AMAN Series of Multinational Exercises & Multilateral Cooperation for the Sea-Lanes Security in the IOR
As a riparian/littoral country, Pakistan is heavily reliant on the sea routes, not only for its industrial supplies, imports and exports but also for its energy needs. More than 95% of Pakistan’s trade by volume and over 70% by value are carried out through sea-lanes and 100% of its oil imports are routed through the Arabian Sea, making maritime security essential for its economic stability. Due to its geo-strategic location in the Indian Ocean and complete dependency on sea lines, Pakistan is an important stakeholder in the Indian Ocean security framework and Pakistan Navy (PN) has been contributing significantly, both in terms of men and material, in maritime security and counter piracy efforts in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) for the last 20 years.
In the 21st century, maritime security challenges have grown increasingly complex, with threats such as piracy, terrorism, trafficking, and environmental hazards transcending national boundaries. As no single nation can manage these challenges alone, international cooperation has become essential for Pakistan to ensure the safety and security of sea lanes and uphold the global maritime order. That is why the Pakistan Naval Forces (PNF), the guardian of country’s maritime interests, became the first regional Navy to become the member of the US led and Bahrain-based Combined Maritime Forces (CMF, the world’s largest naval partnership, with 46 countries working together) in 2004. Comprised of five Combined Task Forces: CTF-150 (maritime security and counter-terrorism, focused on maritime security in the Gulf of Oman, Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden), CTF-151 (leads regional counter piracy efforts), CTF-152 (dedicated to maritime security in the Arabian Gulf), CTF 153 (promote security, stability and prosperity in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb, and western Gulf of Aden) and CTF-154 (established in May 2023, it is enhancing maritime security training throughout the region), the CMF promotes security, stability and prosperity across approximately 3.2 million square miles of international waters, encompassing some of the world’s most important shipping lanes in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Somali Basin, the Indian Ocean and the Gulf.
The CMF’s main focus areas are disrupting terrorism, preventing piracy, reducing illegal activities, and promoting a safe maritime environment for all. Since 2004, the Pakistan Navy (PN) contributed 1 to 2 Destroyers/Frigates with embarked helicopters to the CMF. The PN joined the CTF-150 in 2004 and the CTF-151 in 2009 and remained a fundamental contributor in the global efforts against piracy. As the largest contributor to CMF operations, second only to the US Navy, the PN has commanded multinational CTF-150 13 times and the CTF-151 11 times. Pakistan Navy has assumed Command of Multinational Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151) for the 11th time from Turkish Navy during a Change of Command Ceremony held at HQ US NAVCENT, Bahrain on January 23, 2025. Commodore Sohail Ahmad AZMIE of Pakistan Navy took over the Command from Rear Admiral Rüştü SEZER of Turkish Navy. These achievements reflect Pakistan Navy’s dedication to maritime peace and stability in the region and the trust placed in it by partner nations.
In support of above mentioned multilateral efforts Pakistan also launched the Regional Maritime Security Patrol (RMSP) initiative to complement the efforts of CTFs by patrolling vital sea lanes in the Arabian Sea and broader Indian Ocean. Pakistan Navy’s commitment to regional maritime security and stability is a cornerstone of its operations. As part of this commitment, the Pakistan Navy regularly deploys its assets on RMSP, which has become a permanent feature of its maritime strategy. Launched in 2018, RMSP enhances maritime security in the North Arabian Sea and broader IOR by deterring illicit activities and maintaining stability. The RMSP initiative operates in three key zones:
RMSP East: Covers areas towards the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and the eastern Indian Ocean.
RMSP West: Focuses on the Gulf of Aden and the eastern coast of Africa.
RMSP North: Includes the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the North Arabian Sea.
The RMSP works alongside CTF-150 and CTF-151 to strengthen regional maritime security. It reinforces Pakistan's role as a responsible maritime state and enhances its collaboration with international partners.
Recently, Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) Zulfiquar (251)was deployed on the RMSP. One notable example of the Pakistan Navy’s RMSP efforts could be seen in humanitarian assistance provided by PNS to an Iranian Fishing Dhow. During its deployment, PNS Zulfiquar rescued an Iranian Fishing Dhow, Al Muhammadi, with 23 fishermen on board. The ship was stranded over 1,200 nautical miles from its home port, and the PNS Zulfiquar (251) promptly responded to its distress call. The medical and technical teams provided first aid to the injured fisherman and repaired the boat’s engine, demonstrating the Pakistan Navy’s commitment to the safety and security of seafarers in the Indian Ocean Region.
The AMAN series of exercises are another key initiative of Pakistan for reinforcing regional peace and stability. The multinational naval exercises provide a platform for participating navies to exchange experience and knowledge on diverse issues such as counterterrorism, humanitarian assistance, and maritime security operations. They play a pivotal role against regional threats, not for just the participating countries but for the extra-regional countries as well. The AMAN series of exercises are considered as the most significant initiative of the PN in the field of maritime diplomacy, aimed at reinforcing regional maritime security and the cooperation between partnering nations. In Pakistan’s national language Urdu AMAN means ‘PEACE’ and the slogan/motto of AMAN Exercise ‘Together for Peace’. The concept of the Exercise was designed to provide a common forum for information sharing, mutual understanding and identifying areas of common interest.
Multinational Maritime Exercise AMAN
The Pakistan Navy (PN) has been hosting the Multinational Maritime Exercise AMAN biennially since March 2007. Exercise AMAN brings together Ships, Aircraft, SOF/EOD Teams and Observers from the Navies of East and West under one umbrella for collaborative peace and security in the maritime domain. With Exercise AMAN, the PN seeks to enhance interoperability between regional and extra regional navies as a means of promoting peace and stability in the region and beyond. Besides its function as an opportunity to gather the international maritime community to one platform to promote peace and stability, Exercise AMAN also provides a unique training opportunity to develop and practice tactics which help participants foster and sustain the mutual relationships that are conductive for ensuring safe and secured sea lanes on the world’s oceans.
The AMAN series has been a hallmark of the Pakistan Navy’s efforts to promote regional peace and cooperation. Launched in March 2007, the inaugural exercise saw the participation of 28 countries. By 2023, the number of participating nations had grown to 50, including major naval powers. The AMAN Exercises are structured to create Responses, Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (RTTPs) against nontraditional threats through tactical warfare planning followed by high-end warfare serials at sea such as Naval Gunfire, Visit, Board, Search & Seizure (VBSS), Anti-piracy, Operations, Combine Anti-Submarine Exercise, Communications, Boarding and Air Defense.
The AMAN Exercises are planned with focused objectives, which are as follows:
Develop coalition building and multi-layered security cooperation to promote a safe & sustainable maritime environment.
Enhance tactical interoperability between regional and extra regional navies thereby acting as a bridge between the regions.
Validating RTTPs to counter non-traditional threats in the maritime domain.
Project a positive image of Pakistan as a country contributing towards regional peace and stability.
Consolidate the PN's position in the regional maritime arena.
Display of united resolve against terrorism and crimes in the maritime domain.
Intermingling of multinationals with depiction of their respective cultures.
Since 2007 a total of 9 AMAN Exercises have been planned, but since in 2015, AMAN-15 was not held due to some operational commitment of the PN, only 8 of them have been executed including Exercise AMAN-23. The participation details of AMAN-07, 09, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 23 are as follows:
1st Exercise AMAN-07: It was held in March 2007 with great success. During AMAN-07 a total of 28 countries participated with ships/aircraft or observers. 14 ships from Bangladesh, China, France, Italy, Malaysia, UK and the US Navies joined the exercise. In addition, SOF/EOD Teams from Türkiye and Bangladesh also participated in SOF Exercises. 21 countries attended the Exercise as Observers.
2nd Exercise AMAN-09: The second Exercise of the AMAN series was held in March 2009. A total of 24 countries participated in the Exercise with ships/aircraft or observers. During AMAN-09, 23 ships, 14 of them from Australia, Bangladesh, China, France, Malaysia, UK and the US along with 13 aircraft (including 2 P-3C Orion MPAs from Japan) and 9 SOF Teams from China, the US, Türkiye, Nigeria and Bangladesh participated. Observers from 27 countries also attended Exercise AMAN-09.
3rd Exercise AMAN-11: It was conducted from 8-12 March 2011. During this Exercise, 28 countries participated with ships/aircraft or observers. A total of 11 ships from Australia, China, France, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and the US participated. 3 aircraft from Australia & Japan and 3 x SOF/EOD/Marines Teams from China, Türkiye and the US also participated during Exercise AMAN-11. 43 observers from 26 countries attended the Exercise.
4th Exercise AMAN-13: It was conducted from 4-8 March 2013. Navies of 29 countries participated in the Exercise with ships/aircraft or observers. A total 12 ships from 10 different countries, 2 aircraft, 9 SOF/EOD Teams from 6 countries and 36 observers from 21 countries took part in AMAN-13.
5th Exercise AMAN-15: It was scheduled to be held in February 2015. 13 ships, 2 aircraft, 14 SOF/EOD/Marines Teams and more than 60 observers from 34 countries had confirmed their participation in the Exercise. However, due to some operational commitments of the PN, the AMAN-15 Exercise was not conducted. Only the International Maritime Conference was held.
6th Exercise AMAN-17: It was the 5th exercise conducted within the AMAN series and was held from 10-14 February 2017. Navies of 35 countries participated in the Exercise with 12 ships from Australia, China, Indonesia, Russia, Sri Lanka, Türkiye and the UK. 2 P-3C Aircraft from Japan, 10 EOD/SOF Teams from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Russia, Sri Lanka, Türkiye and the UK also participated during Exercise AMAN-17. 67 Observers including 7 Senior Officers from participating countries attended the Exercise.
7th Exercise AMAN-19: The 6th edition (it was the 6th exercise conducted) of the AMAN series, AMAN 2019 (AMAN-19) was conducted during 8-12 February in Karachi and North Arabian Sea. Navies of 83 countries were invited to participate and 45 Navies (46 with Pakistan) participated through Ships (a total of 21 ships from 10 Navies including the PN and the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency/PMSA), Aircraft (11 fixed wing and 13 rotary wing aircraft took part in the Fly Past), Special Operation Forces (SOF, including 6 SOF Teams, 5 Explosives Ordnance Disposal [EOD] Teams and 4 Marines Teams from 11 countries), Observers and Speakers.
8th Exercise AMAN-21: Amidst the geopolitical flux accentuated by the global pandemic of COVID-19, the Pakistan Navy hosted the 7th edition (it was the 7th exercise conducted) of the AMAN series of multinational exercises from February 11-16, 2021, in the North Arabian Sea. Navies of 45 countries (46 with Pakistan) including Türkiye (with 2 MPAs 1 SAS Team and 1 SAT Team), the US, the UK, China, Indonesia, Philippines, Japan, Malaysia, the Russian Federation and Sri Lanka participated in the Exercise with Ships, Aircraft, Special Operation Forces (SOF, including Explosives Ordnance Disposal [EOD] Teams and Marines Teams), Observers and Speakers. It is a rare occasion where men in arms from the US, China, Russia, Iran, Türkiye, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) are gathered in an environment of harmony and friendship. It is also noteworthy that during AMAN-2021, for the first time since 2011 (during Exercise Bold Monarch off the coast of Spain), the Russian Navy took part in joint exercises alongside NATO countries’ naval forces.
9th Exercise AMAN-23: The 8th edition of the AMAN series of exercises, AMAN 2023 (AMAN-23, it was the 9th exercise planned within the AMAN series) was conducted during 10-14 February in Karachi and the North Arabian Sea. Navies of 110 countries were invited to participate and 50 Navies (51 with Pakistan) participated through Ships (a total of 20 ships from 8 Navies including the PN and the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency/PMSA), Aircraft (12 fixed wing and 7 rotary wing aircraft took part at Fly Past), Special Operation Forces (SOF, including 4 SOF Teams, 6 Explosives Ordnance Disposal [EOD] Teams and 5 Marines Teams), Observers (123 Observers from 50 countries), Ambassadors (from 5 countries), Deputy High Commissions (from 6 countries), Defense Attachés (from 35 countries) and Speakers. A total of 9 warships from 7 guest countries participated in the exercise, namely the US (1x), China (3x), Indonesia (1x), Italy (1x), Japan (1x), Malaysia (1x), and Sri Lanka (1x). A total of 20 warships from 8 Navies including the PN and the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency/PMSA took part at the International Fleet Review (IFR) including; PLA Navy’s Type 052DL Destroyer NANNING (162, an upgraded variation of the Type 052D destroyer), Indonesian Navy Frigate KRI Raden Eddy Martadinata (331), Italian Navy Frigate ITS Carlo Bergamini (F 590), Malaysian Navy’s Lekiu Class Frigate KD Lekiu (FFG 30), Sri Lanka Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel SLNS Samudura (P 261), the Japanese Navy’s Akizuki Class Destroyer JS Suzutsuki (DD 117) and the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer USS Truxton (DDG 103), Pakistan Navy warships PNS Tughril (261), PNS Taimur (262), PNS Yarmook (271), PNS Tabuk (272), PNS Saif (253), PNS Zulfiquar (251), PNS Tariq (181), PNS Himmat (1027), PNS Moawin (39) and PNS Nasr (47). 2 Kashmir Class Patrol Ships PMSA Kahmir (143) and PMSA Kolachi (144) from Pakistan Maritime Patrol Agency (PMSA) were also took part in AMAN 2023. Türkiye was supposed to participate in the AMAN-23 Multinational Maritime Exercise with 1 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) along with 1 SAT Team and 1 SAS Team. However, this was abandoned after the M7.8 and M7.5 earthquakes that occurred 9 hours apart on different fault lines in the southern region of Türkiye and Northern Syria.
AMAN-25: The 9th Edition of the AMAN Series of Exercises
Pakistan Navy (PN) is set to host AMAN-25; the 9th edition of the AMAN series of exercises from February 7 to 11, in Karachi and North Arabian Sea. A key feature of this year’s exercise will be the AMAN Dialogue, where Chiefs of Naval Forces, heads of Coast Guards, and senior leaders from around the world will convene to discuss regional maritime security and devise joint strategies to According to Government of Pakistan over 60 countries evolving maritime threats. The overall theme of the Ex AMAN-25 is “Together for Peace” while theme of the maiden Dialogue is “Secure Seas and Prosperous Future”. The objectives are as under:
Enhance interoperability among the global navies. Develop and practice response, tactics, techniques and procedures against non-traditional threats.
Promote shared understanding of maritime security issues and challenges.
Deliberate efficacy of existing mechanisms for maritime cooperation and need to adopt innovative solutions to address evolving challenges at sea.
Showcase potential contribution of Blue Economy towards overall economic growth.
According to Government of Pakistan over 60 countries, including Türkiye, will participate in AMAN-25, contributing with ships, aircraft, Special Operations Forces (SOF), Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams, Marines, and observers. Delegations from across the globe will also attend the inaugural International AMAN Dialogue, which will take place alongside the exercise.
Like all previous AMAN Exercises, Exercise AMAN-25 will be also conducted in two phases: The Harbor Phase and the Sea Phase. The Harbor Phase comprises; the Arrival of Participating Units, the Opening/Flag Hoisting Ceremony (February 7, 2025) at the PN Dockyard, Visit of Foreign Ships (February 8, 2025), Opening Ceremony of AMAN Dialogue (February 9, 2025), International Band Display & Maritime According to Government of Pakistan over 60 countries Terrorism Demo by SSG(N)/Pakistan Marines (February 9, 2025), Closing ceremony of AMAN Dialogue (February 10, 2025), and pre-sail planning of evolutions at sea. Whereas the Sea Phase would include tactical maneuvers, exercises related to maritime security such as anti-piracy and According to Government of Pakistan over 60 countries terrorism, search and rescue, gunnery firings and air defence exercises. Highlight of the sea phase will be the International Fleet Review (IFR, February 11, 2025), which will be witnessed by national and foreign dignitaries.
Serving as a bridge between many regions and navies from across the continents, Exercise AMAN is a clear manifestation of Pakistan’s profound commitment to promoting peace and stability in the region through harmony and collaborative efforts between navies of the world. The participation of such a large number of Eastern and Western Navies in Exercise AMAN is truly a testament that the international community appreciates Pakistan’s sincere efforts for peace and maritime security and that it is willing to join hands with Pakistan for creating greater harmony and cooperation in the IOR
