Pakistan and Qatar enjoy closed friendly ties and cordial relations, and their defence bonds are robust and multi-focused covering trainings, bilateral exercises, and ship visits, said Pakistan’s Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf.
In an interview with Qatar Tribune, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, who took over command of Pakistan Navy on October 7, 2023, spoke on a wide range of topics including maritime challenges, defence diplomacy, and modernisation programmes of Pakistan Navy. Excerpts:
What are the key challenges faced by Pakistan Navy in the maritime field?
The global geo-political environment is ambiguous and volatile, and is characterized by realignment of interests. Pakistan finds itself in midst of a complex geo-political and geo-economic competition prevailing in the region. In the non-traditional domain, maritime terrorism, piracy, drug trafficking, gun running, and human smuggling are the main challenges being faced. The challenge to our regional maritime security is an ominous hybrid mix of traditional and non-traditional threats.
Can you highlight Pakistan Navy’s stance on Collaborative Maritime Security and Pakistan’s initiative of Regional Maritime Security Patrol and its objectives?
Pakistan Navy has a long and successful tradition of cooperating with international partners. We believe that the magnitude and diversity of threats and challenges in our region is such that no country has the wherewithal to tackle them alone. Therefore, collaborative maritime security has become an imperative for ensuring maritime security in the region. Our key principle is to keep the maritime environment safe against non-traditional threats and effectively contribute towards safety and security of vital sea lanes in the Arabian Sea, to our best abilities despite being a moderate Navy.
Pakistan Navy initiative of Regional Maritime Security Patrol to safeguard national interests with strategic autonomy, regular participation in CTF-150, CTF-151 and participation in bi/tri-lateral events, Ex AMAN, AMAN Dialogue, all point in the same direction.
What are the major recent procurement and modernization programmes of Pakistan Navy?
Indigenization and modernization of Pakistan Navy is an important cardinal of my vision. Our development strategy is based on ‘progressive capability enhancement’ so as to create a balanced, potent and combat ready force to deal with the evolving threats through acquisition of force multipliers, indigenous and innovative technical solutions.
Recently, we have inducted Type 054 A/P Frigates from China, OPVs Batch-I and Batch-II from Romania and MILGEM Class Corvette from Türkiye. Pakistan Navy is in the process of inducting remaining MILGEM class ships as two of these ships are being constructed indigenously at Pakistan (KS&EW). Based on experience gained during construction MILGEM Class Ships, Pakistan Navy is planning to build JINNAH Class Frigates (JCF) which will be our first-ever indigenously designed and built frigate-sized warship.
What are the initiatives that Pakistan is taking in terms of defence diplomacy with neighbouring countries and major naval forces?
Pakistan Navy, through naval diplomacy, contributes to the nation’s foreign policy objectives by showing Pakistan’s flag in countries far and wide: through Key Leadership Engagements: Navy to Navy Expert Level Staff Talks (ELSTs): Overseas Deployments (OSDs), participation in bilateral/multilateral maritime exercises, Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief missions, and undertaking Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations of stranded affectees from conflict zones. In this regard, we have formally established Navy to Navy ELSTs mechanism with 23 Navies across the globe to pursue bilateral collaboration in a structured manner covering operational, training and technical cooperation aspects. Pakistan Navy Ships also regularly undertake port calls to Far East. Africa, Arabian Gulf, Mediterranean, and Europe.
What is the vision behind Pakistan’s initiative to organise a unique type of multinational AMAN exercise in the region?
The main objective of AMAN is to foster regional cooperation for maintenance of good order at sea, improving interoperability, share experiences, understand each other and exhibit united resolve against terrorism and organized crimes in the maritime domain. Pakistan Navy is fully prepared and geared up to conduct AMAN-25 with enhanced participation of friendly countries in a professional and befitting manner. The previous edition of the exercise held in February 2023, witnessed the participation from 50 countries across the globe. We are hopeful that this edition will also mark a distinctive chapter in the history of AMAN exercises with enhanced participation of friendly countries to foster our relations and enhance naval collaboration against common threats. Moreover, we are also looking forward to a healthy participation of Chiefs of Navies/Coast Guards/Defence Forces during the AMAN Dialogue.
Unmanned systems are increasingly being exploited by the Navies as an emerging technology. How do you look forward to leveraging this technology?
Pakistan Navy has made significant strides in developing and inducting unmanned aerial systems in the Navy and also integrating them with the naval operations. We are currently operating mix bag of tactical to MALE UAVs.