Dr. Sehrish Qayyum
MARITIME Domain Awareness (MDA) is defined as knowledge of all activities, over, above and below the sea.
With wide variety of activities taking place and numerous actors operating therein, knowledge on all that is happening in the maritime domain or in any particular area of interest is indispensable requirement for any nation with interests entwined to sea.
This holds good both, during peace but more importantly in war.Geographically, Pakistan sits at the northern tip of what is called the western outreach of Indian Ocean.
The area is crucially important not only for Pakistan littorals but the world at large as well.
United States, Japan, China, East Asia, Europe, all have entrenched interests in this part of the Indian Ocean.
Critically important sea lines of communications of internal and external stakeholders crisscross East, West and South.
The Ocean sits on huge amount of sea bed natural resources.By virtue of its interests and aspirations in the region, analysts deem the United States to be a “resident-power” in the Indian Ocean.
China’s interest in Indian Ocean measures stems from its vision of mega BRI.With BRI’s premier project CPEC residing in Gwadar port on Makran coast and offering connectivity to Africa, Persian Gulf and Middle East, Beijing has compulsion in gradually establishing foothold in the western Indian Ocean.
A profoundly and deep great power competition is hence unraveling in this maritime space. Even Islands in the Indian Ocean, particularly in the western Indian Ocean have lately surfaced to prominence.
These offer a crucial role in monitoring and influencing sea lines of communications whether, own or that of adversary.
Sea bed and other resources are too attracting littorals and external powers raising concerns over future of UNCLOS, the global constitution of seas.
In non-traditional aspect, not very long ago, the western Indian Ocean was hub of piracy largely emanating from Somalia.
The region was also a hot bed of drug and human trafficking.Yet in eradicating such menace and to facilitate flow of legitimate commerce on International sea lines transiting close to Pakistan’s coast, Pakistan Navy played a central role.
Its long-drawn-out participation in various maritime coalitions including several command stints enabled region to see a sharp decline in these activities.
Sometimes back, Pakistan navy instituted what is called “Regional Maritime Security Patrol” (RMSP).
The patrolling also aimed at safeguarding and protecting key nodes in the western Indian Ocean.
The maritime landscape is however quite different today.The region is witnessing a simmering conventional friction and buildup of maritime forces under the rubric of what is called great power rivalry.
Yet despite mounting chaos, Pakistan Navy has and continues to steadfastly guard and protect the nation’s integrity and sovereignty at sea through multi-tiered approach at sea and on land.
Pakistan Navy raised a special task force (TF 88) to protect and secure port of Gwadar, personnel as well as maritime infrastructure related to CPEC.
It also includes guarding approaches to Gwadar port.To enhance maritime domain awareness, Pakistan Navy first established Joint Maritime Information Coordination Centre (JMICC) in 2013.
It involves synergizing information received from all national stakeholders and other sources to develop appropriate picture in Pakistan’s maritime area of interest for necessary and timely action when needed.
It would be worthwhile to mention here what the alertness and agility of Pakistan Navy yielded in recent years.
However, efforts of Pakistan Navy have usually got obscured in what can be termed as maritime impairment, the consciousness on the significance of seas at national level.
For too long Pakistan has suffered this affliction.There are countless reasons behind this enduring legacy.
Some of these reside in history while others stem from embedded national thinking.Without going into details, over the past two decades, quite a headway has been achieved in sensitizing the nation on the crucial importance of oceans.
Such a consciousness is especially important for a country like Pakistan with inalienable link between sea and national security.
Thanks to Pakistan Navy.Shifting of Pakistan Navy War College (PNWC) from Karachi to Lahore in 1996-97 was a maiden effort.
It aimed to kick start maritime awareness endeavour in Pakistan.After establishing and commissioning an elaborate set-up at Walton in Lahore in 2014, including a state of the art custom built Naval War College building and residential complex, Pakistan Navy went ahead with holding the first International Maritime Seminar the same year.
This was followed by instituting a Maritime Security Workshop (MARSEW) in 2017.The workshop clubs together with a number of civil-military bureaucrats, parliamentarians, members from the academic community besides entrepreneurs’ and media personnel.
In the three-phased workshop, the first is about academic learning on maritime and maritime security matters.
The second involves a visit to various command setups of Pakistan Navy and coastal areas.The final phase is about maritime policy formulation.
Ever since, the workshop has gained popularity requests for inclusion now are received from far and wide.
Fourth Edition of the Workshop is being held from 08- 16 December 2021 at PNWC Lahore In 2018, Pakistan Navy took another giant leap to advance the cause of spreading maritime light.
The first of its kind, the Maritime Doctrine of Pakistan (MDP) was launched. Being the foundational edition, the document is both informational and doctrinal in content.
Same year Pakistan Navy War College started signing of MoUs with leading HEC recognized universities in the country.
To date, six universities have signed MoUs with PN War College. MoUs with three more is under process.
The objective of reaching this milestone was to promote maritime understanding and maritime culture in the academia of Pakistan.
It also aimed to introduce advanced studies in maritime and related disciplines. In 2019, Pakistan Navy established first formal maritime think tank in Pakistan.
Founded on the premises of PN War College Lahore, the “Maritime Centre of Excellence” (MCE) as it is called, is configured to undertake research studies in the disciplines of “blue economy” and “maritime security”.
With its diverse human resource comprising of researchers and subject matter experts, MCE is projected to become a hub of national maritime thinking in Pakistan.
With the sustained efforts of Pakistan Navy the realization of the strategic significance of sea coupled with its economic potential is emerging at the national landscape.
MARSEW 4 being the pinnacle forum is likely to foster this understanding and contribute to our quest for economic prosperity of Pakistan and its people.
