By Baber Ali Bhatti
Pakistan Navy conceived the idea of hosting the series of naval exercises in 2007 to promote regional naval integration and enhance compatibility inter alia. The word ‘AMAN’ is chosen from Urdu, the national language of Pakistan, which means “peace”. The exercise hosted by Pakistan’s navy invites to bring more than 45 countries’ navies together under one slogan “Together for Peace” with the aim to strengthen multi-layered security cooperation and enhancing inter-operability in maritime and Naval Ops and cross culture interaction.
The Indian Ocean Region is experiencing different security and geo-strategic changes which have brought forth a number of challenges for littoral states including Pakistan. These changes include the emergence of several issues on regional screen such as the militarized zones (Ops Enduring Freedom), piracy off Somalia, the Yemen conflict, rise of the ISIS, dynamic Iran-West-Saudi relations, the Arab spring, turmoil in Levant which are obnoxious to regional peace and stability.
Besides, Non-conventional threats are posing more complicated and difficult challenges in the Indian Ocean. Specter of non-conventional threats is much wider and intertwined with conventional means such as climate change, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, illegal immigration, smuggling of arms and drugs, piracy and maritime terrorism.
However, it has also provided many opportunities to regional states to enhance collective security and regional cooperation by channelizing and mechanizing collective efforts. Pakistan navy being cognizant of changing security dynamics of the Indian Ocean seized the opportunity to augment the cooperation and integration among navies through the AMAN Exercise.
Pakistan, being the important stake-holder in the Indian Ocean security framework, has always been a vocal proponent of freedom of navigation, peace and regional harmony in the Indian Ocean and has always played its due role in promoting dialogue and cooperation in the region. Moreover, Pakistan Navy, being the guardian of country’s maritime interests, has remained at the forefront in exhibiting Pakistan’s intent for collective security and mutual cooperation for peaceful co-existence in the sea.
Therefore, despite their multiple resource constraints, Pakistan Navy not only participated in all genuine regional and global cooperative efforts in the region but also initiated this multinational exercise to augment regional peace and integration. The primary concept of the exercise is to provide a common forum for: Information sharing, identifying areas of common interests and enhance mutual understanding for group analysis and dialogues; practicing and generating response tactics, techniques and procedures against all traditional and asymmetric threats.
Based on this concept, the exercise aims to develop and improve Response Tactics Techniques and Procedures (RTTP) for protection of a number of collective sea assets including Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs), maritime infrastructure and maritime resources against non-traditional threats. The AMAN Exercise was set to be hosted by Pakistan biennially since 2007 and seventh Multinational AMAN exercise has been scheduled to take place in 2021.
The AMAN exercise has several modules and program to gain its objective. With the aim to build up Responses, Tactics, Techniques and Procedures against unconventional and conventional threats through operational and strategic warfare planning and exercise at the sea which includes VBSS, Naval Gunfire, Anti-piracy, Anti-Submarine Exercise, Communications, Operations, Combine Boarding and Air Defence.
In its programs at sea, the exercise will include advance naval drills and maneuvers including Counter Terrorism Ops, Maritime Security Ops, Antipiracy Tactics, surface firing practices, Search and Rescue maneuvers and an International Fleet Review. Moreover, it also includes an International Maritime Conference, Maritime Terrorism demo, Table Top discussions on professional matters and various cross cultural activities in harbor.
Besides, Explosives Ordinance Disposal Team, The Special Operation Forces and other marine units will display, learn and synchronize themselves with advance weapons and modern technological equipment’s in this exercise. The idea of `Exercise AMAN’ attracted a number of maritime nations which believes in common use of seas of the world for peaceful co-existence and joint collaboration.
Their attraction can be gauged by the fact that the number of participant countries has risen to more than forty five started from twenty eight participants in 2007. Six exercises of the AMAN series have been conducted so far and seventh is expected to be held in Feb, 2021. This series of exercise have not only added to the national prestige and honor of Pakistan but have also enhanced Pakistan Navy’s professional skills and abilities.
Participation of such a large number of countries in the exercise implies that the international community endorses and appreciates Pakistan’s initiative for collective regional peace and security. Moreover, rising strength of AMAN participants also shows willingness of regional countries to support and join hands with Pakistan in its efforts to enhance regional integration for harmony and cooperation in the Indian Ocean.