Pak Vice Admiral calls for maritime security to be cooperative rather being competitive

Commander Pakistan Fleet, Vice Admiral Amjad Khan Niazi has insisted that maritime security should be quintessentially cooperative instead of being competitive. Niazi had on Friday inaugurated a five-day multinational maritime exercise 'Aman-19', in which 46 nations are taking part, and stressed that maritime security was pivotal for national security and protection of maritime routes was necessary for the economy.

He had earlier said at a media briefing that maritime security should be quintessentially cooperative instead of being competitive. Speaking about the naval exercise, the vice admiral said Aman-2019 would enable the participating countries to understand each other's maritime concepts and operational cultures and come up with ways and means to combat common threats at sea.

Conducted every two years since its initiation in 2007, the exercise will be conducted in two phases. The harbour phase from Friday to Sunday will be followed by a sea phase on February 11 and 12, Niazi said. Harbour activities will include seminars, discussions and demonstrations along with a three-day international maritime conference on 'Global geopolitics in transition: rethinking maritime dynamics in the Indian Ocean region'.

The Pakistan Navy's ships, submarines, boats, marines and special forces will all take part in the exercise, along with the Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Army and Pakistan Rangers. The exercise also provided participating countries with the chance to foster friendship, which could lead them to develop and practice common tactics, procedures and mechanics to deal with the maritime threats that affected them all, Niazi said. "Overall, the Aman Exercise is about bridging gaps and making it possible to operate together in pursuance of shared objectives," Niazi said.

(With inputs from agencies.)