Salahuddin Haider
NAVAL Diplomacy; the terminology may appear unusual, but it is hard, solid reality now. How and why is not difficult to explain. During last decade or so, especially in the last five years, Pakistan Navy, has moved far, far, away from the ‘silent service’ concept to transform itself from just being a maritime doctrine to be in a new and powerful role of helping the country’s foreign policy perceptions, and thus contributing its mite to national prestige, honour and dignity.
How did it do that, and on what grounds can it be justifiable is not difficult to explain. In fact much easier than could be imagined. After all, what are the goals of country’s foreign policy—friendship with all and malice towards none. Pakistani missions abroad, top level political and diplomatic contacts, trade and economic ties, parliamentarians visits to different parts of the world, emergency telephonic conversations between heads of State, heads of governments, foreign ministers, foreign office officials, cultural exchanges, all help not only to build but cement also a healthy, and strong bond of ties between nations is the principal objective.
In modern day world, ridden with tensions, and conflicts, maintaining peace on planet earth, is and should be the main motto of all those inhabiting it. Pakistan Navy is doing the same. Modus operandi could be different, but aim remains the same, unaltered. Biennial AMN exercise is yet another glittering example of PN efforts to promote world peace, and cooperation among world navies. Our Navy ships, have been calling on ports from Casablanca to Indonesia, from east to west, north to south, meeting top level commanders, exchanging notes, building ties, but that is not all.
Our commanders during their goodwill visits abroad, have apart from discussing cooperation, collaboration, and means of constant engagement. Have also been explaining the Pakistani viewpoint to their hosts on our objectives to work for international brotherhood, goodwill, and peace, and also enlightening them to dangers threatening regional peace because of Indian obduracy. Indian annexation of occupied Kashmir, brutalities on its 8 million people, keeping them in virtual imprisonments, denying them the right to communicate with relatives, friends, and people outside their houses, residential districts etc; are brought home to them through video presentations, and all other available means, thus serving the national cause and trying to awaken the world conscience to assert itself for restoration of human rights.
Africa is one example worth citing here as evidence of Navy’s efforts. IMF forecast that Africa will be second-fastest growing region in the world.between 2016 and 2020 with annual growth of 4.5%. Seven African countries are posting annual growth rates well above 5.5%. Similarly, among the fifteen fastest growing global economies, eight are in Africa. Notwithstanding the fact that the region is of great strategic and economic significance, Pakistan’s trade with Africa is only 0.8 % of total $ 3 trillion trade of the continent. Pak-Africa trade is languishing having a negligible value of mere $ 2.5 billion in comparison to that of China and India, which is over $ 200 billion and $80 billion respectively.
However, we have not yet been able to tap the untapped potential of the continent primarily because of the lackadaisical behavior of the nation at large. Pakistan is the third largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping operations in Africa and a staunch supporter of the African-led movements but still holds only 13 Resident Missions in 54 African countries. Hitherto to address the issue, a major foreign policy initiative ‘Look Africa Plan’ was commenced in 2017 to boost bilateral trade & economic ties with African Nations.
Though the introduction of this initiative was indisputably a novel step yet the bilateral ties between them requires robust engagements at all tiers of the foreign policy determinants including Naval Diplomacy. Pakistan Navy defines Naval Diplomacy in Maritime Doctrine of Pakistan as ‘An activity to influence behavior of other states employing Navy as a diplomatic instrument to support, persuade….. Frequent port visits and international collaboration are examples of Naval Diplomacy’. Pakistan navy thus in line with its doctrine pay frequent port calls to various countries in a bid to enhance its interoperability mainly through such engagements like host meetings, briefings, and receptions on board.
Pakistan Navy with full comprehension of not so remarkable relations between Pakistan and African states vows to abridge this gap by offering frequent port visits to demonstrate its strong resolve of maritime partnership with the African nations. Under the aforesaid guidelines, Pakistan Navy ships PNS Aslat and PNs Moawin visited various African ports, aiming o further strengthening the friendly ties.
