The 9th edition of the four-day AMAN exercise ended on February 11, 2025 in Karachi with euphoria that is seldom witnessed in international events. AMAN hosted a galaxy of maritime stakeholders from around the world. About sixty countries participated in the event with thirteen heads of navies and organizations and one hundred and twenty delegates stayed in Pakistan for the entire duration. All were happy and hearty on being among their Pakistani counterparts. A large group of both domestic and international media representatives was pivotal in minutely observing all activities and reporting them across the globe. It was a series of back-to-back events handled amicably by Pakistan Navy and National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA).

Over the last few decades, the media has emerged as an inescapable part of our daily lives. It has shown its prowess in sharing information around the world in the shortest possible time. Be it any conflict zone, international sports competitions, significant political developments or military exercises, it is the media public bank on for knowing the exact situation. Thus, there is significant responsibility on the shoulders of media to search for the truth and avoid misinformation. Media today is very much cognizant of this fact and therefore by and large reports objectively. Presence of a large number of media personnel signifies the importance of an event, and so was the case during the AMAN exercise and maiden AMAN Dialogue 2025.

The AMAN exercise is a premier initiative of the Pakistani government and Pakistan Navy, which has been held biennially since 2007. Under its banner, countries from around the globe are invited to participate. It usually included a conference wherein scholars and professionals would express their opinions on the relevant theme. This time, further innovation was introduced, and the AMAN Dialogue was held, where Chiefs of Navies and Heads of organizations participated and shared their vision on tackling challenges and threats at sea. The proceedings were telecast live on social media and could be watched in all corners of the world.

It is the instinct of the media to follow dignitaries and important global events. This brought a large number of journalists to AMAN who by themselves witnessed the spectacular conduct of the event both on land and at sea. As alluded to earlier, about sixty countries participated in the events, and the media projected AMAN in their respective countries, turning it into a global event. It is interesting to note that the AMAN series, which started with the participation of only 28 countries in 2007, has now expanded to about sixty countries, with the media playing a significant role in this growth. Every time it is projected in a manner that convinces more and more number, even the landlocked countries also understand the significance and vitality Pakistan offers in Indian Ocean Region. It was specifically this time when the activities of AMAN were reported around the world even to those who couldn’t take part. With this massive media projection there is a strong likelihood that next AMAN sequel will receive even more number of participating nations.

The AMAN initiative was launched to promote peace in the region. Nevertheless, owing to geopolitical developments over time, its significance has increased manifold, and many countries are eager to attend AMAN. It was also motivating to see some of the landlocked countries participating in this event merely because seas affect them as well. While they have the right to access seas under UNCLOS, they are also concerned about upcoming global challenges, which might affect their economies. There was a variety of activities held during this mega event. Cultural gala was one such promising happening that was appreciated by all. While some may consider it extravagant, yet it is important to understand culture and traditions of the partner countries, which makes it easier to grasp the thought process and ultimately strengthens convergence.

It was also an opportunity for media people to interact with each other since there was a plethora of channels both domestic and foreign. They worked in sync to cover all occurrences during AMAN. It was a beneficial experience especially for the Pakistani media personnel who had the opportunity of not only connecting with the foreign media representatives but also learn from their opulent understanding of travelling around the globe and often covering war and conflict zones. Observing Pakistani media personnel’s professional outlook must have been a matter of interest for the foreigners. AMAN provided this unique opportunity to all of them.

Events like AMAN seldom happen in any country and especially in Pakistan. It reposed the trust of foreign and domestic delegates in Pakistan who enjoyed staying in the country and witnessed peace and tranquility themselves. The sense of enriched Pakistani hospitality was in the air and all cherished being in a congenial environment where they could express their opinions in a befitting manner. It has cast lasting imprints on all the participants because of which the AMAN fervor is still on and follow up synopsis are being aired from various countries. It is believed the next AMAN edition will attract more number further endorsing its slogan of “Together for Peace.”

The writer is a Communication Strategist at the Institute of Regional Studies, Islamabad, and can be reached at reema.asim81@gmail.com