Pakistan Navy to bolster coastal surveillance amid CPEC priorities

Pakistan's Navy Chief has pledged "all possible measures" to ensure the security of Gwadar Port and guarantee the success of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

In a written interview, Naveed Ashraf, the chief of staff of the Pakistani Navy, said the People's Liberation Army Navy and the Pakistan Navy enjoy a long-standing, broad-ranging and strong bilateral relationship, and both navies have always remained committed to expanding and consolidating this relationship for regional peace and good order at sea.

The admiral also highlighted the key role of CPEC in the economic uplift and betterment of the entire region, adding that the Pakistani side will regularly monitor the coastal areas of the corridor particularly the Gwadar port to snub illicit activities.

Ashraf made the remarks weeks before the Exercise AMAN-2025, a multi-national naval exercise to be held in Karachi from Feb 7 to 11.

He explained that the aim of the naval exercise is to foster regional cooperation for the maintenance of good order at sea, improve interoperability, share experiences, understand each other and exhibit a united resolve against terrorism and organized crimes in the maritime domain.

Given the immense importance of the Indian Ocean to regional and global trade, Ashraf said the Pakistan Navy and the PLA Navy will "keep on further building our relations to jointly tackle threats to global commerce in this region."

Meanwhile, Ashraf said the Pakistani side is looking forward to long-term collaboration with China in the domains of artificial intelligence, robotics, cyber warfare and space.