A crew of over 100 naval officers has travelled from Colombo to Pakistan to participate in the maritime exercise
Pakistan’s Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Naveed Ashraf visited SLNS Vijaybahu, an advanced offshore patrol vessel of the Sri Lankan Navy, during the ongoing multinational maritime exercise Aman 2025 being held in Karachi, Lankan media reported on Tuesday.
Ashraf was welcomed by Commander of the Northern Naval area Rear Admiral Thushara Karunathunga and several other officers, including Sri Lanka’s Defence Attache to Pakistan, as he boarded the ship.
A crew of over 100 naval officers has travelled from Colombo to Pakistan to participate in the maritime exercise, reported Daily Mirror.
“Aman means peace, but this is more than just an exercise. With the Sri Lankan Navy and other navies, this is an opportunity to show our collective resolve and our commitment to work together and make the seas secure for our future generations,” Ashraf told the leading Lankan daily.
The navy Chief also visited a range of naval platforms taking part in the ongoing Multinational Naval Exercise AMAN-25
Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir had also met Bangladesh’s Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hassan in Rawalpindi recently. This marked the second high-level meeting of defence officials between two countries in less than a month.
In January, a six-member military delegation from Dhaka, led by Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lt. Gen. S M Kamrul Hasan, visited Pakistan in its first official security-level meeting after the interim government in Bangladesh assumed office in August 2024.
The team led by Hasan met the Pakistan Army Chief in Rawalpindi and held extensive talks during its January 13-18 visit.
Within a few days, a four-member team from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) led by Major General Shahid Amir Afsar arrived in Dhaka for a high-level meeting between the Pakistan spy agency and the Bangladeshi military, the first since 2009.
The engagements between ISI and Bangladesh raised alarm in neighbouring countries, including India which continues to face serious security concerns on its eastern and northeastern borders after the fall of the government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.
The navy Chief also visited a range of naval platforms taking part in the ongoing Multinational Naval Exercise AMAN-25.
Among the ships visited by the Admiral were the Bangladesh Navy Ship BNS SOMUDRA JOY, China Navy Ship PLA (N) GAO YOUHU, Indonesia Navy Ship KRI BUNG TOMO, Iran Navy Ship IRIS JAMARAN, Japan Navy Ship JS MURASAME, Malaysia Navy Ship KD TERENGGANU, Sri Lanka Navy Ship SLNS VIJAYABAHU, UAE Navy Ship ABU DHABI CLASS SHIP, and the USA Navy Ship USS LEWIS B. PULLER.
During his visits, the Naval Chief engaged in discussions with senior officers and commanding officers, receiving detailed briefings on board the ships. He emphasised Pakistan’s belief in collaborative efforts for maritime security and the importance of maintaining good order at sea.
Highlighting the Pakistan Navy’s initiatives, the Admiral noted that exercises like AMAN and the Regional Maritime Security Patrol (RMSP) demonstrate Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to regional peace and stability. The AMAN-25 exercise underscores the shared goal of fostering harmony among navies from across the globe.
The Admiral expressed his confidence that the cooperation and partnerships developed through AMAN will continue to strengthen in the future, bringing participating nations closer to achieving mutual goals of peace and prosperity. He appreciated the involvement of regional and extra-regional navies, acknowledging their dedication to the shared motto of “Together for Peace.”
ALSO READ: Pakistan braces for fuel price hike amid rising inflation
ALSO READ: Right groups slam Pakistan’s ‘draconian’ cyber law
