Geopolitics On Display at Pakistani Naval Exercises

[By Christopher Zinn]

Formally, the AMAN (Urdu for peace) international naval exercises that ran this week are about practicing responses to maritime threats such as piracy, terrorism and the smuggling of arms, drugs and people.

But swirling not far beneath the surface of the Arabian Sea manoeuvres and the Karachi portside mateship between the 37 participating nations, including Australia, have been two distinct issues.

One, the development promise and need for naval support for the massive China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, which means new railways and roads to give the Chinese trade access to a new super port at Gwadar, near the Iranian boder.

And two, the shadow of unresolved tensions between Pakistan and India over the disputed and divided Kashmir region and the growing nuclearisation of both nation’s navies with implications for the wider Indian Ocean region.

AMAN-17, the fifth in a series held since 2007, has seen naval assets sent from China, Russia, Indonesia, Turkey, UK and the US, among others. The Australian frigate HMAS Arunta, which is on a nine-month tour of duty in the region, was present, but Indian vessels were not.

‘I’ll ask you, does India want AMAN?,’ Pakistan Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Syed Arifullah Hussaini tells me, referring to both meanings of the word. ‘They may have lots of grievances against us and the first step is to talk but they don't want to talk. If they wanted to they could have come (to AMAN-17) in one week, all it takes is to start resolving the Kashmir issue.’

While the local newspapers are full of bellicose posturing between both sides, the atmosphere at AMAN-17 has been highly cordial, with ceremonial and celebratory events ahead of the seaborn exercises and fleet review.

The Chinese naval presence is especially significant given the emphasis on CPEC, which involves more than US$50 billion worth of projects.

The projected amount of shipping from Gwadar in the already volatile waters of the region will require plenty of naval support.

On a goodwill visit to HMAS Arunta, the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah underlined the need for coalition building and security cooperation.

‘There’s going to be more activities close to our coast and that needs some more efforts on the part of Pakistan Navy and this huge area is so large no one nation can think of making it safe and secure absolutely. We need friends to join hands and make sure the maritime domain is safe and secure.’

Listening closely in agreement was Arunta’s Commander Cameron Steil, who is leading the ship on the Australian Navy’s 64th deployment to the area since 1990.

Not yet halfway into a long nine-month tour called Operation Manitou, the crew of 177 is involved in counter-terrorism, counter-piracy and drugs interdiction operations.

Steil said the detailed coordination of each navies’ different rules and regulations was invaluable for possible future joint operations.

‘The expenditure of a round out a barrel is almost inconsequential from what you get out of an exercise like this, which is all about the planning and understanding,’ he said.

The Pakistan Navy showed off their special forces anti-terrorist capabilities with a dramatic demonstration of a shore-based hostage rescue, involving parachutes, hovercraft, drones and much gunfire. 

Security has been high in Karachi in the wake of a suicide bombing in Lahore earlier this week, which killed 14. Most naval personal stayed on their heavily-guarded wharves and those staying ashore (including the media) mainly lived in one strongly defended hotel and were escorted outside at all times in large and fast-moving armed convoys.

Christopher Zinn is a journalist and geographer with an interest in geo-politics and has worked for many media outlets covering Australia and the region, including Channel Nine, the ABC and the UK's Telegraph and Guardian newspapers. He attended the AMAN-17 exercises as a guest of the Pakistan Navy.