Pakistan to invite local businessmen in renewed push to privatize loss-making national airline

KARACHI: Saudi Arabia said this week it was “proud” to participate in Pakistan’s AMAN maritime exercises that start today, Friday, adding that the multinational effort would enhance maritime cooperation and help address shared challenges.

The Pakistan Navy has conducted the AMAN (peace) maritime exercise every two years since 2007 under the theme “Together For Peace,” involving ships, aircraft and special operation forces. 

This year’s special feature is the inaugural AMAN Dialogue themed “Secure Seas, Prosperous Future,” with a focus on security challenges in the Indian Ocean. These include strategic competition, piracy, narco-trafficking, non-state actors, resource exploitation, climate change, emerging technologies like AI and unmanned systems, the blue economy, and the need for global collaboration to ensure stability and prosperity.

A senior Pakistani naval official said on Tuesday two Saudi warships, HMS Jazan and HMS Hail, would participate in AMAN-25, the exercise’s ninth edition, scheduled to be held from Feb. 7-11.

“Exercise AMAN is a key multinational effort to enhance maritime cooperation and address shared challenges,” Brig. (Staff) Bander Hamad S Al-Hokubani, the Saudi Military Attache in Islamabad, said in a video message. 

“The Royal Saudi Navi is proud to participate, reflecting our commitment to maritime security. We look forward to achieving its goals and fostering stronger ties with all participants.”

According to the Pakistan navy, nearly 60 countries will participate in this year’s AMAN exercise, with a wide range of maritime professionals and over 200 observers from around the world attending. The exercise will be conducted in two phases: a harbor phase from Feb. 7-9 and a sea phase, running from Feb. 10-11, which will include search and rescue operations, live weapon firings and an international fleet review.

The inaugural AMAN Dialogue is also expected to bring together chiefs of navies, coast guards and heads of defense forces of participating countries.

“Due to the growing global participation over the years, PN has initiated the AMAN Dialogue as an adjunct to the exercise and its inaugural session will be held in tandem with AMAN-25,” the Pakistan Navy said in a statement on Jan. 14, adding that the aim of the dialogue was to provide a “dedicated forum” for senior leaders to discuss regional security and evolving challenges at sea.

“AMAN dialogue will include a summit of chiefs of navy and coast guards, a seminar encompassing academic activities and bilateral meetings between delegations.

“The main objectives are to promote peace and regional cooperation, enhance interoperability with regional and extra regional navies, thereby acting as a bridge between the regions, displaying united resolve against terrorism and crimes in the maritime domain.”

Other objectives of the dialogue include understanding maritime security issues and challenges confronting the region and their linkages with the economy.

Main activities during the exercise will include a maritime counter-terrorism demo by the Special Service Group (SSG) and Pak Marines, table top discussions on professional topics, and ship visits.

“An International Fleet Review is scheduled for February 11, 2025, alongside sea exercises to address collaborative security threats, with Special Operations Forces, Explosives Ordnance Disposal, and Marines teams participating in developing Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for multinational responses to asymmetric threats,” the Pakistan Navy press statement added.

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani soldier and 12 militants were killed in a counterterrorism operation in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the Pakistan army said on Thursday, as it battles a surge in militancy across the country. 
Islamabad has frequently accused neighboring Afghanistan of sheltering and supporting militant groups that launch cross-border attacks amid a spike in militancy in its KP and Balochistan provinces. The Taliban government in Kabul says it does not allow Afghan soil to be used by militants, insisting Pakistan’s security issues are an internal matter for Islamabad.
“During intense fire exchange, Lance Naik Muhammad Ibrahim, having fought gallantly, paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced shahadat,” the army’s media wing said in a statement about an intelligence operation it carried out in Hassan Khel in the North Waziristan District, neighboring Afghanistan.
Islamabad says it has consistently taken up the issue of cross-border attacks with the Taliban administration. The issue has also led to clashes between the border forces of the two countries on multiple occasions in recent months.
In December, the Afghan Taliban said bombardment by Pakistani military aircraft in Afghanistan’s eastern Paktika province had killed at least 46 people, most of whom were children and women. Just days later, the Afghan defense ministry said Taliban forces targeted “several points” in neighboring Pakistan, further straining tense ties.
Relations between the two countries have also soured since Pakistan launched a deportation drive in November 2023 against illegal aliens residing in the country. Though Pakistan insists the campaign does not only target Afghans but all those residing in Pakistan unlawfully, it has disproportionately hit Afghans, with at least 800,000 repatriated so far.