Pakistan Navy CNS Discusses Maritime Security and Strategic Partnerships in Exclusive Interview

In an exclusive interview with Defence Web, a prominent South African media outlet, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) of Pakistan Navy shared his insights on the Navy’s growing role in global maritime security. This rare conversation delves into Pakistan Navy’s strategic partnerships, particularly its burgeoning ties with South Africa, as well as its broader efforts to ensure stability in the ever-evolving geopolitical landscape. The CNS highlighted the Navy’s key objectives, recent collaborations, and its active contributions to regional and international maritime peacekeeping efforts.

Below is the unedited Q&A from the interview, offering an in-depth view of the Pakistan Navy’s operational goals, naval diplomacy, and future plans.

1. What collaboration is there between the Pakistan Navy and South African defence companies? I understand, for example, that Paramount Aerospace is assisting with the conversion of Lineage 1000 aircraft into maritime patrol aircraft under the Sea Sultan programme. Can you provide more information on this?

We work closely with our South African partners. Besides Sea Sultan, there are various other options that are under consideration, but it would be a bit too early to comment on those at this moment.

2. Pakistan Navy vessels have in the past visited South Africa (for example PNS ASLAT and PNS MOAWIN visiting Simon’s Town in January 2020). Are there any for future visits?

 Of course, there are always plans for the ‘Overseas Deployments.’ We have a methodical deployment program and South Africa figures out very prominently on it, and our ships as per their duty cycle will be visiting South Africa in the future.

Also See: Naval Exercise AMAN 2025: A Major Step in Maritime Cooperation

3. What interactions are there between Pakistan Navy and the South African Navy? Such as visits, exercises, training, collaboration, agreements etc?

 We have formal platform of ‘Expert level Staff Talks (ELSTs),’ that we had in October 2024 at Cape Town, and we would be holding it every year once in Pakistan and once in South Africa. We interact with each other on the occasion of AMAN exercise and also other international maritime forums. In training, officers from South Africa attend naval staff courses at Pakistan and we also avail such courses from South Africa. Additionally, at junior officers and ratings’ level we do have training courses for each other.

4. What is Pakistan’s contribution to maritime security in the Indian Ocean region? For example. its involvement in Combined Maritime Forces?

We believe that the magnitude and diversity of threats and challenges in our region is such that no country has the wherewithal to tackle them alone. Therefore, collaborative maritime security has become an imperative for ensuring maritime security in the region. Our key principle is to keep the maritime environment safe against non-traditional threats and effectively contribute towards safety and security of vital sea lanes in the Arabian Sea, to our best abilities despite being a moderate Navy. There is no second opinion on the fact that enhancing naval cooperation with other navies will help ensure maritime security in the Arabian Sea and adjacent regions. PN contributions in CTF-150, CTF-151, conduct of Regional Maritime Security Patrols (RMSPs) and regular participation in bi/ tri-lateral events, Ex AMAN, AMAN Dialogue, all point in the same direction.

5. What successes has the Pakistan Navy recorded through CMF?

Pakistan Navy joined, what it was Coalition Maritime Campaign Plan (CMCP), in 2004, and since then it remained one of the major contributors towards, maritime security in the region through CMF. We have commanded CTF-150 and CTF-151 for numerous times and contributed through our ships and aircraft immensely. Pakistan Navy is currently leading CTF-150. In recent months, you may have witnessed capture/ disruption of substantial drug smugglers in the Arabian Sea.

6. Could you elaborate on the activities of the Regional Maritime Security Patrol and its impact particularly on African security?

Regional Maritime Security Patrols (RMSP) was launched in 2018 as part of our strategy to enhance stability at seas, which aims ‘to maintain a threat-free environment in Pakistan’s immediate and distant neighborhood, so that economic & scientific activities at sea continue unhindered. RMSP has three components: RMSP East (towards Maldives and Sri Lanka etc),

 RMSP West (Gulf of Aden and Africa’s east coast) and RMSP North (Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf and North Arabian Sea). African nations, particularly those on the Africa’s east coast can join the initiative by becoming a permanent members or through, what Robert Kaplan calls, ‘plug and play’ security contribution, which are also called ‘coordinated patrols’.

7. What is the main maritime security threats facing the Indian Ocean, and what needs to be done to overcome these?

Pakistan finds itself in midst of a complex geopolitical and geo-economic competition prevailing in the region. Pakistan’s maritime security is intertwined with maritime environment in the Indian Ocean, which is rapidly transforming. In our immediate neighbourhood, long drawn instability in Afghanistan simmers and continues to impinge upon the regional security, with its consequent impact on maritime domain. On our eastern side, India is disturbing regional peace by blatantly provoking its neighbours. On our Western flank, Iran’s standoff with the US and Israel may manifest into a precarious situation for the shipping plying along the international sea routes.

Ongoing Israeli conflicts with many countries have its visible spill over ill maritime domain. Houthis’ strikes against merchant traffic and counter strikes on Yemeni mainland by the US/ West has created conditions for enhanced ERF presence in the region. Access to shore-based missiles and remotely operated vehicles to the warring groups is a serious threat to SLOCs transiting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. In non-traditional domain; maritime terrorism, piracy, drug trafficking, gun running and human smuggling are main challenges being faced.

I believe an answer to these challenges lie in dispute resolution through dialogue, as use of force will continue to degrade stability at sea. Moreover, I also feel that a region­ owned, region-led maritime security construct will be much more effective in countering the threats we face these days.

8. The Indian Navy has been expanding its fleet and playing a large role in anti-piracy and maritime security operations in the Indian Ocean, for example rescuing half a dozen ships from pirates this year. Is Pakistan aiming to expand its own presence and activities in response?

While India continues to portray itself as a net security provider/ first responder in the Indian Ocean, however, we will continue to maintain our presence in the ocean. We are not in an arms race with India; however, we maintain adequate capacity to accomplish assigned tasks effectively.

9. What are some of the Key acquisitions being carried out to strengthen the Pakistan Navy fleet?

We have been focusing on acquisitions of modern platforms, force multipliers, indigenization and maintaining diversified options to mitigate external dependencies. Recently, we have inducted Type 054 frigates from China, OPVs from Romania and MILGEM class corvette from Turkiye. These platforms with latest weapons and sensors will be a significant addition to PN existing capabilities to effectively deal with today’s complex multi-threat environment.

We are in the process of inducting remaining MILGEM class ships as 2 of these ships are being constructed indigenously at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works.

I0. What relationship does the Pakistan Navy have with other African countries – are there close relationships, exercises etc. with other African countries?

We have friendly relationships with many of the African nations. I can say this with a great deal of satisfaction that ours was the only Navy that has deployed its ships on  three occasions in recent years to go around Africa, starting from 2019. PNS Moawin, PNS Aslat, PNS Nasr and PNS Alamgir circumnavigated the African continent and visited several ports of calls, rendered essential food supplies, established medical camps and helped build good relations between Pakistan and many African nations.

11. In 2017, Pakistan and South Africa signed a government-to-government defence co-operation agreement which includes industrial co-operation. Has the Pakistan Navy been involved in this at all?

Of course Pakistan Navy has been involved in this agreement, in light of Article 3(c) of this MoU, we have established formal N2N ELSTs, which have provided us an opportunity to discuss bilateral naval issues amicably and also see for cooperating/ engaging on common areas of interests.

12. Which countries are taking part in Exercise AMAN 25, specifically any African countries?

We’ve extended invitations to over 1OO countries and based on the level of participation in the last edition, which was over 50 nations, we expect number of participants to be even more. About 3I African nations have been invited for the event.

13. Why is it important to have the Aman Dialogue and what issues need to be discussed?

AMAN exercise used to have International Maritime Conference (IMC) as an adjunct event for intellectual discourse on the issues related to maritime security, cooperation and maritime economy. In this event academicians and experts would usually share their points of view. Now we have decided to transition to ‘dialogue’ where we seek to hear more from practitioners/ professionals about their views & experience on issues surrounding the security & stability of seas, use of emerging technology and role of the navies in harnessing potential of blue economy.

14. What is the importance and relevance of Exercise Aman for other countries in the region and international partners?

Message of AMAN-25 is to: foster regional & extra-regional cooperation for maintenance of good order at sea, enhance interoperability thereby acting as a bridge

 between the regions, share experiences, understand each other and exhibit united resolve against terrorism and crimes in the maritime domain. Moreover, we are also looking forward for a healthy participation of chiefs of the navies, coast guards or defence forces during AMAN Dialogue.

15. What are the main roles and responsibilities of the Pakistan Navy especially with regard to the rapidly changing geopolitical landscape that has been conflict in the Middle East, Europe, and tensions in the Asia-Pacific?

The geopolitical environment of our region is changing rapidly especially due to ongoing Israeli aggression. The already volatile maritime security environment coupled with diverse range of traditional and non-traditional maritime threats necessitates a robust, adaptive and technologically advanced Navy with well trained human resource. My job is to keep the Navy combat-ready through optimal utilization of resources and completion of ongoing projects under financial constraints in order to boost Pakistan Navy’s prowess in increasingly complex maritime security environment in the region. The Navy’s role is to counter both traditional and non-traditional threats being posed to us. This will be crucial that PN performs 24/7 while ensuring security and stability in the Arabian Sea.

16. As a member of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium and Western Pacific Naval Symposium, what does the Pakistan Navy contribute to these forums?

We are member of IONS but observer in WPNS. In IONS, we’ve been conducting some of major events, including planning and conduct of IONS Prep Workshop in 2019, and also planning to do the same in 2025. We are members of all the three IONS Working Groups and contribute through sharing our experience in HADR, information sharing & interoperability and maritime security.

Charting a Course for Maritime Security and Global Cooperation

As the world’s oceans become increasingly critical to global security, the Pakistan Navy is positioning itself as a key player in ensuring safe, open sea lanes. Through its active participation in regional partnerships, multilateral exercises like AMAN, and its strategic contributions to maritime security frameworks like CMF, Pakistan is cementing its role as a responsible and capable maritime power.

The insights shared by the CNS in this interview reinforce Pakistan Navy’s commitment to not only securing its own waters but also to fostering cooperative security measures across the globe. The path ahead promises a more connected and secure maritime world, where collaboration, understanding, and shared responsibilities define the future of naval operations.

Courtesy: Pakistan Navy and Defence Journal

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