While Pakistan’s AMAN series seeks to establish Islamabad’s credentials as a maritime player, it remains a symbolic exercise, heavily reliant on China’s participation. In contrast, the Indian Navy has redefined maritime leadership through an expansive exercise portfolio that builds trust, enhances interoperability, and promotes regional stability.

Pakistan launched the AMAN naval exercise in 2007 with the promise of promoting multilateral cooperation. The upcoming AMAN-25 in February 2025 is expected to host representatives from multiple nations, including the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). However, beneath the surface lies a series that struggles to deliver strategic value.

Participation in AMAN is often superficial, with many nations contributing only observers or token vessels, resulting in limited operational engagement. Moreover, the exercise increasingly serves as a platform for China’s strategic ambitions in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The PLAN’s dominant presence aligns with Beijing’s “String of Pearls” strategy—a network of ports and bases designed to encircle India. For Pakistan, AMAN offers little beyond showcasing its alignment with China, exposing the narrow scope of its maritime vision.

Compounding this is Pakistan’s dependence on Chinese military aid and technological support, which spotlights its inability to independently lead impactful multilateral initiatives. AMAN, therefore, remains a hollow display of multilateralism, lacking the substance required to shape meaningful outcomes.

The Indian Navy’s approach, in contrast, embodies a sophisticated and inclusive vision of maritime diplomacy. As the resident power in the IOR, India has built an enviable repertoire of exercises that address diverse security challenges and foster deep partnerships across the globe.

India’s flagship multilateral exercise, Milan, attracts over 40 nations and emphasises tactical interoperability, trust-building, and shared security objectives. Unlike AMAN, Milan features operationally rigorous scenarios, making it a cornerstone of India’s maritime engagement strategy.

Malabar, a high-profile quadrilateral exercise involving the United States, Japan, and Australia, highlights India’s commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The exercise focuses on advanced techniques such as anti-submarine warfare and carrier strike group operations, highlights India’s strategic alignment with key global powers.

India’s bilateral exercises reflect tailored strategies to strengthen ties with specific nations. Varuna, conducted with the French Navy, symbolises deep strategic collaboration, while Konkan with the UK and JIMEX with Japan enhance joint operational capabilities. Similarly, AUSINDEX with Australia strengthens ties in the Indo-Pacific, while regional drills with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Indonesia, such as SLINEX, Bongosagar, and Samudra Shakti, highlight India’s focus on regional stability.

Beyond major powers, India prioritises partnerships with smaller IOR nations through coordinated patrols (CORPATs) with Thailand, Myanmar, and Indonesia. These efforts ensure maritime domain awareness, counter-piracy operations, and capacity building, cementing India’s role as a net security provider.

The Theatre Level Operational Readiness Exercise (TROPEX) stands as a testament to the Indian Navy’s operational sophistication. By integrating the Navy, Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard, TROPEX simulates complex multi-domain scenarios, ensuring readiness for high-intensity conflicts and humanitarian missions. Its scale and scope exemplify India’s comprehensive approach to maritime security.

The stark contrast between the Indian and Pakistani navies lies in their approach to maritime strategy and execution. Pakistan’s AMAN series, despite its international participation, remains a largely symbolic effort tied to China’s strategic ambitions. The exercise reflects Pakistan’s reliance on Beijing, limiting its ability to shape regional security narratives independently.

On the other hand, the Indian Navy’s exercise portfolio reflects a balanced and inclusive vision. By engaging a diverse array of partners—from global powers to smaller coastal states—India ensures that its maritime diplomacy addresses a broad spectrum of challenges. Exercises like Milan and Malabar are not merely symbolic; they are operationally rigorous and strategically meaningful, strengthening India’s geopolitical influence.

Moreover, India’s ability to operate seamlessly across the IOR, from the Strait of Hormuz to the Malacca Strait, emphasises its unmatched reach and readiness. This comprehensive approach places India at the heart of efforts to ensure a free, open, and stable Indo-Pacific.

The comparison between the Indian and Pakistani navies reveals more than just a disparity in capability; it highlights two fundamentally different approaches to maritime diplomacy. While Pakistan’s AMAN series relies on token multilateralism and China’s support, the Indian Navy’s exercises reflect genuine leadership, fostering cooperation, trust, and stability in one of the world’s most contested regions.

As the Indo-Pacific grows strategically, India’s maritime vision offers a blueprint for effective collaboration and security. Through initiatives like Milan, Malabar, and TROPEX, the Indian Navy sets the gold standard for maritime diplomacy, ensuring peace and stability in the region and beyond. This is not merely maritime leadership—it demonstrates how a nation’s navy can shape the future of regional security through foresight, inclusivity, and operational excellence. (IPA Service)