Maritime Security

MARITIME SECURITY REQUIREMENTS AND PAK NAVY IN 21ST CENTURY

1. About 70% of our planet is covered by the oceans. Sea facilitates inexpensive transportation of men and material in bulk and also provides valuable mineral resources and seafood for the prosperity of mankind. It is estimated that the transportation of freight by sea is 10 times cheaper than rail, 45 times cheaper than road and 163 times cheaper than air. In today’s world the oceans have increased importance as more than 80 percent of the world trade is by sea; it forges a global maritime link. Through the Arabian Sea, pass some of the most important trade routes of the world emanating from Gulf carrying oil for the regional as well as international markets. Nearly 90% of energy goods from Gulf are transported through sea. Approximately 15 million barrels of oil are shipped through Arabian Sea daily. Any interruption of this traffic would have devastating effects on economies of developing as well as the developed countries and would worsen the existing global energy crisis.

2. The Asian region has become the fastest growing and most dynamic sector of the global economy, with increasing dependence on seaborne trade. As a consequence, Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC) security, which is the bedrock of Asian economic growth, becomes a global concern. While the countries of North Asia are the economic powerhouse of Asia, the South Asian sea-lanes through which their trade passes especially the choke points become critical to any consideration of SLOC security, as does the role of navies in their protection.

3. The post 9/11 security environment has also expanded the potential range of threats and vulnerability’s associated with seaborne trade. This implies that apart from military threats to the seaborne trade, non military threats like pollution spills, piracy and above all terrorist attacks could also endanger maritime trade. However, it is the threats from the terrorist networks which have the...