Multinational Naval exercise Aman 2011 from March 8

KARACHI: The multinational Naval exercise Aman 2011 will be conducted from March 8 to 12 in the Arabian Sea under the arrangements of Pakistan Navy.

This was stated by the Commander Pakistan Fleet, Vice-Admiral Abbas Raza, here on Monday.

Briefing the newsmen about the event, he said that a total of 39 countries along with their Naval assets would participate in this exercise.

Admiral Abbas pointed out that the major Naval forces have started assembling in Pakistani waters for the cause of international maritime peace.

He stated that Naval ships from 11 different countries including USA, UK, China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia have arrived here on Monday to participate in the multinational Naval Exercise Aman 2011.

It was pointed out that the large scale exercise is being conducted from March 8 to 12 in the Arabian Sea under arrangements of Pakistan Navy.

Maritime air platforms from Japan, Australia and USA have arrived here on Sunday. In addition, Special Operation Forces, explosive ordnance, disposal experts and marines teams from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, China and USA are also participating.

Upon entering the Karachi harbor, the participating ships were given a warm welcome by PN officers and sailors with military bands playing national tunes.

Exercise Aman 2011 is third in line of its biennial series of exercises being conducted off Pakistan's coast. First exercise Aman was held in March 2007 followed by Aman in March 2009.

Admiral Abbas further stated that Aman series of exercises have been aimed at promoting interoperability and mutual understanding between friendly regional and extra regional nations to put up a collective response to multi-faceted threats like narco trade, human smuggling, gun-running and terrorism etc.

He said that in the past few years piracy at high seas has presented a formidable challenge to the countries around the globe. It is not possible for any one country to single handedly deal with these threats.

Resultantly, nations around the world have re-strategized their roles to deal with this ominous threats and the concept of `collective and collaborative' security especially in the maritime domain has gained greater pre-eminence than ever before.

Admiral Abbas said that Aman Series of exercises are an effort from Pakistan and Pakistan Navy to promote maritime security awareness in the region. The main focus of the exercise Aman 2011 is to project united resolve against maritime terrorism and other crimes.