Pakistan’s Maritime Domain Awareness Initiatives in the Indian Ocean
The MOC
By
Zaeem Hassan Mehmood
July 2, 2024
In an era of growing maritime challenges, no country can afford to ignore its own maritime security. For Pakistan—a country with an approximately 1,050-kilometer coastline along the Arabian Sea—this fact has inspired multiple lines of effort to protect the country’s maritime interests. Islamabad has a history of supporting order at sea, is recognized as a key upholder of international maritime law, and has undertaken various initiatives to enhance Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA). Viewed holistically, Pakistan’s MDA approach demonstrates that well-founded institutions can provide effective MDA with an economical expenditure of resources.
Pakistan’s Maritime Domain Awareness Institutions
Pakistan’s Joint Maritime Information Coordination Center (JMICC) forms the core of Pakistan’s MDA approach. Established in Karachi in 2013, it serves as an information sharing and inter-agency coordination platform for maritime incidents in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone.The Joint Maritime Information Organization Act of 2019, defines MDA as the “effective understanding of anything associated with the maritime domain that could impact the security, safety, economy, or environment of Pakistan.” JMICC holds a mandate to work in six domains: (1) Maritime Terrorism, (2) Piracy, (3) Organized Maritime Crime, (4) Illegal exploitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone, (5) Marine Pollution, and (6) Search and Rescue. To cover these domains and facilitate information sharing, the Center works with 48 national stakeholders including civil society organizations, the maritime industry, fishermen, and academia.
JMICC provides a network-aided environment for building a Maritime Common Operating Picture, a real-time information grid shared between national maritime agencies to facilitate identification of illicit activities at sea and initiate a coordinated response. In collaboration with the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency, JMICC developed an Android-based application in 2018 called Assistance, Anytime, Anywhere at Sea to facilitate communication with communities operating in territorial waters of Pakistan. In case of emergency, users can create an SOS request or report a maritime incident via toll-free helpline. JMICC has so far coordinated 216 search and rescue operations saving 1844 lives.
The JMICC serves as the maritime nerve center of Pakistan, liaising with key maritime data hubs and international counterparts such as Singapore’s Information Fusion Centre and Italy’s Virtual Regional Maritime Traffic Centre. Pakistan’s cooperation with international partners has significantly enhanced its own capabilities by providing access to a broad spectrum of expertise on maritime threat assessment. International partnerships also enable JMICC to augment its local information with comprehensive data on vessel movements and maritime incidents across the Indian Ocean. In this way, it fosters effective regional and global coordination on maritime challenges like piracy and illegal exploitation of marine resources, thereby creating a more robust and integrated approach to maritime security.
The AMAN ‘Together for Peace’ Exercise is another key initiative of Pakistan for reinforcing regional peace and stability. The multinational naval exercises provide a platform for participating navies to exchange experience and knowledge on diverse issues such as counterterrorism, humanitarian assistance, and maritime security operations. The exercise has been hosted biennially in Karachi since 2007 (with the exception of 2015), with participation increasing to more than 50 countries in 2023. AMAN-21 was a landmark event as it brought navies from United States, China and Russia together for a collective maritime security exercise amidst great power competition. It was also the first time in a decade that Russia participated in a joint military exercise with members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. In this way, AMAN serves as a bridge between many regions and navies from across the continents.
To advance the cause of maritime outreach, Pakistan established a Maritime Centre for Excellence, comprising the National Institute of Maritime Affairs in Karachi and Islamabad and the Pakistan Naval War College (PNWC) in Lahore. Since 2017, PNWC has organized an annual Maritime Security Workshop, bringing together government officials, industry representatives, academics, and the media. The 2018 “Maritime Doctrine of Pakistan (MDP): Preserving Freedom of the Seas” highlights the importance of the maritime domain for national security and underscores Pakistan’s contributions to maintaining peace and stability in the Indian Ocean. In the foreword, then-Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi stated “[the Maritime Doctrine of Pakistan] aims to act as a catalyst for synergizing efforts and resources of various stakeholders in the development of the country’s maritime sector and outlines broad contours of employment of naval and maritime power in support of national objectives.” Most recently, the Pakistan Maritime Science and Technology Park (PMSTP) was setup in 2023 at Bahria University Karachi. By fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and international partners, PMSTP provides a platform for knowledge sharing and commercialization of maritime technologies to enhance MDA.
Lessons for Maritime Domain Awareness in Developing Countries
A majority of the states in the Indian Ocean region are classified as developing countries. A multi-faceted technological revolution puts comprehensive MDA within the reach of these countries. Technologies including satellite-based data, low-cost commercial drones, artificial intelligence (AI), and crowd-sourced surveillance offer these states better tools to understand and govern their respective maritime domains at lower cost.Additionally, data sources can be supplemented by smart artificial intelligence systems to analyze the behavior of vessels and predict their activities and intent.
By integrating advanced technologies into the existing MDA framework, Pakistan can leapfrog traditional methods and improve its maritime surveillance capabilities. Satellite data and drones can significantly improve the Maritime Common Operating Picture and artificial intelligence-based analytics can allow Pakistani authorities to identify and respond to maritime threats more efficiently. Furthermore, the introduction of these technologies can stimulate local innovation and create opportunities for technology transfer, collaboration with international partners, and foreign investment in Pakistan’s maritime infrastructure.
Conclusion
Pakistan’s approach towards MDA in the Indian Ocean underscores its commitment to safeguarding national interests while contributing to regional stability and global maritime security efforts. It presents a compelling model for countries seeking to enhance their maritime security capabilities efficiently and cost-effectively. Through initiatives like the JMICC and RMSP, Pakistan demonstrates that well-founded institutions can provide effective MDA capabilities with an economical expenditure of resources. As countries worldwide seek to enhance their maritime security capabilities, embracing Pakistan’s approach could pave the way for greater resilience, cooperation, and security.
Zaeem Hassan Mehmood is a Research Officer at Center for International Strategic Studies Sindh. He is currently pursuing a PhD at Greenwich University and holds a Master’s of Philosophy in Strategic Studies specializing in Maritime Security from National Defence University, Pakistan. He is an alumnus of the International Seabed Authority’s Deep Dive Training Programme on United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and Governance of the Area
The views expressed in this piece are the sole opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Center for Maritime Strategy or other institutions listed.
Center for Maritime Strategy
By Zaeem Hassan Mehmood
In an era of growing maritime challenges, no country can afford to ignore its own maritime security. For Pakistan—a country with an approximately 1,050-kilometer coastline along the Arabian Sea—this fact has inspired multiple lines of effort to protect the country’s maritime interests. Islamabad has a history of supporting order at sea, is recognized as a key upholder of international maritime law, and has undertaken various initiatives to enhance Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA). Viewed holistically, Pakistan’s MDA approach demonstrates that well-founded institutions can provide effective MDA with an economical expenditure of resources.
Pakistan’s Maritime Domain Awareness Institutions
Pakistan’s Joint Maritime Information Coordination Center (JMICC) forms the core of Pakistan’s MDA approach. Established in Karachi in 2013, it serves as an information sharing and inter-agency coordination platform for maritime incidents in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone. The Joint Maritime Information Organization Act of 2019, defines MDA as the “effective understanding of anything associated with the maritime domain that could impact the security, safety, economy, or environment of Pakistan.” JMICC holds a mandate to work in six domains: (1) Maritime Terrorism, (2) Piracy, (3) Organized Maritime Crime, (4) Illegal exploitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone, (5) Marine Pollution, and (6) Search and Rescue. To cover these domains and facilitate information sharing, the Center works with 48 national stakeholders including civil society organizations, the maritime industry, fishermen, and academia.
JMICC provides a network-aided environment for building a Maritime Common Operating Picture, a real-time information grid shared between national maritime agencies to facilitate identification of illicit activities at sea and initiate a coordinated response. In collaboration with the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency, JMICC developed an Android-based application in 2018 called Assistance, Anytime, Anywhere at Sea to facilitate communication with communities operating in territorial waters of Pakistan. In case of emergency, users can create an SOS request or report a maritime incident via toll-free helpline. JMICC has so far coordinated 216 search and rescue operations saving 1844 lives.
The JMICC serves as the maritime nerve center of Pakistan, liaising with key maritime data hubs and international counterparts such as Singapore’s Information Fusion Centre and Italy’s Virtual Regional Maritime Traffic Centre. Pakistan’s cooperation with international partners has significantly enhanced its own capabilities by providing access to a broad spectrum of expertise on maritime threat assessment. International partnerships also enable JMICC to augment its local information with comprehensive data on vessel movements and maritime incidents across the Indian Ocean. In this way, it fosters effective regional and global coordination on maritime challenges like piracy and illegal exploitation of marine resources, thereby creating a more robust and integrated approach to maritime security.
Pakistan’s Efforts in the Indian Ocean Region
Pakistan has a history of supporting order at sea and is recognized as a key upholder of international maritime law in the Indian Ocean. It advocates a “region-centric” approach for addressing maritime challenges under the belief that stability can best be maintained by states in the region. To this end, Pakistan established Regional Maritime Security Patrol (RMSP) program based on a “region-led, region-owned principle.” RMSP operates in accordance with the mandates given in United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2316 “to act against piracy, armed robbery at sea off the Somalia” and UNSCR 2216 “to disrupt illicit arms trade”. At the same time, Pakistan continues to participate in key regional and international maritime security and peace endeavors, including the Combined Maritime Forces, a 44-nation maritime partnership based in Bahrain. Senior Pakistan Navy officers have commanded the coalition on a rotational basis and more than one hundred Pakistan Navy ships have rendered service for the security and stability of the Indian Ocean as part of the CMF.
The AMAN ‘Together for Peace’ Exercise is another key initiative of Pakistan for reinforcing regional peace and stability. The multinational naval exercises provide a platform for participating navies to exchange experience and knowledge on diverse issues such as counterterrorism, humanitarian assistance, and maritime security operations. The exercise has been hosted biennially in Karachi since 2007 (with the exception of 2015), with participation increasing to more than 50 countries in 2023. AMAN-21 was a landmark event as it brought navies from United States, China and Russia together for a collective maritime security exercise amidst great power competition. It was also the first time in a decade that Russia participated in a joint military exercise with members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. In this way, AMAN serves as a bridge between many regions and navies from across the continents.
To advance the cause of maritime outreach, Pakistan established a Maritime Centre for Excellence, comprising the National Institute of Maritime Affairs in Karachi and Islamabad and the Pakistan Naval War College (PNWC) in Lahore. Since 2017, PNWC has organized an annual Maritime Security Workshop, bringing together government officials, industry representatives, academics, and the media. The 2018 “Maritime Doctrine of Pakistan (MDP): Preserving Freedom of the Seas” highlights the importance of the maritime domain for national security and underscores Pakistan’s contributions to maintaining peace and stability in the Indian Ocean. In the foreword, then-Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi stated “[the Maritime Doctrine of Pakistan] aims to act as a catalyst for synergizing efforts and resources of various stakeholders in the development of the country’s maritime sector and outlines broad contours of employment of naval and maritime power in support of national objectives.” Most recently, the Pakistan Maritime Science and Technology Park (PMSTP) was setup in 2023 at Bahria University Karachi. By fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and international partners, PMSTP provides a platform for knowledge sharing and commercialization of maritime technologies to enhance MDA.
Lessons for Maritime Domain Awareness in Developing Countries
A majority of the states in the Indian Ocean region are classified as developing countries. A multi-faceted technological revolution puts comprehensive MDA within the reach of these countries. Technologies including satellite-based data, low-cost commercial drones, artificial intelligence (AI), and crowd-sourced surveillance offer these states better tools to understand and govern their respective maritime domains at lower cost. Additionally, data sources can be supplemented by smart artificial intelligence systems to analyze the behavior of vessels and predict their activities and intent.
By integrating advanced technologies into the existing MDA framework, Pakistan can leapfrog traditional methods and improve its maritime surveillance capabilities. Satellite data and drones can significantly improve the Maritime Common Operating Picture and artificial intelligence-based analytics can allow Pakistani authorities to identify and respond to maritime threats more efficiently. Furthermore, the introduction of these technologies can stimulate local innovation and create opportunities for technology transfer, collaboration with international partners, and foreign investment in Pakistan’s maritime infrastructure.
Conclusion
Pakistan’s approach towards MDA in the Indian Ocean underscores its commitment to safeguarding national interests while contributing to regional stability and global maritime security efforts. It presents a compelling model for countries seeking to enhance their maritime security capabilities efficiently and cost-effectively. Through initiatives like the JMICC and RMSP, Pakistan demonstrates that well-founded institutions can provide effective MDA capabilities with an economical expenditure of resources. As countries worldwide seek to enhance their maritime security capabilities, embracing Pakistan’s approach could pave the way for greater resilience, cooperation, and security.
Zaeem Hassan Mehmood is a Research Officer at Center for International Strategic Studies Sindh. He is currently pursuing a PhD at Greenwich University and holds a Master’s of Philosophy in Strategic Studies specializing in Maritime Security from National Defence University, Pakistan. He is an alumnus of the International Seabed Authority’s Deep Dive Training Programme on United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and Governance of the Area
The views expressed in this piece are the sole opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Center for Maritime Strategy or other institutions listed.