Pakistan Navy is organizing the ninth iteration of AMAN multinational maritime exercises in February this year, expecting the participation of more than 60 countries.

The exercise has become the flagship event of the Pakistan Navy towards fostering inclusive maritime community to fight against non-traditional threats, including terrorism and organized crimes, in the maritime domain. These threats, according to the most recent report of International Maritime Organization (IMO) remain significant, and complacency could lead to a resurgence in piracy and maritime terrorism.

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Besides exhibiting united resolve against terrorism and organized crimes in the sea, AMAN also attempts to build bridges during the time of global polarization amidst the great power competition

Besides exhibiting united resolve against terrorism and organized crimes in the sea, AMAN also attempts to build bridges during the time of global polarization amidst the great power competition. This multilateral naval exercise has the unique distinction of hosting the navies of the United States, China and Russia together in 2021. Moreover, has featured both China and the US as participants since 2007. Members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue – Australia and Japan, in addition to the US – also participate in these exercises regularly, with India being the only exception. The exercises – accompanied by onshore activities across a range of areas in security policy, blue economy and culture – make it a site for comprehensive maritime cooperation and networking.

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Seas have always acted as the common heritage of mankind, connecting peoples and geographies. However, since the instability in the Middle East and civil wars in Africa increased in intensity across the first decade of the 21st century, the importance of maritime cooperation to avoid spillover of instability at land into the sea also increased manifold.

With a long history of international security collaboration, Pakistan has been able to present the image of a reliable all-weather partner in maintenance of good order at sea

These events led to the formation of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) under the US leadership to ensure maritime security from the Suez Canal to the Persian Gulf. Pakistan has been its most active member, commanding the Combined Task Forces (CTF) 150 and 151 for the eleven and thirteen times, respectively, the most among any member of the 46-country coalition. At the same time, Pakistan also continues to deploy the Regional Maritime Security Patrols (RMSP) independently across the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf region, providing a year-round presence for the “plug-and-play maritime security architecture” as noted by the Pakistan Navy commander of the CTF 151.

With a long history of international security collaboration, Pakistan has been able to present the image of a reliable all-weather partner in maintenance of good order at sea. This has been done through concerted strategic communications and meaningful international dialogue, which is usually organized in tandem with AMAN at sea. At the annual AMAN exercises, this has traditionally been the objective of the “harbor phase”, which also includes an International Maritime Conference (IMC) in addition to other activities.

However, a hybrid conference of academics and policymakers is not enough to project a comprehensive narrative. Maritime security remains an understudied, under-utilized domain in Pakistan’s academic and policy spheres.

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This year, however, the Pakistan Navy has announced the inauguration of a three-day AMAN Dialogue that shall replace the IMC

A recently published research at the National Defense University discusses how the last IMC as well as the maritime expo (PIMEC) in AMAN 2023 received limited participation from top decision-makers in the country. This has been reflective of the gradual de-securitization of the maritime sector that followed the short-lived enthusiasm since the announcement of 2020 as the Year of Blue Economy. This year, however, the Pakistan Navy has announced the inauguration of a three-day AMAN Dialogue that shall replace the IMC.

According to public announcements, the AMAN Dialogue shall feature a summit of the chiefs of navies and coast guards as well as an academic seminar, spaces for bilateral meetings and participation in the fleet review of the “sea phase” of the exercises. The inclusion, particularly of the top decision-makers from the participating navies, and providing spaces for bilateral meetings brings the potential for practical cooperation not only in areas of traditional security but broader ambit of the blue economy. It also shows commitment on part of the Pakistan Navy to upgrade the dialogue onshore to a more practical and material dimension.

At a time when growing geo-political contestations is turning the seas in the zones of conflict, AMAN offers a joint international platform to revive the seas as zones of peace. It provides Pakistan with an opportunity to communicate its maritime vision and potential to the world. These efforts, however, should not remain restricted to merely highlighting the country’s efforts but also to build new linkages for practical cooperation, especially in areas of blue economy and people-to-people exchanges that can provide much larger dividends.

Dr Khuram Iqbal is an Associate Professor of Security Studies at National Defense University, Pakistan.