CNS Admiral Ashraf Highlights Maritime Vision of Pakistan Navy

The Pakistan Navy is actively seeking to expand its international maritime relationships, focusing on fostering cooperation through staff talks and regular ship visits. This initiative is part of Pakistan’s broader strategy to promote regional stability through enhanced maritime cooperation.

In a detailed interview with Military Africa prior to the multinational Exercise Aman scheduled for February next year, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) of the Pakistan Navy, elaborated on Pakistan’s naval engagements with African nations and the maritime security challenges in the Indian Ocean and its surrounding areas.

Admiral Ashraf emphasized the complex and volatile nature of the current maritime security environment, which is beset by both traditional threats like piracy, and non-traditional threats such as cyber-attacks and terrorism. He highlighted the necessity for a Navy that is not only robust and technologically advanced but also adept and well-trained to address these multifaceted challenges.

Since taking command, one of his primary objectives has been to elevate the combat readiness of the Pakistan Navy under stringent financial conditions. This involves optimizing resource use and ensuring the timely completion of ongoing naval projects to augment the Navy’s capabilities amidst an increasingly intricate security landscape in the region.

Admiral Ashraf expressed his commitment to preparing the Pakistan Navy to effectively counter both conventional and unconventional threats. His vision includes ensuring that the Navy operates around the clock to secure and stabilize the North Arabian Sea. He is focused on reinforcing Pakistan’s stature as a pivotal maritime force, capable of not only safeguarding its own maritime interests and sea lines of communication but also contributing significantly to the stability of the region.

This approach underlines a strategic pivot towards a more proactive role in regional security dynamics, emphasizing cooperation, readiness, and technological advancement within the Pakistan Navy.

You assumed command of the Pakistan Navy during a critical time. When you first took charge, could you tell us about your experience and priorities? What were the immediate challenges you faced?

Since I assumed Command of the Pakistan Navy, the geopolitical environment of the region is changing rapidly especially due to the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict with its butterfly effect in Yemen & Iran. The volatile maritime security environment coupled with a diverse range of traditional and non-traditional naval threats necessitates a robust, adaptive and technologically advanced Navy with well-trained HR. Therefore, since assuming command as Chief of the Naval Staff, the most pressing challenge was to enhance combat readiness through optimal utilization of resources and completion of ongoing Projects under financial constraints to boost the prowess of the Pakistan Navy in an increasingly complex maritime security environment in the region.

During my tenure, I am most eager to prepare the Pakistan Navy to counter both conventional and unconventional threats being posed to us. In addition, I would like to see PN performing 24/7 while ensuring security and stability in the North Arabian Sea. l am committed to strengthening Pakistan’s role as a key maritime player, capable of contributing to regional stability while protecting our sea lines of communication and economic interests.

What are the initiatives that Pakistan is taking in terms of defence diplomacy with neighbouring countries and Major Naval Forces?

PN, through naval diplomacy, contributes to the nation’s foreign policy objectives by showing Pakistan’s flag in countries far and wide; through Key Leadership Engagements; Navy to Navy Expert Level Staff Talks (ELSTs); Overseas Deployments (OSDs), participation in bilateral/ multilateral maritime exercises, Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief missions and undertaking Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations of stranded affectees from conflict zones.

In this regard, we have formally established the Navy to Navy ELSTs mechanism with 23 Navies across the globe to pursue bilateral collaboration in a structured manner covering operational, training and technical cooperation aspects. PN Ships also regularly undertake port calls to the Far East, Africa, the Arabian Gulf, the Mediterranean and Europe.

As maritime threats evolve, how is the Pakistan Navy leveraging technology and innovation to enhance interoperability with regional and extra-regional navies?

I believe that technological innovations & advancements have altered the character of war, profoundly. We’re paying focused attention to leveraging technology and innovation to have better combat readiness. And that’s the only way to remain effective against the evolving threats.

As far as interoperability is concerned, we have operational linkages and information-sharing mechanisms with many countries through bilateral and multilateral arrangements, for instance through actively participating in CTF-150, and CTF-151, establishment of JMICC and regular participation in bi/ tri-lateral events and conducting of Ex AMAN & AMAN Dialogue.

Can you describe the major procurement and modernization projects of the Pakistan Navy and how much Pakistan’s local industry is supporting these modernization efforts?

Our modernization plan is centred on radiating credible deterrence without being engaged in an arms race. We are in the process of inducting OPVs, Jet LRMPs and Hangor-class submarines, to name a few.

Naval forces especially, in developing countries, are compelled to look for economical and cost-effective solutions for their security needs due to restrictions and the high cost of modern military technology. We are making all endeavours to modernize our existing wherewithal as per the situational dictates while emphasizing more on Indigenous development and remaining within the confines of our budgetary allocations.

With your growing navy, especially with the Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), can we expect an increased presence and commitment to ensuring regional maritime security? What more can be done individually and collectively?

Yes, our key priority is to keep the maritime environment safe against non-traditional threats and effectively contribute towards the safety of vital sea lanes in the Arabian Sea, to our abilities, despite being a moderate Navy.

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 imperative for ensuring maritime security in the region. 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, the conduct of Regional Maritime Security Patrols (RMSPs) and regular participation in bi/ tri-lateral events, Ex AMAN, and AMAN Dialogue, all point in the same direction.

Pakistan’s next great challenge is the 9th multinational Maritime Exercise ‘AMAN-25’ in the North Arabian Sea in February 2025. How is the fleet preparing for this?

We are right on our timelines as far as the preparation and conduct of the event is concerned. We are well prepared, it is the 9th Ex of the series. AMAN Dialogue will also be conducted as an adjunct to Ex AMAN.

What are the main objectives of AMAN Dialogue?

AMAN exercise used to have the International Maritime Conference 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, the use of emerging technology and the role of the navies in harnessing the potential of blue economy.

With the recent modernization in regional navies; it looks like an arms race in South Asia. How do you look at this scenario especially when the Indian Navy Chief is constantly referring Pakistan Navy’s developments as a concern?

Pakistan Navy’s developmental plan is centred on radiating credible deterrence without being engaged in an arms race. We are fully cognizant of the asymmetry in numbers compared to our adversary and our existing modernization program which is based on operational reach, speed and flexibility is considered justified according to our needs and designed to deliver a credible conventional deterrence through a superior strategy.

In today’s world of instability; how Pakistan Navy is maintaining a balance? What is your advice to global military leaders during this highly tense time?

The geopolitical environment of our region is changing rapidly especially due to ongoing Israeli aggression. The already volatile maritime security environment coupled with a diverse range of traditional and non-traditional maritime threats necessitates a robust, adaptive and technologically advanced Navy with well-trained human resources. Therefore, the Pakistan Navy is envisioned to be a technologically adaptive military while maintaining its deterrent capability against both traditional and non-traditional threats.

To answer the second part of your question, I believe that maritime nations must adhere to the established international norms and regulations in resolving disputes and sort out differences through dialogues and consultations rather than stoking the sensitivities of nations.

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

With the growing maritime collaboration between Pakistan and African Navies, what initiatives does the Pakistan Navy envision to further strengthen ties, particularly in areas like the exchange of high-level delegations, anti-piracy, maritime security, helping in Socio-Economic uplift and training programs etc?

We have friendly relationships with many of the African nations. I can say 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 call, rendered essential food supplies, established medical camps and helped build good relations between Pakistan and many African nations.

We have a formal platform of ‘Expert Level Staff Talks (ELSTs), with many African countries which provides us an opportunity to discuss bilateral naval issues amicably and also see for cooperating/ engaging on common areas of interest. I may mention that we have extended an invitation to about 31 African nations for Ex AMAN and we are expecting a healthy participation of African countries in the exercise.

This news is sourced from Military Africa and is intended for informational purposes only.