Role of Maritime Strategy in National Security - a case study of Gawadar

Abstract

Pakistan is a country blessed with a long coastline, a potentially resource rich EEZ and continental shelf. The country is strategically located at the cross-roads of Central Asia, South Asia, Middle East and China, at the mouth of the Persian Gulf. However, despite all the ingredients of a maritime power, Pakistan’s maritime sector has remained neglected. The mercantile sector has declined since the 70s; ship building and ship breaking industries are in poor state. Fishing, that provides sustenance to a large coastal population, has failed to keep pace with modernization. There has been no progress in the offshore exploration, and the country lacks capability to explore and exploit seabed resources. Throughout its existence, Pakistan has depended entirely on a single port complex for economic and security purposes. Realizing the importance of additional/ alternative ports the country decided to build two ports on the thus far neglected Makran coast- a naval port at Ormara and a commercial port at Gwadar. Gwadar, a natural deep water port, is conceived as a regional hub port, providing transit access to Central Asia, Russia and China, and lending trans-shipment facilities to regional ports. However, due to its strategic location astride the energy jugular of the world, it has raised many an eyebrows. In Pakistan’s perspective Gwadar is extremely important from security as well as economic point of view. For a country like Pakistan with such a vast coast and geo-strategic location, it is imperative to have a vibrant and effective maritime strategy, to benefit from its maritime potential. Pakistan needs to revamp its maritime sector and Gwadar is just the right catalyst to provide the foundation, as well as the stimulus. With right planning and execution, the port should help strengthen all the elements of maritime power and contribute significantly in national security and prosperity.