Ali Basit
Africa is well placed for economic and industrial expansion by its strategic location and fast-growing population, comprising of 54 sovereign states that are home to 1.2 billion people and alsobeing the largest population of youth in the world. Africa enjoys a collective GDP of over US $2.3 trillion and an import market of around $500 billion and their collective potential will only be realized, however, if security collaboration and effective African Diplomacy, a multilateral and collective approach by unified Africa,across regional and international levels iscontinued with perseverance.
The majority of African states gained political independence only during the past five decades. When the UN was founded in 1945, Africa had the least representation in the organization: comprising of only four states. This profile has changed dramatically and in the second decade of the twenty?first century, Africa has more sovereign states than any other region in the world, amounting to more than 25 percent of the UN membership.
With no exceptions, Pakistanshares a history of cordial diplomatic relations with many African countries which date back to their respective independence movements. Pakistan is also moving forward with emerging prosperity in its relations with African countries with regards to socio-economic, political and securitystratums.Pakistan supported morally as well as materially to many African countries in their struggle against ‘Apartheid’ and colonialism for Pakistan being the first country to gain independence from the British colonial rule. Hence, Pakistan Navy in pursuance of its foreign policy objectives and on a support role stands firm to provide humanitarian assistance out to the needed world. Pakistan now has resident missions in 13 African countries while others are covered through concurrent accreditation.
Use of military force for the humanitarian objectives is a long established tradition in all corners of the world. Pakistan Navy aligned itself with this phenomenon and always took a lead to serve the humanity within and outside the country. This highly professional approach while serving the humanity through earlier humanitarian assistance operations in Yemen, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Colombo and Indonesia during theearthquake and Tsunami, has earned a great amount of respect and gratitude for the country.However, in a bid to further Pakistan’s diplomatic ties with Africa countries, Pakistan Navyin line with national and foreign policy objectives, has sent its two advanced ships Pakistan Navy Ship ASLAT and Pakistan Navy Ship MOAWIN on port visits to African countries including Morocco, Mauritania, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Kenya. In addition to payingport visits, the Pakistan Navy ships are establishing medical camps toprovide Humanitarian Assistance to the underdeveloped strata of the African states. Prior to arrival on Takoradi port of Ghana, Pakistan Navy ships visited Mauritania where medical camp was being set up at NouakchottMarines base port and over more than a thousand patients were givenminor surgical and dental treatment alongside free medicines.
Pakistan and Ghana maintain good bilateral relations based on strong foundations and common interests of preserving lasting regional peace. The Republic of Ghanais located in Western region of Africa having coastline of more than 540 KM. It borders with Burkina Faso in the North, Ivory Coast in the West and Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean in the South. Ghana’s economy is also on a rise. In recent visit to Ghana, Pakistan Navyships havecalled the port along with establishing medical camp where routine medical checkups, minor surgeries and dental procedures were carried out by Pakistan Navy’s medical staff onboard. More than 1300 patients were treated in the aforementioned categories.The information provided by the naval sources reveals that whilst their stay at the port, Commanding officers of the Pakistan Navy ships called on the Paramount Chief of EssikadoTraditional Area and Deputy Minister of Western region of Ghana. A lunch reception was also hosted onboardwhich was attended by more than 120 guests including dignitaries and the officials from the tri services of Ghana. The guests were also briefed regarding the plight of Kashmiris and the atrocities being committed by the Indian security forces on the unarmed Kashmiris fighting for their basic right of self-determination.
Thus in line with the theme of national policy of averting the use of violent means through diplomatic gestures, Pakistan Navy has been the forerunner in promoting naval diplomacy through various channels. Moreover, recent port calls by Pakistan Navy Shipswill allow Pakistan to further strengthen existing relations with African countries and deepen political, economic, security and socio-cultural ties in the future. Therefore, hope resides in the possibility that the Pakistan Navy ships visit to African states will further bolster support to Foreign Ministry of Pakistan to achieve aforementioned policy objective.
