AMAN 2023 and CPEC: SOCIO-ECONOMIC, GEOPOLITICAL, AND GEOSTRATEGIC IMPACTS

AMAN 2023 and CPEC: SOCIO-ECONOMIC, GEOPOLITICAL, AND GEOSTRATEGIC IMPACTS

 The second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has been approved and implemented. The country's blue economy will hopefully grow in the coming days as a result of Gwadar Seaport's completion, opening, operationalization, and channelization.

The Pakistan Navy (PN) has taken on a permanent position of supremacy in the region as a result of rapidly shifting socioeconomic partnerships, nationalized geopolitical priorities, and, last but not least, geostrategic preferences that are in opposition to one another both locally and globally.

In this regard, strong manifestations of the US and allied forces in the Indo-Pacific region include the US China containment policy in the form of the formation and activation of Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) and the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States (AUKUS), as well as India's increasing naval force and obsession with nuclear submarines, which has encouraged the PN to take all possible measures to protect its vested interests. India's increasing naval force and obsession

It would appear that the "operationalization" and "channelization" of the PN are directly correlated with the CPEC Phase-II success. As the nation's custodian of the blue economy, coastal areas, shores, and waters, the PN is using every resource at its disposal to protect the CPEC's security and commercial interests. As a result, holding AMAN 2023 would add value to the PN's professional capabilities and tactical preparedness in the future.

It is hoped that AMAN-2023 will be a significant milestone in its subsequent capacity building efforts. AMAN-2023's main theme is "peace," which means that the Gwadar seaport's "pace," "production," and "prosperity" will improve with peace. It goes without saying that AMAN-2023 has a variety of socioeconomic, geopolitical, and geostrategic repercussions. Further fragility has occurred in the Indian Ocean. In AMAN-2023, the PN will host more than 40 to 45 nations. It will strengthen the PN's strong commitment to safeguarding its vested interests in sea freedom. In addition, it would completely eradicate all illicit activities in the Indian Ocean. Additionally, it places an emphasis on expanding the region's combined capacity for humanitarian assistance.

The AMAN-2023 initiative aims to combat terrorism, drug and weapon smuggling, and human trafficking in the region. Through efficient intelligence sharing mechanisms, it intends to intensify operational maneuvers against sea pirates and enhance joint maritime operations. It is certain that modern experiences will further enhance operational skills. It will guarantee interoperability in a variety of threat settings. It will discuss climate change and emphasize the significance of CPEC Phases I and II, including the Gwadar port, in front of the delegates from the participating nations.

To ensure perfect maritime security, the PN has been implementing a comprehensive and holistic policy. The PN has become an active partner in international naval coalitions as a result of the series of bilateral, trilateral, and international naval exercises it has been holding since 2007, particularly AMAN.

In fact, water is used for between 80 and 90 percent of global trade, and the shipping of energy and ensuring food security are also done by sea. The maritime security that PN is achieving at new heights of "productivity," "efficacy," and "vigilance" is directly correlated with the future of the blue economy. It has been trained and motivated to deal with national and regional maritime threats.

The protection of Pakistan's Coast Areas (PCAs), as well as the ports of Karachi, Bin-Qasim, Ormara, and Gwadar, as well as the easy and smooth opening of Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOC), is the responsibility of the PN.

In light of this, a special organization known as Task Force-88 (TF-88) has already been established to safeguard Associated Sea Lanes (ASLs) and Gwadar Port's seaward security from both conventional and unconventional threats.

It is made up of 400 marines who are trained to protect marine projects and assets both on land and at sea from subsurface, surface, and aerial threats. It has been outfitted with appropriate platforms, including aircraft, drones, gunboats, frigates, Fast Attack Craft, and other electronic surveillance tools. In addition, it manages the surveillance system, which includes radars, drones, and aerial surveillance systems, as well as fast patrol boats, shore-based anti-aircraft artillery, and harbor defense.

By "mitigating" a number of Non-Conventional Threats, including climate change, illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, illegal immigration, smuggling of arms and drugs, piracy, and maritime terrorism, the PN has been crucial to national security. In addition, the PN "combats" conventional security threats and protects more than 1,000 kilometers of coastline. It is now protecting Pakistan's "commercial," "infrastructural development," and "logistic apparatus" by addressing the challenges posed by the maritime aspect of CPEC Phase-II projects.

To address the current state and non-state threats and challenges, the PN has implemented a multifaceted, all-encompassing strategy that includes increasing the security of Gwadar Port, carrying out security patrols and coastal exercises, increasing maritime domain awareness, and participating in collaborative maritime security with regional and extra-regional navies.

The Pakistan Navy is now in charge of Gwadar Port and its infrastructure's security. In addition, it has deployed a Force Protection Battalion of Pakistani Marines and the necessary assets and equipment, both afloat and ashore, to guarantee the Port's safety.

Terrorists' motivations may be defeated by the megaprojects of CPEC Phase-II, which, if successful, will open up additional employment and business opportunities and improve people's standard of living.

In conclusion, AMAN-2023 is a multifaceted endeavor. It includes activities in the harbor, on the sea, underwater, in the air, and by Special Forces. It would be the largest multinational naval exercise ever, and it would take place in Karachi in February 2023. In this regard, invitations have been sent to more than 110 nations. It is hoped that more than 45 nations will attend this global megaevent. Over the course of the previous 18 years, the Pakistan Navy successfully hosted seven AMAN naval exercises in Karachi that were attended by foreign navies from all over the world. In addition, in January and February, AMAN-2023 will hold its inaugural Pakistan International Maritime Expo and conference.

The AMAN-2023 would be divided into harbour and sea phases, according to reliable naval sources. During the harbour phase, Pakistan's Special Services Group (SSG) troops would demonstrate maritime counterterrorism, and the Pakistan international maritime expo and conference would be important events; During the sea phase, PN would fire rockets with depth charges and surface fire at killer tomatoes, two of the most popular and well-liked activities.

The Indian Ocean is connected to 29 littoral states and 6 island nations, as of December 2022, according to the most recent figures. It is the world's primary oceanic trade route. The Indian Ocean is used for about 80% of all oil trade worldwide. 23 of the world's top 100 container ports are located on its shores. As a result, the global supply chain for dry, liquid, and gaseous cargoes depends on the Indian Ocean's sea lanes. In this sense, AMAN-2023 is significant not only for the global economy but also for peace, stability, and security in the Indian Ocean.