Pakistan kicks off multi-national AMAN-23 naval exercise

The multinational AMAN-23 naval exercise hosted by Pakistan kicked off Friday (February 10), bringing together navies of more than 50 countries in a series of activities and manoeuvres to promote security co-operation and combat maritime terrorism and piracy.

The eighth edition of the multinational naval exercise was formally inaugurated at a flag-hoisting ceremony at Pakistan Navy (PN) Dockyard, a submarine base in Karachi.

Ships, aircraft and special operation forces as well as observers from more than 50 countries are attending the five-day exercise to be held in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Karachi, said Vice Adm. Ovais Ahmed Bilgrami, commander of the Pakistan Fleet in Karachi.

"The principal purpose of this exercise is to provide a forum for understanding each other's maritime concepts and operational cultures, enhancing interoperability as well as identifying the ways and means to combat common threats at sea," Bilgrami said at a media briefing in Karachi Wednesday.

The AMAN-23 exercise is divided into two distinct phases -- harbour and sea.

The harbour phase involves activities such as seminars, operational discussions, professional demonstrations and international get-togethers.

The sea phase includes tactical manoeuvres and exercises related to maritime security matters such as anti-piracy and counter-terrorism, search and rescue, gunnery firings and air defence.

The highlight of the sea phase is an International Fleet Review, to be attended by national and foreign dignitaries.

Longtime tradition of co-operation

Hosting the AMAN-23 drills continues Pakistan's many years of work helping navies police the seas, officials and analysts say.

Pakistan has been holding the AMAN biennial exercise since 2007.

In 2007, 28 countries took part in the exercise. Despite COVID-19 restrictions, that number grew to 43 countries by 2021.

The PN is "a firm believer in the concept of collaborative maritime security", Bilgrami said.

The PN has been actively participating in maritime security and counter-piracy operations along with other partner navies since 2004, he said.

In 2004, Pakistan joined the US-led Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), a 34-nation coalition that "exists to uphold the International Rules-Based Order ... by countering illicit non-state actors on the high seas", according to the CMF's website.

The CMF protects approximately 8.3 million square km of international waters and is headquartered at the US naval base in Bahrain.

Pakistan participates in two of the CMF's four task forces: Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, which protects maritime security outside the Gulf, and CTF 151, which fights piracy.

The PN also participated in International Maritime Exercise (IMX) 2022 in February that year in the Gulf of Oman.

"IMX/CE [Cutlass Express] 2022 provided a unique opportunity to navies from across the globe, maritime organisations, and communities to demonstrate global resolve to preserve the rules-based international order," said PN Cmdr. Vaqar Muhammad, deputy commander of the exercise, in a US Central Command (US CENTCOM) statement.

"Since 2018, the PN is also undertaking regional maritime security patrols through which Pakistani ships maintain a presence in vital sea areas in the Indian Ocean Region to contribute towards maintaining good order at sea in accordance with our international commitments," said Bilgrami.

The latest iteration of the exercise will involve a series of training drills meant to help fight terrorism, piracy, drug and weapon trafficking and climate change, he said.

"The vastness of the seas makes it extremely difficult for any nation to deal with these diverse challenges alone," Bilgrami added.

Naval co-operation between Pakistan, US

The US Navy, which has been taking part in the AMAN exercises since their start in 2007, has been shoring up co-operation with Pakistan in recent years.

In October, two US Coast Guard cutters -- USCGC Charles Moulthrope and USCGC Emlen Tunnell -- visited Karachi as part of an ongoing series of joint exercises and technical exchanges between the US 5th Fleet and the PN.

The US Coast Guard ships were forward deployed with the US 5th Fleet to help ensure maritime security and stability across the Middle East, said a handout from US Naval Forces Central Command last October 9.

The US 5th Fleet's area of operations encompasses approximately 6.5 million square km of water and includes the Arabian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, the Red Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean. The expanse comprises 20 countries and includes three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal, and the Strait of Bab al-Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen.

The port visit reflected "the strong partnership between the Pakistan Navy and US 5th Fleet", US Coast Guard Capt. Eric Helgen, commodore of Patrol Forces Southwest Asia, said at that time.

"Our ties are strong and enduring, built on staff exchanges and joint exercises to enhance co-ordination and co-operation," said Helgen.

Other ships that conducted port visits to Karachi last year included the USS Gridley, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, and the USS Squall and USS Whirlwind patrol ships.

Visits by the US CENTCOM chief and a top US Air Force officer to Pakistan in recent months are also evidence of a growing relationship between the militaries of the two countries.