Indian Ocean today is arguably the most important water space on the globe. From Mahan to Kaplan all strategists have acknowledged the political as well as economic significance of this ocean. The ocean remains unique in the sense that it has not produced an indigenous maritime power in the modern history; at least not since Oman was defeated by the Portuguese in the 16th century. This ocean is home to some of the world’s most disparate nations, which differ widely in their socio-cultural and economic demeanor. This diversity has often helped the extra-regional forces to maintain their stranglehold on the region by exploiting the differences and weaknesses of the littorals. The presence of large amounts of hydrocarbons and minerals in the Arabian Gulf and Central Asia has given a special status to this ocean, particularly the North Arabian Sea, which has become a conduit of energy for the world. The tremendous resources provided by nature also attract greed and intrigue and have their own share of challenges. These challenges arise from the unstable geopolitical situation and diverse economic, political, and social environment, resulting into traditional, non-traditional, symmetrical and asymmetrical threats. These threats in return require attention and cooperation of all stakeholders–regional and extraregional.
Pakistan occupies a strategic position at the crown of the Indian Ocean. 95% of Pakistan’s trade by volume and 100% of its oil imports are routed through the North Arabian Sea. With such an envious geographical location astride the energy jugular of the world and its complete dependence on these waters, Pakistan is an important stakeholder in the Indian Ocean security framework. Thus, Pakistan has always been a vocal proponent of peace and freedom of navigation, particularly in the Indian Ocean and the country has played its due role in promoting harmony and cooperation in the region.
While aligning with the foreign policy and other regional and international obligations of Pakistan, Pakistan Navy (PN) has undertaken certain very bold and far-reaching initiatives over the decades. Exercise AMAN is one such example. PN launched this initiative in 2007 and upon the success of the first exercise, it was decided to make it a biennial event. The slogan for the exercise is “Together for Peace” and depicts the true spirit behind the endeavor. All the navies participating in the exercise have a common objective of ensuring peace and stability in the maritime arena to provide freedom of navigation and uninterrupted flow of trade. The exercise at sea is aimed to enhance tactical proficiency, develop common tactics against asymmetric threats and promote interoperability amongst the participating units.
Seven exercises of the AMAN series have been conducted so far which have enhanced not only PN’s professional abilities, but also added to the national prestige. The concept of AMAN revolves around information sharing, mutual understanding and identifying areas of common interest for the participating navies with emphasis on maritime security, counterterrorism, and humanitarian assistance operations. Based on this concept, the exercise seeks to develop and improve Response Tactics Techniques and Procedures (RTTP) for the protection of Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) and maritime infrastructure, assets and forces against the non-traditional threats.
The 8th AMAN exercise is planned in February 2023 which is expected to be participated in by more than 50 countries. The “AMAN-2023” exercise aims to strengthen and develop military cooperation between the countries participating in the maneuvers in the interests of security and stability at sea, as well as sharing experience in countering the threats of maritime piracy in areas of heavy shipping and conducting search and rescue operations at sea.
The event will help the participating countries explore new avenues of mutual interest, naval cooperation, regional maritime security, and bilateral collaboration. The objective of AMAN-2023 is to enhance interoperability between regional and other navies. It serves as a global platform for strengthening communication amongst the participating naval fleets. In the Arabian Sea and the wider Indian Ocean, AMAN promotes a shared vision for enhancing maritime security. The exercise is designed to ensure unhindered and safe trade through the Indian Ocean region. The exercise is aimed to consolidate the process of collaborative maritime security among countries across the globe; demonstrate joint resolve against the threats emanating from the maritime domain; enhance interoperability among the participating nations; and achieve a shared understanding of maritime security operations, counter-terrorism operations, and Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Operations (HADR).
To achieve these objectives, the exercise has been designed in such a way that it is divided into two phases: Harbor and Sea. In the harbor phase activities, friendly sports matches and international cultural displays are being conducted. Whereas in the sea phase, international fleet review is carried out along with other various exercises to practice response against maritime security threats in a multinational environment. Moreover, special forces teams of the participating nations take part in the counter-piracy operations to develop Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) for combined action against asymmetric threats at sea.
Apart from ensuring peace and security, AMAN exercise provides an opportunity to observe the varied cultures of participating countries. Exercise AMAN-2023 will promote regional cooperation and stability, greater interoperability, and a united resolve against terrorism and crimes in the maritime domain. It is an evidence of Pakistan’s military multilateralism.
February 2023
Source: Hilal