Sardar T. Shahid
The attractive World Island is floating in the expanse of serene and resource-rich oceans. Sadly, today, both the landmass and oceans are in perpetual flux. The North or the South, the East or the West – the world is extensively self-sufficient in conflicts. The only dearth is of cooperation, of togetherness – for peace, and collective good. Nation-states of the twentieth century’s international state system ought to pursue the charter of peace, security and cohesion unveiled upon formation of the United Nations on October 24, 1945. International and regional cooperation forums – political, economic, socio-cultural or military – are engines to propel the very aim. Naval Exercise Aman (an Urdu language word meaning Peace) conducted by Pakistan on biennial basis is one such step in the same direction, marching along with the world, with an objective to build transnational coalition and multi-layered security cooperation for a safe and sustainable maritime environment.
The maritime environment today is stormy, relatively perilous and uncertain. These are the oceans where the pull-and-push amongst different powers, both established and rising ones, is much more pronounced, as oceans continue to carry politico-military power from one shore to other. It seems strategic maritime theology of Admiral Alfred T. Mahan, a US maritime strategist, is resurrecting in most of the rising nation-states. And, Mahanian philosophy is being asserted which emphasises, and rightly so, that none but the Navies have emerged to be the foremost protagonists for following vital missions:
• First, a nation-state asserts its politico-strategic influence overseas;
• Second, one projects its military power, as means of deterrence or compellance;
• Third, to defend maritime borders against any aggression, and support forces ashore as per overall military strategy of a country
• Fourth, it’s a navy and other para-naval outfits such as coastguard organizations or maritime security agencies a state has its disposal to safeguard its maritime interests, wherever and whatsoever are identified in the national strategic designs;
• Fifth, to protect Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) including economic & trade interests, wherein energy need remains foremost of all as it sparks and sustains one’s national socio-economic and industrial paraphernalia;
• Sixth, a state may employ a navy in undertaking benign operations such as Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HA&DR) Ops; and combating maritime law enforcement functions against non-traditional threats
• Seventh, a state essentially employs its navy to be one of the premier tools of nation’s diplomacy.
All these functions of a navy ride on the turbulent maritime security environment, shaped by Traditional and Non-traditional threats. Such choppy security situation and challenges are almost alike in every region including Indian Ocean. Rather, Indian Ocean, the 3rd largest one after the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, has acquired much greater significance. Owing to its pivotal position bridging the Global East and the West, the Indian Ocean carries around 60% of maritime highways’ burden plying through it. Energy fan-faring from the Middle East having 56% of oil and 36% of natural gas reserves of the World make this region in general, and Arabian sea in particular, central to global politics in the perspective of geo-economics. Perpetual geo-strategic bouts of the US with China and Iran, and competition for influence have resulted strategic cyclone in the region. In US Containment policy against China vis-à-vis China’s growing maritime muscles and presence in the Ocean are adding to the bitter taste of the US and its allies in the Indian Ocean. Importantly, the US-Iran tussle on nuclear issues has its ripples in the Arabian Sea as well. The premeditated pampering of India in the hands of the US vis-à-vis the former’s inflating naval (& other combat) acquisitions is causing military imbalances, rising interest of Japan and Australia in the Indian Ocean in the form of Quadrilateral Strategic Dialogue famous (QUAD) have caused a massive military competition in the region. So, saying in few words, Great Powers’ competition is back. And, the US has formally recognized this power competition and given much substance to this part of the oceans, even re-baptising the US Pacific Command as Indo-Pacific Command more recently in May 2018, beaming all its attention ranging from South China Sea to the Middle East.
What is the outcome? Great Powers’ competition, tug-of-war for politico-strategic influence, extended militarization of the Indian Ocean and the blend of traditional and non-traditional threats causing cracks in maritime security of the region. Consequently, there exists a grave starvation of maritime cooperation and collaboration. All these ongoing developments and happenings in the Indian Ocean have implications for Pakistan. In Pakistan’s national security perspective, its strong naval vigilance and collaborative maritime presence in the Indian Ocean is a strategic compulsion, not a choice. A stronger and compatible navy is a core national need, not an option.
Amongst the 38 states of the Indian Ocean, Pakistan remains one of the countries with its politico-strategic weight in the global affairs, and its geographical bearing. For defence of its maritime frontiers, accomplishment of foreign policy goals through naval diplomacy, ensuring forceful maritime security, Pakistan maintains a robust and potent navy in the Indian Ocean region. The Navy, following its national policy of ‘peaceful co-existence’ continues to advocate greater regional harmony and promote maritime cooperation for regional stability.
Against both traditional and non-traditional threats, Pakistan Navy has demonstrated its commitment for regional harmony and cooperation. Its participation in US-led Combined Maritime Task Forces 150 (Counter-terrorism) and 151 (Counter-piracy) are reflective of Pakistan’s policy of collaborative and cooperative engagements for global and regional causes of promoting peace through ensuring security. Regional Maritime Security Patrols (RMSP), Task Force-88 for maritime security of the gateway of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and Pakistan Navy’s active participation in other regional and international bilateral and multilateral maritime ventures are all but for one purpose of maintaining collective good order at sea.
To Be Continued
Amongst various cooperative initiatives in the region, Naval Exercise AMAN (peace) stands unique. It is a multi-national exercise maiden version of which was held in March 2007 with participation of 28 countries, their naval assets and/or observers. So far, seven episodes of the Aman exercise have been conducted successfully; marking Pakistan’s international engagement and commitment to regional stability and peace. It is an extraordinary international and naval accomplishment for Pakistan that AMAN is the largest international naval exercise in the world.
Being optimistic, February 2023 would embrace the 8th AMAN exercise with Navy’s resolve to stand together for peace. AMAN-23 is split in two phases of harbour and sea. In the former, activities including seminars, symposiums, discussion sessions, international get together, and cultural festivities to showcase Pakistan as an opulent society with great traditions will be profitably held. In the next phase, tactical manoeuvres and exercises like anti-piracy, counterterrorism and search and rescue missions etc. will be conducted at sea.
The exercise aimed to strengthen and develop cooperation among world navies in order to promote regional stability and to counter common maritime threats. It is a rare opportunity for participating countries to rub shoulders with global counterparts putting aside their differences to work towards a common cause, develop synergy and doctrinal interoperability to fight unconventional threats.
The high point during the exercise will be the international fleet review in which formation of ships conducted manoeuvres while marine and Special Forces and air elements display their skills. There are Para jumps, and a fly past by Pakistan Navy aviation as well as Pakistan Air Force. Aircraft from participating countries too fly past over the AMAN-23 formation.
In strategic and multilateral terms, AMAN aided in cementing the trust of the nation-states in the maritime security situation of the region and carved out politico-economic connectivity projects like CPEC and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Interestingly, the two contesting nations, the US and China, the established power and a rising one, participate in this singular exercise under the flag of Pakistan. Thus, Pakistan, through Exercise Aman, bridges international collaboration and provides a cooperative forum for the nations with divergent interests. Not only in the maritime domain, but the Exercise Aman also stands out to be a flag-bearer of effective military diplomacy of Pakistan.
In the words of Ryunosuke Satoro, a Japanese literary legend, “Individually, we are one drop, together we are an ocean.” Since today’s maritime security challenges are multi-faceted and they harm all the nations of the world alike, nation-states ought to shove off the temptation of being a drop, an illusionism of power. Rather, they all should march along and join hands to nip the maritime threats in the bud, collectively, to pledge and preserve maritime security, for collective good of the Indian Ocean region, and mankind. They should be ‘Together for Peace’ as Exercise AMAN heralds under the emblem of Pakistan Navy, and the flag of Pakistan.
The Writer, a security professional and a PhD International Relations scholar at Bahria University, writes on national and maritime security issues, foreign policy, and international diplomacy.
He can be reached at teeshahid20@gmail.com.
