Pak Navy to hold Multinational Naval Exercise 'Aman 07'
By Laiylla Sherazi 'Pakistan Times' Foreign Correspondent

KARACHI: Pakistan Navy will organize a Multinational Naval Exercise " Aman 07" and an International Maritime Conference from March 6 to 13. This was announced by the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir, while addressing a news conference at the COMKAR Office here on Tuesday.

He said that the exercise will be conducted at the harbour and the sea from March 6 to 13 whereas the conference will be held from March 4 to 6 under the auspices of the National centre of Maritime Policy Research- a Maritime focused think tank which has been recently established under the auspices of Baharia University.

Spelling out the objectives of Exercise Aman 07, the PN Chief said that this was aimed at displaying united resolve against terrorism and projecting Pakistan as a country contributing towards peace and stability as well as consolidating Pakistan Navy's position in the regional maritime domain and enhancing interoperability with regional and extra-regional navies thereby acting as a bridge between the regions.

He said that the event was also aimed at capacity- building for the conduct of multi-national exercises.

Admiral Tahir pointed out that Exercise Aman 07 is designed to develop and improve response tactics, techniques and procedures against maritime terrorism. Therefore, it is based on offensive and defensive operations to protect economic activities at sea.

He said that the Exercise has been divided in harbour and sea phases and will be conducted in the North Arabian Sea remaining outside the EEZ and ADIZ of the neighbouring countries. There will be no infringement of any country's waters or air space as far as this exercise activity is concerned.

The harbour phase will be utilized for pre sail conferences, coordination meetings, safety briefs, table top discussions etc. Whereas, the sea phase includes exercise focusing on maritime security operations.

The fleet review is planned on March 10 during which all participating units including naval aviation will participate.

The Naval Chief announced that 27 countries will participate in this exercise and of these eight countries will take part with their naval forces, naval aviation elements and special operation forces and the Pakistan Navy will be the 9th participants. The rest of the navies will be represented by observers- one each from a country.

To a question, he said that Iran will be participating in the exercise as an observer. A speaker from India will attend the maritime conference.

Replying another question, the Naval Chief made it clear that the Pakistani ships do not lack behind in any form of modern technology and that most of the modern technology is available on the Pakistani ships.

Admiral Tahir was optimistic that this exercise would bring peace in the region.●