WNAM REPORT: The National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA) hosted the International Maritime Symposium 2026 (IMS-26) comprising of two sessions at Bahria University, Islamabad, under the theme “Eroding Rules-Based International Order at Sea and Maritime Security Paradigm 2.0.” Diplomats, senior civil and military leadership, policymakers and national and international experts deliberated on emerging maritime challenges and the evolving global maritime order.
Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, graced the first session, covering “Geopolitics of Global Commons International Order at Sea,” as Chief Guest. Discussions addressed the rules-based maritime order, competition over ocean resources, strategic choke points, emerging technologies, maritime stability and freedom of navigation. Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Mr. Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, graced the second session, covering “Pakistan’s Maritime Future: Maritime Security, Ocean Governance and Blue Economy,” which examined Indian Ocean security, AI and autonomous capabilities, port resilience, sustainable governance and Pakistan’s Blue Economy potential.
On the occasion, CNS reaffirmed Pakistan Navy’s commitment to upholding a rules-based maritime order, securing vital sea lines of communication and promoting regional stability through international cooperation. He expressed confidence that IMS-26 would foster meaningful dialogue and actionable strategies for enhanced maritime security, effective ocean governance and a secure, sustainable and lawful maritime order.
Distinguished speakers at IMS-26 dilated upon vulnerabilities of sea lines of communication, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb, and threats from cyber warfare, autonomous systems, disruptive technologies and unregulated resource extraction. Participants reaffirmed the importance of international maritime law, regional cooperation and freedom of navigation, while acknowledging Pakistan Navy’s multinational maritime security contributions, Pakistan’s maritime potential and Gwadar’s role as a regional connectivity hub.
Earlier, welcoming the participants, President NIMA, Rear Admiral Javaid Iqbal (Retd) HI(M), underscored growing geopolitical and technological threats, advocating stronger international cooperation, ocean governance and reforms to maritime legal frameworks, including UNCLOS.
Keynote speakers of the symposium included former CJCSC General Zubair Mahmood Hayat (Retd) and Ambassador Sardar Masood Khan. Other speakers included R/Adm Staff Abdullah Jaber AlZaidi (Saudi Arabia), V/Adm Datuk Yusne bin Hj Mokhtar (Chief Executive MiDAS), Dr. Barbara Stepien (Chair of PILFL&A, JU, Poland), Dr. Mustafa Baskara (CEO DEHUKAM, Turkiye), R/Adm Sohail Ahmad Azmie(Commandant PN War College), R/Adm M Sohail Arshad (CEO MTSS), R/Adm Shahid Ahmed (Chairman KPT), Prof. Dr. Huma Baqai (Rector MiTE), Dr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal (Vice Chancellor QAU), Dr. Muhammad Nadeem Javaid (Vice Chancellor PIDE) and Advocate Ahmer Bilal Soofi.
IMS-26 concluded by emphasizing practical, forward-looking strategies for stronger international cooperation, regional stability and a secure, sustainable, rules-based maritime order.
