46 nations to participate in Aman-19 naval exercise beginning today.

'Like any maritime nation, Pakistan has substantial stakes in the maritime domain. Our extraordinary dependence on the seas for trade, the CPEC project and our strategic location astride the global energy highway are the three most important reasons for Pakistan to ensure a safer and crime-free sea,' said Commander Pakistan Fleet Vice Admiral Amjad Khan Niazi while briefing the media ahead of the five-day multinational naval exercise Aman-2019 here on Thursday.

The exercise, conducted after every two years since it was initiated in 2007, will have the navies of 45 countries with Pakistan as the 46th one taking part in the action. The principal purpose of this exercise is to provide a forum for understanding of each other's maritime concepts and operational cultures and come up with ways and means to combat common threats at sea.

Stressing the motto of the exercise 'Together for peace', Vice Admiral Niazi said maritime security should be quintessentially cooperative instead of being competitive. 'Let us be mindful of the threats and challenges that we face at seas which range from piracy to terrorism to climate change. It calls for a collective effort to make sure the seas remain safe and secure for all of our use,' he said.

He added that the exercise also brought up a chance to help foster friendship among the participating countries, which would lead to develop and practice common tactics, procedures and mechanics to deal with the maritime threats that affected them all. 'Overall, the Aman Exercise is about bridging gaps and making it possible to operate together in pursuance of shared objectives,' he said.

The exercise will be conducted in two phases. 'There will be the harbour phase from Friday (today) to Sunday followed by the sea phase on Feb 11 and 12. Harbour activities would include seminars, discussions and demonstrations along with a three-day international maritime conference on 'Global geopolitics in transition: rethinking maritime dynamics in the Indian Ocean region', said the commander of Pakistan Fleet, adding that the country had gone through a turbulent phase of its contemporary history, but it remained steadfast in fighting the forces of terror and tyranny. 'Despite countless sacrifices and losses, Pakistan continues to be a responsible state cognizant of its role and significance in the international system,' he said.

Replying to a question, Vice Admiral Niazi said the exercise would include the Pakistan Navy's...