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PAKISTAN NAVY All Set To Host Historic AMAN-2021 Naval Exercise With The Participation Of 45 Countries In a Decade:
PAKISTAN NAVY is all set to host the largest and historic 7th Edition of the Multinational Maritime Exercise AMAN-2021 with the participation of 46 Countries for first time in a decade, including Russia And NATO Countries.
The Historic AMAN-2021 Multinational Exercise started from February 2021 with a mission to maintain regional peace by countering maritime challenges.
International Navies of 45 Countries are all set to participate in the 7th Edition of Multinational Maritime Exercise AMAN-2021, which held after each two years since 2007.
The most significant part of this Edition of AMAN-2021 Naval Exercise is that it brings together the Navies of CHINA, Russia, US and NATO Countries under one platform for collaborative maritime security. This will be the first time in a decade that Russian Navy will participate in any International Naval Exercise with NATO members.
AMAN-2021 Exercise Together For Peace:
PAKISTAN NAVY is commencing the 7th Edition of the AMAN-2021 Multinational Naval Exercise under the motto “Together for Peace” that aimed to develop and strengthen the Naval Cooperation among the prominent International Navies to counter the threats posed to maritime interests and regional stability.
PAKISTAN NAVAL CHIEF, CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF (CNS) Admiral Amjad Khan Niazi said, “It offers the participating counties a chance to “work together keeping differences aside to defeat common adversaries” and hybrid warfare such as terrorism, piracy, terrorism, drugs and arms trafficking, human smuggling, climate change.”
“AMAN Exercise is about bridging gaps and making it possible to operate together in pursuance of shared objectives”, CNS Admiral Amjad Khan Niazi added in the statement.
Main Objectives of AMAN-2021 Naval Exercise:
- To United resolve against terrorism, threats and crimes in the maritime domain
- To contribute, promote and maintain the regional peace and stability
- To enhance the interoperability and bridge the gap between the International Naval Forces with PAKISTAN NAVY act as a pivot in the region
Achievement and Aims of AMAN Exercise from 2007 – 2021:
PAKISTAN NAVY has started the initiative of AMAN Multinational Naval Exercise back in 2007. The first ever edition of AMAN Multinational Exercise started with the participation of only three countries, but the message of PAKISTAN NAVY for collaborative Maritime Security was widely acclaimed, appreciated and accepted with the participation of several countries in such short span of time.
The 7th Edition of the AMAN-2021 Multinational Naval Exercise is historic and holds a lot of significance as this is the first ever International Naval Exercise which is bringing together the Russia and NATO member countries in a decade.
In the 6th Edition of the AMAN-2019 Exercise, a total of 46 Countries and 115 Observers participated along with their Naval Assets, including CHINA, PAKISTAN, TURKEY, Sri Lanka, Italy, Malaysia, Australia, US, UK, etc.
PAKISTAN NAVY Commodore (R) Syed Mohammed Obaidullah said, “It is a huge achievement for PAKISTAN NAVY that the number of participating countries grew immensely in a few years as the message of peace and collaboration appealed to both eastern and western navies, NATO and non-NATO members.”
PAKISTAN NAVY Commodore (R) Mohammed Obaidullah further terming it a great Historic Success of PAKISTAN NAVY for organizing the Historic 7th Edition of the AMAN-2021 Multinational Naval Exercise as india, who is the arch rival of both Iron Brothers PAKISTAN and CHINA, failed miserably to attract world Navies to the india’s Malabar Exercise despite being started in 1992 and only three International Navies participated in it.
In comparison to india’s Malabar Exercise, which started in 1992 and attracted only three navies, “PAKISTAN’s Aman Exercise garnered global recognition as it is not against any country and benefits all states,” In comparison to india’s Malabar Exercise, which started in 1992 and attracted only three navies, PAKISTAN’s Aman Exercise garnered global recognition as it is not against any country and benefits all states,” he added.
‘The exercise should not be seen as war games, but drills against non-traditional security threats as the primary goal of Aman exercise is to uphold peace and stability in the region”, He stressed.
AMAN-2021 Exercise – A Widely Acclaimed Platform for World Navies In Pursuit For Peace:
PAKISTAN NAVY AMAN Exercise promotes and enhances the interoperability between different International Navies and it also reflects PAKISTAN’s firm commitment and resolve to promote and maintain regional peace and stability in the indian ocean region (IOR) through the collaboration of International Navies of the Eastern and Western parts of the world.
Head of International Relations department at National Defense University (NDU), Islamabad, Dr. Iqbal said, “With the growing competition between CHINA and United States in the region, PAKISTAN has chosen to act as a bridge in the region due to its traditional role as a peacemaker in maritime domain”
“Through the AMAN exercise, PAKISTAN will once again play the role of a peacemaker and provide a platform for CHINA and Russia on one side and the US and allies on the other side to come together,” he added.
Participation of Russia With NATO Countries In AMAN Exercise for First Time In A Decade:
The Russian Navy’s Black Sea Fleet has confirmed its participation in the AMAN-2021 inaugurating by PAKISTAN NAVY in the Arabian Sea.
Previously, the Russian Navy participated in the International Naval Exercise with NATO countries back dubbed as ‘Bold Monarch-2011’ which held in Spain. Now, it’s almost a decade that the Russian Navy is again participating with the NATO countries in a major Naval Maritime Exercise.
“A planning conference took place in Sevastopol on the participation of the Russian Navy in the AMAN-2021 international exercise, which will take place in the waters of the PAKISTANI port of Karachi. The exercise has been initiated by the ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN, who also provided an area for the upcoming exercise,” Russian Black Navy Fleet said in an official Statement.
“The joint participation of the Russian Navy ships and the North Atlantic Alliance will take place 10 years after the ‘Bold Monarch-2011’ exercise, which took place near the shores of Spain,” it added.
“The AMAN-2021 exercise seeks to strengthen and develop military cooperation between the participant states, in order to ensure security and stability in the sea, as well as facilitate the exchange of experience in fighting piracy in the interest of intensive maritime trade, Russian Black Sea Fleet added.
Significance of the AMAN Naval Exercise for the indian Ocean Region (iOR):
The AMAN Exercise has many strategic dimensions for PAKISTAN NAVY, as it also acts as the enabler of PAKISTAN NAVY’s ambition of being the Blue Water Navy, who is undergoing massive advancement and upgradation process by equipping itself with state of the art Submarines, Destroyers, Warships, Frigates, Corvettes, modern Surface, Airborne, Submerged and UAVS from different Brotherly and Friendly countries of the world, including CHINA and TURKEY.
These capabilities and advancement will enhance PAKISTAN NAVY capabilities to play a greater role in the indian Ocean Region (iOR).
The unique geostrategic location and importance of PAKISTAN has further highlighted by the development of the new Gwadar Port under the multi-billion dollars CHINA PAKISTAN Economic Corridor (CPEC).
#PakNavy took an initiative of AMAN Exercise in 2007 with the aim to promote peace & stability in Indian Ocean Region. Over 40 countries are participating in 7th AMAN Exercise with one common resolve “Together for Peace”. pic.twitter.com/08TJBXbXQL
— DGPR (Navy) (@dgprPaknavy) February 6, 2021
PAKISTAN’s strategically located Gwadar port is located to the Strat of Hormuz, the most important oil transit chokepoint of the world and it connects three important regions altogether, including Central Asia, Middle East and South Asia.
The initiative of PAKISTAN NAVY of holding AMAN Exercise is also considered as vital to secure the Regional and Global Sea Routes in PAKISTAN’s Maritime Frontiers, indian Ocean Region (iOR) and overall national security.
Important of indian Ocean Region (iOR):
- It is the one of the vital Global Maritime Trade arteries
- Located at geostrategic location
- More than 80% of World’s oil shipment passes through this region
- It is rich in Natural resources
- It is the home to 2.7 Billion people of the world, including World’s fastest growing economies
