Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi NI(M) S Bt says that the force is agile in ensuring the resolute defence of the country besides ensuring maritime security and peace in the Indian Ocean.
Interview by: S.A. Chaudhry
Chief of the Naval Staff
Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi NI(M) S Bt
The Economic Affairs was privileged for a one-on-one interview with the Pakistan Navy’s Chief who shed light on its strengths, agility, and resoluteness to defend the sea frontiers and protect the maritime interests of the country. With Pakistan’s geostrategic location in the Indian Ocean, at the doorstep of the Arabian Gulf, the Pakistan Navy has been playing an important role in promoting regional maritime security and good order at sea.
With the changing geostrategic realities in the region, he said that the role and responsibilities of the Pakistan Navy are growing exponentially, which is steadily undertaking capability enhancement and capacity development to optimally deal with added responsibilities and evolving challenges.
Cognizant of its geostrategic location astride important energy Sea Lines of Communications (SLOCs) and its international obligations, He says that Pakistan has been playing an active role in ensuring maritime security and peace in the Indian Ocean.
PN has been participating in all regional/ international efforts and initiatives taken for maintaining good order at sea. PN’s commitment to the common goal of ensuring freedom of navigation and uninterrupted flow of sea trade is unquestionable.
Here are the excerpts from the interview;
Sir! Kindly share the vision of the Pakistan Navy behind conducting the AMAN series of Exercises and PIMEC-23.
Pakistan is a peace-loving country and has always promoted peace efforts in the region and beyond. Prevailing non-traditional threats in the maritime domain such as terrorism, piracy, drug smuggling, and arms trafficking require a collaborative approach as no single country can single-handedly counter these challenges.
The same spirit of collaboration is the vision behind the Pakistan Navy’s initiative of hosting the Multinational Maritime Exercise AMAN. This Exercise with its motto, ‘Together for Peace’ is conducted to develop synergy between participating navies to tackle these common and wide-ranging maritime security challenges.
The vision behind the first-ever International Maritime Expo & Conference (PIMEC) being held in Pakistan from 10-12 February 2023 is to create a marketplace for presenting innovative ideas and showcasing our huge maritime potential in this rather untapped sector. It will afford participants and stakeholders, both international and national, the first-hand opportunity for scoping, networking, and a hand-shake for B2G and B2B interactions to explore and exploit our blue economic potential.
A Maritime Conference will also be conducted during PIMEC in which eminent speakers, experts, and representatives from home and abroad, both from public and private sectors, will share their views on contemporary maritime issues and suggest viable options for developing countries, like Pakistan, to spur our Blue Economy.
I believe the conduct of these mega events simultaneously would give a significant boost to our shared objective of collaborative maritime security and provide an impetus to the development of Pakistan’s maritime sector for the mutual benefit of all the participants.
What is the significance and relevance of Exercise AMAN and PIMEC for Pakistan and other countries in the region/ international partners? How they will help in portraying a positive image of Pakistan, and attract investment in Blue Economy?
Exercise AMAN is a humble effort for enhancing cooperation between navies against prevalent and emerging transnational security threats. The steadily growing participation in Ex AMAN reinforces our belief that many navies in our region and beyond share our vision to foster regional cooperation for the maintenance of good order at sea, improve interoperability, share experiences, and exhibit collective resolve against maritime terrorism, piracy, and other organized crimes. Ex AMAN has now become one of the major multinational events in our region and it is the Pakistan Navy’s endeavour to continue to forge cooperation and enhance the participation of international navies in Exercise AMAN to make it more inclusive and effective.
The 7th series of Exercise AMAN was conducted in February 2021, which despite Covid pandemic attracted the participation of over 40 navies. This reflected a mutual desire to shake off Covid concerns and come together for the cause of promoting peace and stability at sea. 8th series of Ex AMAN is scheduled at Karachi from 10-14 February 2023 and healthy participation of navies is expected from across the globe.
The conduct of PIMEC alongside Ex AMAN-23 is a conscious effort to promote the development of Pakistan’s maritime sector. This will focus attention on the maritime domain within our national policy framework as well as generate avenues of cooperation among delegates from different countries. In the prevailing economic situation, PIMEC can play an important role in tapping alternate avenues for rejuvenating Pakistan’s economic growth.
What other initiatives are being taken by Pakistan Navy with the neighbouring countries and major naval forces in the context of defence diplomacy?
Pakistan Navy is a vital and integral component of national defence diplomacy. In addition to Exercise AMAN, Pakistan Navy contributes to our foreign policy objectives through Flag Showing, Key Leadership Engagements, Navy to Navy Expert Level Staff Talks (ELSTs), Overseas Deployments (OSDs), participation in bilateral/ multilateral maritime Exercises, Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR) missions and undertaking Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations of stranded people from conflict zones. Recently, during FIFA-2022 World Cup in Qatar, Pakistan Navy Ship and Pak Marines were deployed on maritime security duties for this mega event. These opportunities besides enhancing interoperability with Sir! Kindly share the vision of the Pakistan Navy behind conducting the AMAN series of Exercises and PIMEC-23.
Pakistan is a peace-loving country and has always promoted peace efforts in the region and beyond. Prevailing non-traditional threats in the maritime domain such as terrorism, piracy, drug smuggling, and arms trafficking require a collaborative approach as no single country can single-handedly counter these challenges.
The same spirit of collaboration is the vision behind the Pakistan Navy’s initiative of hosting the Multinational Maritime Exercise AMAN. This Exercise with its motto, ‘Together for Peace’ is conducted to develop synergy between participating navies to tackle these common and wide-ranging maritime security challenges.
The vision behind the first-ever International Maritime Expo & Conference (PIMEC) being held in Pakistan from 10-12 February 2023 is to create a marketplace for presenting innovative ideas and showcasing our huge maritime potential in this rather untapped sector. It will afford participants and stakeholders, both international and national, the first-hand opportunity for scoping, networking, and a hand-shake for B2G and B2B interactions to explore and exploit our blue economic potential.
A Maritime Conference will also be conducted during PIMEC in which eminent speakers, experts, and representatives from home and abroad, both from public and private sectors, will share their views on contemporary maritime issues and suggest viable options for developing countries, like Pakistan, to spur our Blue Economy.
I believe the conduct of these mega events simultaneously would give a significant boost to our shared objective of collaborative maritime security and provide an impetus to the development of Pakistan’s maritime sector for the mutual benefit of all the participants.
What is the significance and relevance of Exercise AMAN and PIMEC for Pakistan and other countries in the region/ international partners? How they will help in portraying a positive image of Pakistan, and attract investment in Blue Economy?
Exercise AMAN is a humble effort for enhancing cooperation between navies against prevalent and emerging transnational security threats. The steadily growing participation in Ex AMAN reinforces our belief that many navies in our region and beyond share our vision to foster regional cooperation for the maintenance of good order at sea, improve interoperability, share experiences, and exhibit collective resolve against maritime terrorism, piracy, and other organized crimes. Ex AMAN has now become one of the major multinational events in our region and it is the Pakistan Navy’s endeavour to continue to forge cooperation and enhance the participation of international navies in Exercise AMAN to make it more inclusive and effective.
The 7th series of Exercise AMAN was conducted in February 2021, which despite Covid pandemic attracted the participation of over 40 navies. This reflected a mutual desire to shake off Covid concerns and come together for the cause of promoting peace and stability at sea. 8th series of Ex AMAN is scheduled at Karachi from 10-14 February 2023 and healthy participation of navies is expected from across the globe.
The conduct of PIMEC alongside Ex AMAN-23 is a conscious effort to promote the development of Pakistan’s maritime sector. This will focus attention on the maritime domain within our national policy framework as well as generate avenues of cooperation among delegates from different countries. In the prevailing economic situation, PIMEC can play an important role in tapping alternate avenues for rejuvenating Pakistan’s economic growth.
What other initiatives are being taken by Pakistan Navy with the neighbouring countries and major naval forces in the context of defence diplomacy?
Pakistan Navy is a vital and integral component of national defence diplomacy. In addition to Exercise AMAN, Pakistan Navy contributes to our foreign policy objectives through Flag Showing, Key Leadership Engagements, Navy to Navy Expert Level Staff Talks (ELSTs), Overseas Deployments (OSDs), participation in bilateral/ multilateral maritime Exercises, Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR) missions and undertaking Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations of stranded people from conflict zones. Recently, during FIFA-2022 World Cup in Qatar, Pakistan Navy Ship and Pak Marines were deployed on maritime security duties for this mega event. These opportunities besides enhancing interoperability with regional as well as international navies; create goodwill, leverage influence, and helps us build lasting partnerships.
Pakistan Navy has established a Navy to Navy Expert Level Staff Talks (ELSTs) mechanism with 21 Navies across the globe to pursue bilateral collaboration in a structured manner covering operational, training, and technical cooperation aspects. PN Ships also regularly undertake port calls from Far East Asia to Africa, Arabian Gulf, and Europe. Furthermore, in line with Pakistan’s ‘Engage Africa’ Policy, PN Ships have undertaken HADR operations for the provisioning of food aid to Djibouti, Sudan, and Niger, as well as established medical camps in African Countries in 2019 and 2022. Moreover, at multilateral foras, Pakistan Navy is a member of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium and an Observer in the Western Pacific Naval Symposium. PN also participates in International Sea Power Symposium (ISS), USA and Trans-Regional Sea Power Symposium (TRSS), Italy.
What are your views about the participation of the Pakistan Navy in Multilateral Coalition Maritime Forces (CMF) and Pakistan Navy’s separate initiative of Regional Maritime Security Patrol (RMSP), what are RMSP objectives?
PN participation in Combined Task Force 150 since 2004 and Combined Task Force 151 since 2009 under the ambit of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) are well known and have been recognized at the international level. In the last two decades, PN has commanded CTF-150 for 12 times and CTF-151 for 10 times making PN one of the largest contributors to CMF operations and entrusted regularly with command responsibilities. Deployment of PN Ships and Aircraft has led to the seizure of more than 20,000 kgs of narcotics, over 40,000 bottles of liquor, and a significant reduction in piracy threats around the Horn of Africa. In addition, PN Ships have also rescued and assisted stranded fishermen and ships of the maritime community, irrespective of their nationalities.
In 2018, PN instituted the ‘Regional Maritime Security Patrol’ (RSMP) to contribute towards maritime security and protect its own national interests in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) with strategic autonomy. RMSP focuses on establishing maritime patrols along vital choke points and important maritime areas in the IOR to maintain good order at sea and to deter/ curb non-traditional security threats. RMSP also helps to foster partnerships with regional countries and enhances interoperability while conducting Port Visits and Passage Exercises. In a nutshell, PN has made significant contributions towards maritime security through CMF as well as RMSP deployments, making us a proactive and vibrant partner of regional maritime security construct.
How do you view the regional maritime environment and security dynamics in the wake of re-alignments of the countries/ building of new blocks due to the emergence of new power centres? What are the key challenges faced by Pakistan Navy in the domestic and regional maritime sphere?
The global security environment is dynamic, turbulent, and in an unprecedented transition; shaped by global realignments, competing interests, and pursuit of technological ascendancy. In our immediate the neighbourhood, the situation in Afghanistan remains uncertain post-US withdrawal which has a direct bearing on Pakistan’s internal security.
Given the limited capacity of the Afghan Govt to curtail narco-trafficking from Afghanistan, drugs find their way over land and through sea routes to various international destinations which is also a source of funding for miscreants and terrorist elements. To our east, unilateral and provocative actions by India including the nuclearization of the Indian Ocean through the induction of nuclear submarines are impacting strategic balance and regional maritime security. US-Iran simmering relations and the Yemen conflict continue to pose risks to shipping plying along the international Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs).
In addition to asymmetric threats, natural disasters, climate change, and the recent pandemic have further complicated the security calculus. In short, we continue to face an ominous hybrid mix of traditional and non-traditional challenges. This has necessitated the maintenance of requisite Maritime Domain Awareness for the safety of shipping plying through our maritime zones and maintaining the optimum level of preparedness to respond swiftly.
What is the significance of the maritime security environment of Pakistan, keeping in view the hostile neighbouring country on the one hand and on the other hand the emerging maritime economic opportunities arising from Gwadar Port?
As already highlighted, our neighbour to the east is a major security concern for us. India is committing gross human rights violations in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir and remains intransigent towards the resolution of longstanding disputes. The Revocation of Article 370 by India and the creation of Union Territories is a unilateral attempt to change the legal and constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir, which is a disputed territory as per UN Resolutions, and an act that poses a serious threat to peace and security in the region.
Widening conventional asymmetry in the maritime domain, hegemonic mindset and aggressive Indian policies have complicated our threat calculus. PN has embarked on progressive capability enhancement of the fleet as per our maritime security dictates to offset the adverse effects of Indian military expansion.
A pragmatic solution to our economic challenges is to diversify the economy and explore new avenues for sustainable economic development. In this context, Gwadar Port provides immense opportunities due to its proximity to the energy-rich Arabian Gulf. It is pertinent to mention that around 21 million barrels of crude oil pass through the Strait of Hormuz each day with annual traffic of 23,000 ships that transit close to our coast.
Pakistan also offers the shortest access to the sea for Central Asian Republics, Afghanistan, and western parts of China through Karachi and Gwadar Ports. The full functioning of these ports, particularly the one at Gwadar along with its linkages with regional countries will help accelerate the economic progress of Pakistan and the region. Pakistan Navy is committed to ensuring maritime security in Pakistan’s maritime zones including Gwadar Port to accrue benefits from resources endowed by Almighty Allah in our abundantly rich maritime zones.
What are the major strands of innovative initiatives for the transformation of the Pakistan Navy to make it more competitive with other naval forces participating in AMAN Exercise? Will this enable Pakistan Navy to thwart the challenges posed by a hostile the neighbouring country?
Pakistan Navy has embarked on progressive capability development to transform PN Fleet into a modern multi-dimensional force without indulging in an arms race. Our development strategy hinges on the induction of cost-effective platforms, force multipliers, indigenization, and diversification of options to mitigate external dependencies.
This said Pakistan Navy does not in any way engage in competition with participating naval forces in Exercise AMAN as the purpose of the Exercise is to adopt a unified approach to tackle common maritime challenges. I must emphasize here that Exercise AMAN has no political connotation and is endeavour to forge cooperation between participating navies to deliver a timely and synergetic response to common non-traditional security threats and challenges.
As far as the hostile neighbour is concerned, Pakistan Navy is well configured to safeguard its maritime frontiers and secure its maritime interests. Modernization through new inductions and doctrinal refinements will further consolidate our credible conventional deterrence. Pakistan Navy will continue to play its role in promoting regional peace and stability, albeit without blinking an eye, to safeguard our sovereignty and territorial integrity.
What measures Pakistan Navy has undertaken to enhance vigilance and to combat illicit activities like terrorism, drug trafficking, illegal fishing, etc. in Pakistan’s maritime boundaries and its impact on Blue Economy?
Today, our dependence on oceans has increased exponentially and Pakistan Navy is the principal instrument to secure our maritime interests. Within our maritime zones and beyond, Pakistan Navy continues to ensure maritime security and provides a conducive environment for unhindered maritime economic activities. In this regard, the navy conducts Intelligence Based Operations (IBOs) in coordination with Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) and other law enforcement agencies to deny and disrupt illicit activities and the flow of financial resources to undesirable elements and terrorist outfits.
Pakistan Navy also coordinates with national and international organizations through Joint Maritime Information and Coordination Centre (JMICC) to respond to maritime security and safety incidents at sea as well as in ports and harbours. In addition, coastal areas particularly Gwadar Port and its approaches are regularly monitored to deter unlawful activities through the effective functioning of Coastal Security & Harbour Defence Force (CS&HDF) and Task Force-88, raised specifically to provide seaward security to CPEC, Gwadar Port and its approaches.
How would you describe Pakistan Navy’s core role and responsibilities in national defence and keeping peace/ security in the region?
In the realm of national defence, ensuring the seaward defence of Pakistan and protection of our vital sea routes and maritime interests of Pakistan are the core tasks of the Pakistan Navy. The security challenges to Pakistan include both Traditional and Non-Traditional Security Threats. Pakistan Navy maintains the highest state of combat readiness to deal with the entire spectrum of threats ranging from non-traditional and sub-conventional challenges, to high-end conventional conflict.
In addition, PN contributes towards peace and security in the region through participation in regional/ international efforts to maintain a safe and secure environment through cooperative and collective security initiatives.
What are the strategic importance and economic potential of the shipbuilding industry of Pakistan and how it will make Pakistan Navy self-reliant in shipbuilding?
The global shipbuilding and repair services industry has enormous potential. We have witnessed East Asian countries including China, Japan and South Korea where these industries are supporting their national economies substantially. In this regard, Pakistan also offers an ideal destination for shipbuilding and ship repair work due to its strategic location at the confluence of energy SLOCs as well as the easy availability of HR and cheap labour.
Pakistan Navy has been playing an effective role to enhance the ship construction capabilities of Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KS&EW) and several PN ships including Frigates, Fleet Tanker, and Missile Craft have been constructed at KS&EW. Currently, MILGEM Class Corvettes, HANGOR Class Submarines, and Gun Boats are being constructed at KS&EW. I may also highlight that the construction of the Shipyard at Gwadar will give a substantial boost to our indigenous ship repair and shipbuilding capabilities. Pakistan Navy is also making concerted efforts to generate awareness and project Pakistan’s potential in the shipbuilding and ship repair industry, most notably through the upcoming PIMEC at Karachi. High-level interactions are expected during PIMEC to boost investment and partnerships in the maritime sector.
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