The Inaugural Session was attended by the Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad ASIF, as the Chief Guest. Senator Mushahid Hussain SYED, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) of the Pakistan Navy, Admiral Naveed ASHRAF, Commander of Royal Navy of Oman Admiral Saif Bin Naseer Bin Al RAHBI, Commander of Iranian Navy Rear Admiral Shahram IRANI, Deputy Chief of Staff Qatar Armed Forces Maj. Gen. Sheyaq Bin Misfir Al Shahwani Al HARI, DG Border Guard KSA Maj. Gen. Shaya Bin Salim Al WADAANI, Commander of Primorsky Fleet Rear Admiral A. Y. SYSUEV and Commander of Royal Jordanian Naval Forces Col. Hisam Khaleel Al JARRAH were also among the high-ranking participants of the event.

The Pakistan Navy decided to organize the two-day AMAN Dialogue to enable Chiefs of Navies, Coast Guards, Defense Forces and Academia, to provide them an opportunity to exchange views on global and regional security issues and adopt innovative solutions to emerging maritime challenges.

Co-hosted by the Pakistan Navy and the National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA), premier maritime-related think tank of Pakistan, which undertakes analysis and evaluation of National and International Maritime issues and policies in order to recommend solutions to advance the maritime interest of the country, the AMAN Dialogue 2025 Maritime Security Conference is themed: “Secure Seas, Prosperous Future,”

The AMAN Dialogue 2025 International Maritime Security Conference is taking place on February 9-10 at the Pakistan Naval Academy (PNS Rahbar) located in Manora, Karachi and focuses 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.

Delivering a welcome address during the Inaugural Session of the AMAN Dialogue 2025 on February 9, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) of the Pakistan Navy, Admiral Naveed ASHRAF, praised maritime leaders, professionals and academia from around the globe for joining them in pursuit of their shared objective of forging closer international collaboration for reinforcing peace and security in the maritime arena. Admiral ASHRAF underscored that through AMAN series of multinational maritime exercises, Pakistan Navy has continued to foster trust, enhance interoperability and streamline practices and procedures among the partner neighbors. “Simultaneously, through AMAN Dialogue 2025, we acknowledge the need to engage in pragmatic and practitioner-centric discussions with racial and extra-regional stakeholders to arrive at shared understanding and a collective approach to maritime security in the region,” Admiral ASHRAF said. At his address Admiral ASHRAF highlighted that with AMAN Dialogue 2025 they aim to unite global leaders and experts to translate strategic foresight and unique perspectives into actionable solutions. “This intellectual discourse is designed to help us discern security issues gripping the navies in the region. Identify avenues of collaboration, pool resources where possible and culminate into a cohesive and efficient cooperative mechanism,” Adm. ASHRAF added.

To underscore the Pakistan Navy's perspective that they see the Indian Ocean not as a battleground of competition between countries, but as a shared space where cooperation is key, Adm. ASHRAF stated that Pakistan Navy envision the Indian Ocean region not as an arena of competition but as a common avenue for cooperation and voiced the Pakistan Navy belief that the magnitude and diversity of evolving threats and challenges are such that no country has the way with them to tackle them alone. “Hence, collaborative maritime security has become an imperative for ensuring robust maritime security, especially in regions like ours with dense trade and economic activity as well as multiple and diverse stakeholders. Our dream of prosper future also entails socio-economic uplift and development of the blue economy. The first recorded maritime trade occurred right here in the very region between the Indus Valley and Mesopotamia around 4,500 years ago,” Adm. ASHRAF said. He further added that the challenges of maritime domain are substantial and interconnected and we are nearing global ramifications.

He also expressed hope that the AMAN Dialogue will act as bridge between East and West, and to provide them an opportunity to engage especially with countries holding strategic vantage points in the Indian Ocean such as in proximity of Babal Bandar or Strait of Congress.

Admiral ASHRAF concluded his speech with the following words: “Finally, conduct of AMAN-25 Exercise and AMAN Dialogue 2025 concurrently affords a special advantage of fusion of intellect and synergy on the field. I foresee enriching discussions from diverse perspectives that would lead us to mutually beneficial and forthcoming partnerships.  

In his keynote address, Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad ASIF stressed the importance of collaboration, technological advancement, and sustainable development in securing the future of the maritime domain and stated that the global economic system is almost wholly dependent upon unhindered activity in the maritime domain, “The uninterrupted use of seas and oceans remain the strategic interests of all nations,” he added. At his address, Minister ASIF touched on various aspects of maritime security, international cooperation, and the evolving challenges of the global maritime domain. Here's a summary of the key points:

Globalization and Interconnectivity: Minister ASIF highlighted how, in today's interconnected world, national interests are best served by fostering a peaceful international system based on interdependent networks such as trade, finance, and communication.

The Importance of the Maritime Domain: He also emphasized the strategic importance of oceans, which carry over 80% of global trade, and particularly the Indian Ocean, which is rich in oil and gas reserves. “Our oceans carrying over 80 percent of global trade represent not only shipping lanes but the arteries of global prosperity,” the Minister said. He also highlighted the need for nations to synchronize their efforts to preserve maritime stability and prosperity. He called on countries to synergize their efforts to extract greater economic gains, saying that the maritime domain is at a “critical crossroads.”

Evolving Global Challenges: At his address he acknowledged the current global challenges, including rising tariffs, great power competitions, global crises like climate change and pandemics, and the threats emerging from non-conventional domains (e.g., piracy, terrorism, human smuggling, etc.). The opportunities and tremendous benefits at sea cannot be harnessed if we are not aptly geared against rising challenges,” Minister ASIF said.

Technological Advancements: He also discussed how technological advancements, especially in unmanned systems and AI-powered systems, have transformed warfare and maritime operations. These changes require nations to keep up with rapid technological progress while ensuring that their frameworks remain relevant.

The Role of AMAN Dialogue: Minister ASIF underscored that the AMAN Dialogue is more than just a discussion forum; it is a platform for fostering action, building partnerships, and ensuring peace through collective efforts. “It serves as a catalyst for action, a platform for forging lasting partnerships, building friendships and enduring relationships, all to resonate, to resolve embodies in the motto of AMMAN Exercise, ‘Together for Peace,’”

Minister ASIF concluded his speech with praise for the Pakistan Navy's efforts in organizing the AMAN Dialogue.

In his opening remarks Senator Mushahid Hussain SYED (Former Minister of Information and Broadcasting of Pakistan) encapsulated the importance of maritime security and economic cooperation, particularly in the context of Pakistan’s strategic role in the region and applauded Pakistan Navy's efforts in promoting a collaborative approach to tackle complex maritime security challenges. He also highlighted Pakistan Navy's contributions towards raising awareness about Blue Economy and supporting the socio-economic uplift of coastal communities at the national level. He also underscored the interconnection between maritime diplomacy, security, and the blue economy, which is central to the themes of the AMAN Dialogue.

Senator SYED emphasized that with representatives from 60 countries, the AMAN Dialogue 2025 is the largest-ever international maritime conference in Pakistan’s history. At his speech he also highlighted how the theme and logo of the AMAN Dialogue embody the vision of Pakistan’s founding father, Muhammad Ali JINNAH. He references JINNAH’s desire for "peace within and peace without" for Pakistan, which aligns with the goals of the AMAN Dialogue. He then elaborated on the symbolism of the Conference's logo, which includes elements like the rising sun (representing hope and the dawn of the Asian century), a lighthouse (symbolizing direction), dolphins (for harmony and collaboration), a ship (representing naval power and connectivity), and four stars (linking the Navy, maritime practitioners, academia, and business sectors).

He also noted that 2025 is the 10th anniversary of Pakistan’s expansion of its continental shelf from 200 nautical miles to 350 nautical miles, marking an important step in enhancing the nation's maritime jurisdiction and advancing its blue economy. At his address Senator SYED pointed out that ports are becoming central drivers of global commerce, connectivity, and transformation, emphasizing the importance of maritime infrastructure in shaping the future of global trade and pointed out that the Gwadar Port is a centerpiece of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

İbrahim SÜNNETCİ is in Karachi, Pakistan to follow Exercise AMAN-25 and AMAN Dialogue 2025 as a guest of the Pakistan Navy.

Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad ASIF along with CNS of the Pakistan Navy Admiral Naveed ASHRAF in a group photo with foreign dignitaries during Inaugural Session of AMAN Dialogue 2025 held in Karachi on February 9.