‘Changing scenarios make maritime security significant’

Karachi
Maritime security has assumed a greater significance in the face of changing global scenario and the activities of non-state actors, transnational threats and challenges of piracy and terrorism, smuggling and exploitation of natural resources, besides lack of capacity to mitigate the effects of natural disasters which require thorough deliberations on national and international forums.
This was said by Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee chairman, General Rashid Mehmood, at the concluding session on Monday of the Sixth International Maritime Conference. It had been organised by the National Centre for Maritime Policy Research (NCMPR) in collaboration with the Pakistan Navy and was titled “Maritime Economy, Environment, and Security co-operation: Bringing the West Pacific and the Indian Ocean Closer”.
The event concluded today after three-day-long deliberations by experts of maritime security, environment and economy.
Around 17 speakers from eight countries exchanged ideas for bringing the maritime region of Indian Ocean and West Pacific closer. The NCMPR provides a seat of excellence for maritime policy research and a ‘think-tank’ for multi-disciplinary studies and analysis of maritime affairs to address challenges in the maritime domain, it was said.
Addressing the audience, the chief guest on the occasion, General Mehmood said the challenges in Indo-Pacific region had increased because of the changing socio-political dynamics.
“In this scenario, the mitigation of maritime risks and vulnerabilities require coordinated efforts. The littoral states of the region, therefore, need to focus on collaborative maritime security with a spirit of cooperation rather than competition. Especially, building military capabilities, deployment of navies and exploitation of resources should not lead to an increase in regional tensions,” he said.
Later in the day, General Mehmood gave away prizes to students who had won essay and poster competitions held during the conference.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah and Director-General NCMPR Vice Admiral (retd) Asaf Humayun commended the creativity and hard work of students.