Latest news with #TogetherForPeace
Arab News
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
‘World desires peace': Pakistan's AMAN-25 naval exercise kicks off in Karachi
KARACHI: Pakistan's AMAN-25 multinational naval exercise kicked off on Friday with a flag-hoisting ceremony in Karachi, where the Pakistan Navy's fleet commander lauded the participation of 60 nations as a testament to the world community's desire for peace. The Pakistan Navy has conducted the AMAN maritime exercise every two years since 2007 under the theme 'Together For Peace,' involving ships, aircraft and special operations forces. 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. These include strategic competition, piracy, narco-trafficking, non-state actors, resource exploitation, climate change, emerging technologies such as AI and unmanned systems, the blue economy and the need for global collaboration to ensure stability and prosperity. 'Today, we stand at a record, which is 60 countries participating in the exercise,' Rear Admiral Abdul Munib told Arab News after the inauguration. 'That itself speaks to how the world community actually wants to get together for peace.' He added that since 2007, when the multinational exercise was launched for the first time, strategic leadership was not involved in AMAN, a gap that led Pakistan's naval chief to propose the idea of a dialogue. 'This was his vision whereby he perceived the idea of the AMAN Dialogue, whereby we invited like-minded nations, and you would see that many countries are being represented by their heads of navies, coast guards, and defense services,' he added. Earlier, he told a ceremony attended by naval officials from other countries that the dialogue aimed to promote a shared understanding of maritime security challenges and their linkage with the blue economy. In a video message released by the Pakistan Navy, a Saudi official said that the Royal Saudi Navy was proud to participate in the exercises. 'The Royal Saudi Navy is proud to participate, reflecting our commitment to maritime security,' said Brig. (Staff) Bander Hamad S. Al-Hokubani, the Saudi military attaché in Islamabad. 'We look forward to achieving its goals and strengthening ties with all participants.' The Saudi official added that the exercise was a key multinational effort to enhance maritime cooperation and address shared challenges. According to the Pakistan Navy, the exercise will be conducted in two phases: a harbor phase from Feb. 7-9 and a sea phase, running from Feb. 10-11, which will include search-and-rescue operations, live weapon firings and an international fleet review. Main activities during the exercise will include a maritime counterterrorism demonstration by the Special Service Group (SSG) and Pak Marines, tabletop 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, explosive ordnance disposal teams and marine units participating in developing tactics, techniques and procedures for multinational responses to asymmetric threats,' the Pakistan Navy's press statement added.
Arab News
07-02-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia says ‘proud' to participate as Pakistan's AMAN-25 naval exercise kicks off
KARACHI: Saudi Arabia said this week it was 'proud' to participate in Pakistan's AMAN maritime exercises that start today, Friday, adding that the multinational effort would enhance maritime cooperation and help address shared challenges. The Pakistan Navy has conducted the AMAN (peace) maritime exercise every two years since 2007 under the theme 'Together For Peace,' involving ships, aircraft and special operation forces. 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. These include 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. A senior Pakistani naval official said on Tuesday two Saudi warships, HMS Jazan and HMS Hail, would participate in AMAN-25, the exercise's ninth edition, scheduled to be held from Feb. 7-11. 'Exercise AMAN is a key multinational effort to enhance maritime cooperation and address shared challenges,' Brig. (Staff) Bander Hamad S Al-Hokubani, the Saudi Military Attache in Islamabad, said in a video message. 'The Royal Saudi Navi is proud to participate, reflecting our commitment to maritime security. We look forward to achieving its goals and fostering stronger ties with all participants.' According to the Pakistan navy, nearly 60 countries will participate in this year's AMAN exercise, with a wide range of maritime professionals and over 200 observers from around the world attending. The exercise will be conducted in two phases: a harbor phase from Feb. 7-9 and a sea phase, running from Feb. 10-11, which will include search and rescue operations, live weapon firings and an international fleet review. The inaugural AMAN Dialogue is also expected to 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,' the Pakistan Navy said in a statement on Jan. 14, 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. '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 Pakistan Navy press statement added.
