Pakistan Navy Ships Calibrating Pak-Kenya Relations

Transnational forces and irregular challenges continue to be the primary threat today and in the foreseeable future, especially in the maritime domain. The volatile maritime security environmentvis-à-vis inherent natural constrains bring uncertainty and vulnerabilityto the maritime boundaries of coastal states. The peculiar maritime environment encompasses non-traditional security challenges such as: human trafficking, arms trafficking,armed robbery, organized crimes as well employment of Non-State Actors- a tenet of indirect strategy or sub-conventional warfare. It is pertinent to note that the maritime arena of African continent, the aforementioned threats have continued to take their toll on littoral states of Africa and as a result the continent has borne huge losses amounting to billions of dollars and human lives. For example; piracy incidents off the Coast of Somalia awakened the interest of East African countries; which are now planning to secure the Indian Ocean waters through collaborative maritime initiatives. Among these African nations; Kenya is one of the affectees of this menace.
Kenya has remained affected by the terrorist activities in the neighbouring Somalia from where deadly attacks have been planned and executed on the Kenyan side of the border. Regionally, Kenya supports African Union’s Peace and Security Council (PSC), a standing decision-making body responsible for the maintenance of continental peace and security. To cope up with the maritime security challenges, Kenyahas received international assistance and investment which includes support to set up the Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Mombasa. Moreover, organisations like the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) have led training for the Kenyan Navy to enhance its capability.At home, Kenya has created a new coastguard serviceto help enhance the east African nation’s maritime security along the coastline. Furthermore, its job is to police the country’s ocean territory and to ensure that Kenya’swaters will no longer be used by drug and human traffickers, illegal arms dealers and illegal fishing vessels. Furthermore, the country has been engaged in various naval training partnerships, maritime capacity building projects and an implementation committee to coordinate blue economic activities.
In accompanying with Kenya in its deliberated efforts to secure itself from traditional and non-traditional threats, historically Pakistan has supportedKenya at various international fora. Both the countrieshave been enjoying cordial relations since the diplomatic relations were enforced. They have similarity ofviews on a number of issues of global importance. Pakistan supported African Union (AU) resolution tabled in UN Security Council (November 2013) seeking one year deferral of the cases against the then President and Deputy President of Kenya under hearing at the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague. Pakistan has been offering various courses and training programmes to Kenya which inter-alia includes Junior and advance level diplomatic courses as well as military support programs. Pakistan provided relief assistance to Kenya at the end of 2006 and in 2011 to assist the Government of Kenya in its fight against drought that effected parts of the country. Reciprocating that friendly gesture Kenya joined other nations in sending aid to Pakistan for the flood affected people during the devastating floods in Pakistan in 2010.
In fosteringrelations with Kenya, Pakistan navy aligned with national policy objectives has deployed its two advance ships to the nation state. Prior to reaching Kenya, the ships have visited ports of Morocco, Mauritania, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, and Tanzania. Keeping in view the humanitarian crisis in these nation states, Pakistan Navy ships also established hospital cum facilities to serve the humanity wherein hundreds of patients have been given various medical treatments including routine check-ups and minor surgeries. Moreover, Pakistan Navy has also grasped the chance of enlightening people through these visits about the atrocities being committed by the Indian occupying forces in Indian held Kashmir after rebutting Article 370. Therefore, the mission commander has drawn attention of the worthy dignitaries and various diplomatic officials to the Kashmir crisis during their numerous interactive sessions on-board.
It is also important to note that the regional alignments are taking place in African region.TheAfrica’s maritime significance is receiving immense importance since the regional powers interests bowed towards the region. For instance, India’s economic and commercial interests are expanding in East Africa encompassing vast areas including trade, investment, energy security and the development of naval build-up infrastructure in Seychelles. In assessing India’s Africanpolicy, however, geopolitical analysts often see New Delhi as a regional competitor to rising China in the western Indian Ocean region, choosing to focus more on its security build-up in the region.
However, in the above prevailing situation, the significance of Pakistan Navy’s initiative to visit African states has increased manifolds. The aim of these visits primarily is to focus ondiplomatic fronts to have fostering intra-regional ties with Africa.Moreover, it alsofocussed to contribute to expand threat free regional maritime environmentthrough collective approach. These initiatives are also directed to enhance the maritime trade reach in the African maritime community in accordance with the recent Pakistan’s foreign policy initiative of “Engage Africa.”
To sum up, it is clear that the maritime frontier that envelops the African continent is of the utmost importance to the world and worthy of our consideration as an arena for improved international cooperation. Hope resides in the possibility that the regional powers will perceive the abundant opportunities in Africa as a strategic opportunity rather than a challenge. Their participation could transform the African region into a globally beneficial enterprise and ultimately would be wise to opt for ‘win-win’ cooperation rather than ‘lose-lose’ confrontation.