KARACHI: The Pakistan Navy on Friday launched its eighth multinational maritime exercise, AMAN-23, in the southern port city of Karachi, the Pakistani state media reported, with Saudi Arabia and more than 50 other countries taking part in sea and harbor drills.
The Pakistan Navy conducts the AMAN (peace) maritime exercise every two years since 2007. The five-day exercise began in Karachi with both ships, aircraft, special operation forces, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) marine teams and observers from participating countries.
“Exercise has been divided into harbor and sea phases,” the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported on Friday.
“It is aimed at providing a forum for understanding maritime concepts and operational cultures, enhancing interoperability as well as identifying ways and means to combat common threats at sea.”
The harbor phase of the exercise involves activities such as seminars, operational discussions, professional demonstrations, international get-togethers and pre-sail planning of evolutions at sea, according to the Pakistan Navy.
The sea phase includes tactical maneuvers, exercises related to maritime security such as anti-piracy and counterterrorism, search and rescue, gunnery firings and air defense exercises.
Special operation forces from Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries have also been part of the five-day exercise.
“From Saudi Arabia, a team of special operation forces is participating in the Multinational Maritime Exercise this year,” Vice Admiral Ovais Ahmed Bilgrami, commander of the Pakistan Fleet, told reporters on Thursday.
“Teams from Kuwait and Oman are also participating.”
A first-ever Pakistan International Maritime Expo and Conference will also kick off at the Expo Center in Karachi today, on Friday.
