and Conference (PIMEC) was also organized by the National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA). Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Admiral Niazi joined
the opening of PIMEC which is an initiative of the Pakistan Navy to showcase the potential of Pakistan’s maritime sector and to highlight the vital role the maritime industry can play in the development of the nation’s blue economy. I have been writing articles in favor of a strong Navy that could change the strategic paradigm shift due to the huge economic potential associated with seaward economy. Currently the land forces are the main focus of our defense doctrine with support from air power. Knowing the challenges of the future in the region and boosting the economic interests, Pakistan needs a huge
shift in the power equation – and this is to invest in developing a strong and powerful Navy. A strong and capable Navy will eventually share the national defense responsibilities as well as stretch the long-range tactical domain that will be a need in near and far future. Pakistan is located in the area where major geo strategic transformation is taking place rapidly due to many factors involving the Russo-Ukrainian war, US departure from Afghanistan, emerging SCO bloc and the Chinese led OBOR project in which CPEC is the critical part. Due to these factors, it is clear that the region in which Pakistan is located could be subject to many conflicts in the coming future due to power struggle between different players and their subsequent economic and strategic interests. Moreover, the emergence of Indian naval alliance with Australian, US and other Pacific
navies is a notable factor for Pakistan’s policy makers and it must be responded to with a solid plan and role recognition. Pakistan is sufficiently strong in terms of land-based forces with tactical weapon systems along with significant focus towards
air power development. The success of the recent military operations and reversal of enemy plans mainly in Swat, North/South Waziristan, insurgency affected areas of Balochistan and in urban Karachi proved that the capabilities of our intelligence services and combat forces are superior. The only area where Pakistan needs to pay more attention is in development of naval power. As I have said in previous articles that a country’s status and stature are reflected by its sea power, and without a strong navy, Pakistan cannot aspire to occupy its rightful place in the comity of nations. Pakistan’s naval challenges are enormous due to the fact that Pakistan navy was an ignored force for many decades along with absence of role clarity. Pakistan inherited an arch rival India which has ambitions to demonstrate her hegemonies in South Asia and beyond and expanding her naval power significantly. Pakistan is building a vast network of road and power infrastructure through OBOR vision with help of China and a reliable powerful navy is essential to sustain uninterrupted trade activities. In order to meet these challenges, a number of steps have been taken and there is a great sense of realization amongst leadership to strengthen the naval power. Pakistan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is 240,000 Sq Km, with continental shelf extending a further 50, 000 sq km. The area is rich in fishery, possibly hydrocarbons (that needs to be explored) and seabed resources; Pakistan aspires to leverage the EEZ for socio economic development. It is therefore in Pakistan’s interest to see that the environment at sea is secure and stable to pursue its legitimate interests unimpeded. Under the OBOR vision which adds new economic and strategic dimensions to the above-mentioned challenges, the strengthening ties between Pakistan and China through CPEC is also another dimension because China wants to safeguard its oil supply from the Middle East that was mainly passing through the Strait of Malacca which is under Allied influence and can come under naval blockade in case of any high-level tensions between US and China. So, the geo-political importance of CPEC is a critical factor for future Chinese engagement with Maritime security in Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean along with the Pakistan Navy. We must keep in mind that if somehow we lack in defending our own EEZ and its related interests, then “others” will do it and we will be at the loser’s end. But I am glad to mention that current naval leadership is aware of these challenges.
Pakistan Navy has come along way since its creation and has acquired significant naval warfare exposure in previous Indo-Pakistan wars, participating in war drills and leading multi-national task force. The size of the navy and its specific role amongst the inter services defense bureaucracy however is still an area of discussion although many milestones have been achieved in past few years specially and in past decade generally and CPEC itself dictates a big role for Pakistan Navy.
The challenge for Pakistan Navy is how to change the traditional mindset of the defence establishment which is heavily based upon a land based approach. Seeing Pakistan’s land border situation and hostility amongst its immediate neighbors, this land-based approach might prevail for a longer period of time, however, the new paradigm change as a result of connectivity related activities and Chinese access to Arabian Sea is the key element to elaborate internally with the Establishment for sake of significant resources allocation. One has to keep in mind, the CPEC trade route can only be safeguarded if a powerful navy stands behind it. Handling this paradigm shift, the Pakistan’s military establishment must realize having a multi-lateral approach by utilizing and effectively employing tri-services strategy for economical and maritime trade protection purposes. Having mentioned the above, my intention is to elaborate for readers that nations with strong economic growth and military strength will eventually sustain the aftermath of the said ongoing regional and global power struggle.
In Pakistan’s 290,000 Sq. Km area of maritime influence, seafood is a precious resource where our fish production in the marine sector, extending up to 35 nautical miles from the coast, is nearly 70 percent while the remaining 30 percent is
obtained from inland sector. There is no reliable data on the quantum of fish resource beyond the 35 nautical miles limit in the EEZ which is routinely transgressed by fishing trawlers from other countries. Pakistan is losing precious economic opportunities due to the absence of reliable fishery data across its EEZ and extended shelf. The trespassers who are very well equipped with latest technology for fish processing, are thus taking a huge benefit due to this capability gap. These trespasses are from various countries in the region and beyond where the fish industry is well modernized and established.
Pakistan’s Maritime Security Agency (MSA) frequently apprehends Indian fishermen who intrude into Pakistani waters but its reach and capacity against bigger offenders operating further south of the coast is severely constrained. MSA does not have sufficient air surveillance assets to monitor the activities in EEZ, nor does it have enough surface vessel resources to effectively police the area once intruders have been reported. The Ministry of Shipping and Ports along with the Ministry of Defence and Interior must develop an aggressive plan to tackle such challenges.
One of the challenges we may have to encounter is the ambitious navigation within our exclusive economic zone by navies of different world superpowers. Their attitude is that they don’t necessarily follow and respect the UN assigned area of
maritime influence of a country and often intentionally trespass the area of that country’s territorial maritime jurisdiction. For example, the United States has not ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which codified in a treaty the longstanding principle of freedom of navigation. Recently there was development that was mentioned by Retired Admiral James Stavridis in an article (Global Fish Wars) in which he mentions that illegal fishing may cause a global war and Congress has asked the Navy to help fight illegal fishing. Another recent factor is the formation of the Saudi led Islamic bloc to fight terrorism. The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism coalition (IMTcT) is an intergovernmental alliance meant to counter terrorist activities in the Muslim world, specifically military action against ISIL/ISIS. The alliance has a Joint Operations Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. On 6 January 2017, Pakistan’s former Chief of Army Staff, General (Retd) Raheel Sharif was named the IMa’s first commander-in chief. Pakistan can leverage this stature by asking for naval logistic support from countries that are part of this alliance. For instance, UAE is utilizing Socotra Island as its naval logistic station and Pakistan can do the same. Only aggressive and effective diplomacy along with strong resolve from our political and military establishment is required. I do not know if anyone from our hierarchy has discussed this aspect with friendly countries but if such naval logistic agreements are being arranged, the Pakistan Navy could use many islands in the Arabian Sea such as Socotra and its adjacent smaller Islands like Darsah, Kilmia and Samhah, Red Sea Islands under Saudi control, Gulf Oman Islands like Almasirah, Khuriya Muriya Islands like alQibliah, Al hallaniyah and Al sawda, Bosas in Somalia and port Sudan in the Red Sea. We can also aggressively leverage our friendship with Turkey that has plans to establish military bases in Somalia, Qatar and in other regional countries. We can get logistic support from those Turkish military stations in order to fulfill our sea control vision at extended EEZ. Turkey has also great deal of influence in the Mediterranean Sea and Pakistan should get involved in that part of the world for supporting joint operations.
Emphasizing and repeating my words again, a country’s status and stature are reflected by its sea power, and without a strong navy, Pakistan cannot aspire to occupy its rightful place in the comity of nations. Sea power is not simply about what
it takes to use the sea; it is also the capacity to influence the behavior of other people or things by what one does at or from the sea. Leveraging from sea power requires two components: the means to use the sea as it desires, and freedom of doing
things that are considered necessary to influence the actions of people on land. The classic constituents of sea power have not changed despite the rapid progression of technology and, when addressed, would eventually make Pakistan not only a naval power but a maritime power – if the naval role would be clarified and enough resources would be allocated. The area of Pakistan’s dominion of interest is going through rapid navigational transformation and we see the presence of a large number of world navies in the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. Dealing with such massive traffic adjacent to our extended EEZ in addition to CPEC related interests, utmost attention and best planning is required for keeping a close eye on adversaries’ ambitions and activities. Also, we observe the gradual build up of Iranian and Saudi Navies in the North Arabian Sea that could result in an additional pain point for Pakistan as far as diplomacy is concerned. All such challenges along with new emerging Indian Coast Guard threat require the Pakistan Navy to adopt a multi-pronged approach for an immediate increase in its size by the PN by doubling submarines and destroyers, acquiring a couple of helicopter carriers, dedicated airborne early warning aircrafts, develop capability to use the sea commercially in peace and command/control in war times, strengthening naval cooperation with the Chinese and regional friendly navies and developing the navy’s new role in combined operations with the army. In modern naval warfare, the combined and enlarged role of long range fighter aircraft with refueling capability and nuclear submarines could be a decisive factor for the sustainability of the operations in near and distant seas. Pakistan must move quickly in the next 3 to 4 years for meeting these challenges and evolve an ambitious political and naval leadership for the development of sea power that could transform Pakistan Navy in to a blue water navy in the near or distant future. Lastly, Pakistan has to diversify its coastal line ports for commercial and war management purposes. Here the Khor Kalmat lagoon is considered as the favorable and strategic location. The addition of another naval base along Pakistan’s 1100 km long coastal line will help load management and diversification of maritime resources for commercial and strategic purposes. From this author’s point of view, some areas to focus on are listed below in order to increase Pakistan Navy’s power that could safeguard our huge EEZ and CPEC related trade and economic routes across the territorial water and maritime dominion of interest.
1- Double the Navy’s budget from its current level.
2- Double the number of submarines and destroyers gradually over next 3 to 4 years.
3- Develop a strategy for employing helicopter carriers which seems to be feasible instead of acquiring traditional carriers with fighter jets. This will help boost operational capabilities. A Heli-carrier can be built at our naval shipyard.
4- Acquire Nuclear subs for maintaining longer operational sustainability.
5- Modernization of shipyards and build or acquire destroyers through Joint ventures.
6- Effective local repair capabilities for maritime inventory.
7- Modernization of second strike capability by utilizing submarines.
8- Massive investment and improvement in naval aviation for supporting longer maritime operations.
9- Secure pacts and or agreements with friendly countries for access to strategic islands in the Arabian Sea.
10- Pakistan Navy should adopt a long-term strategy to enforce it’s standing as a powerful Navy during the next decade. It
must undertake efforts to become a regular establishment. The maritime challenges in next coming years emphasize
that Pakistan’s defence establishment must acknowledge a greater role for its navy while protecting the long term strategic and economic interests of Pakistan.
