Naval AMAN-17 exercise to prove endeavour of readiness for peace: PM

The premier will visit Karachi on Tuesday to witness Pakistan Navy's multinational exercise

ISLAMABAD: The AMAN-17 multinational naval exercise will be an endeavour of readiness for the promotion of peace, according to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The premier is due to visit Karachi on Tuesday to witness the exercise in person, according to a statement from the PM's office, which adds that the premier also extended his gratitude to the participating countries for joining Pakistan Navy at the exercise in such large numbers.



He also stated that maritime security challenges in the Indian Ocean are multidimensional and multifaceted. Threats like maritime terrorism, drug trafficking, and piracy have acquired international dimensions. Cooperation between international navies imperative to counter these emerging threats, the PM said.

Pakistan, Nawaz affirmed, being a major stakeholder in maritime security of Arabian Sea is fully committed to ensuring freedom of navigation and lawful maritime order.



During his visit to the metropolis, the PM will also be meeting the Sindh governor and chief minister at Governor House, where he will get briefings on progress on infrastructure projects including the Green Line Mass Transit, Lyari Expressway, and the Karachi Circular Railway projects. The premier will also be briefed about the Karachi Bulk Water Supply (K-IV) project.

On Saturday, the PM's top foreign policy aide Sartaj Aziz said that maritime security challenges in the Indian Ocean have grown and are affected by 'key variables' such as militarisation, the involvement of major external powers, and non-traditional security threats due to the presence of several conflict zones in the region.