ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s navy said on Tuesday it had invited over 100 countries for the AMAN maritime exercises that are held every two years involving ships, aircraft and special operation forces from Feb. 7-11, with the event including a dialogue for senior naval leaders for the first time.
The Pakistan Navy has conducted the AMAN (peace) maritime exercise every two years since 2007 under the theme “Together For Peace.” This year’s special feature is the inaugural AMAN Dialogue themed “Secure Seas, Prosperous Future,” with a focus on security challenges in the Indian Ocean including strategic competition, piracy, narco-trafficking, non-state actors, resource exploitation, climate change, emerging technologies like AI and unmanned systems, the blue economy, and the need for global collaboration to ensure stability and prosperity.
“Since its inception, AMAN exercise participation has grown steadily, with the 8th edition in 2023 hosting 50 countries, the largest ever, and this year we are expecting even more, as over 100 countries have been invited to the 9th edition scheduled from February 7-11,” Commodore Ahmed Hussain, Director General Public Relations of Pakistan Navy, said in a written statement shared with reporters at a briefing on Tuesday.
Hussain said the AMAN Dialogue would bring together chiefs of navies, coast guards and heads of defense forces of participating countries.
“Due to the growing global participation over the years, PN has initiated the AMAN Dialogue as an adjunct to the exercise and its inaugural session will be held in tandem with AMAN-25,” he said, adding that the aim of the dialogue was to provide a “dedicated forum” for senior leaders to discuss regional security and evolving challenges at sea.
“AMAN dialogue will include a summit of chiefs of navy and coast guards, a seminar encompassing academic activities and bilateral meetings between delegations,” he added.
“The main objectives are to promote peace and regional cooperation, enhance interoperability with regional and extra regional navies, thereby acting as a bridge between the regions, displaying united resolve against terrorism and crimes in the maritime domain.”
Other objectives of the dialogue include understanding maritime security issues and challenges confronting the region and their linkages with the economy.
Main activities during the exercise will include a maritime counter-terrorism demo by the Special Service Group (SSG) and Pak Marines, table top discussions on professional topics, and ship visits.
“An International Fleet Review is scheduled for February 11, 2025, alongside sea exercises to address collaborative security threats, with Special Operations Forces, Explosives Ordnance Disposal, and Marines teams participating in developing Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for multinational responses to asymmetric threats,” the press statement added.
