'No one can single-handedly cope with quantum of threat in maritime environment'.ISLAMABAD, 10 June, 2009 (Frontier Star) --Threats to maritime security emanate from inter-state territorial disputes, political instabilities and transnational crimes including maritime terrorism, piracy, human smuggling smuggling, illegal transport across state or national boundaries of goods or persons liable to customs or to prohibition. Smuggling has been carried on in nearly all nations and has occasionally been adopted as an instrument of national policy, as by Great Britain and drugs arms trafficking. "There is an increasing realization that no one nation can single-handedly cope with the quantum of threat prevailing in the maritime environment. This has led to the contemporary concept of Collaborative Maritime Security". This was stated by Admiral Noman Bashir NI (M), Chief of the Naval Staff while addressing the concluding session of 38th PN Staff Course at PN War College Lahore. The Chief Guest emphasized that, "Indian Ocean is home to some of the world's most important choke points and Sea Lines of Communication Sea lines of communication (abbreviated as SLOC) is a term describing the primary maritime routes between ports, used for trade, logistics and naval forces.[1] . Consequently, maritime security and stability of North Arabian Sea (NAS (1) See network access server. (2) (Network Attached Storage) A specialized file server that connects to the network. A NAS device contains a slimmed-down operating system and a file system and processes only I/O requests by supporting the popular ) has attained greater significance with respect to freedom of navigation The United States' Freedom of Navigation program challenges territorial claims on the world's oceans and airspace that are considered excessive by the United States, using diplomatic protests and/or by interference. and uninterrupted flow of trade. For Pakistan, sea is our jugular jugular /jug·u·lar/ (jug´u-lar) 1. cervical. 2. pertaining to a jugular vein. 3. a jugular vein. jug·u·lar adj. view, which is absolutely essential for our economic progress and sustenance of daily life. The total area of our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone ) is larger than the combined land area of Sindh and NWFP NWFP North-West Frontier Province (northwest Pakistan) NWFP Northwest Forest Plan NWFP Non-Wood Forest Product provinces and can rightly be regarded as the fifth and the largest province of Pakistan. It is rich in fishery, hydrocarbon and seabed resources. Throwing light on the role of Pakistan Navy, he said, "Maritime environment and the complex nature of threat leads us to the requirement of ensuring an effective PN response remaining within our resources. The answer therefore lies in formulation of a viable Naval Strategy within the framework of PN's Vision". Giving his vision, the Chief of the Naval Staff said "he sees Pakistan Navy to be an effective instrument of our defence and foreign policies. It would be capable of defending the maritime frontiers of our country, showing presence in our Area of Interest, enhance Pakistan's image globally and help increase our influence over regional countries. It would also contribute in nation building and facilitate development of maritime sector and help translate the strategic location of Pakistan into meaningful effects". He further added that "today we stand to be counted in the maritime arena and most importantly our engagement with the coalition contributes towards regional peace and stability. Also present in the ceremony were a large number of Senior Naval and high ranking officials. (THROUGH ASIA Asia (ā`zhə), the world's largest continent, 17,139,000 sq mi (44,390,000 sq km), with about 3.3 billion people, nearly three fifths of the world's total population. PULSE) |
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