NEW DELHI: The
Indian Navy
on Wednesday shared a video of the
rescue operation
of an
Iranian-flagged fishing vessel
with 19
Pakistani crew members
hijacked by
Somali pirates
.
In the video, Pakistani-Iranian crew expressed gratitude and explained how pirates dumped their weapons after seeing the Indian Navy.
"Indian Navy remains committed to Maritime Security in the Indian Ocean Region, in keeping with @PMOIndia 's vision of Sagar.
Indian Naval warships mission deployed in the IOR are ensuring security against all maritime threats, keeping our seas safe for mariners of all nationalities," the Navy said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Indian warship INS Sumitra rescued hijacked Iranian-flagged fishing vessel Al Naeemi and her 19-member Pakistani crew on the east coast of Somalia late on Monday night, thwarting the second such piracy within 36 hours, even as the Indian Navy also helped Seychelles and Sri Lanka intercept a third hijacked vessel in the region.
Referring to the Navy’s swift action in rescuing several merchant vessels hijacked by pirates or hit by drone attacks in recent days, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said India's “greater capability, our own interest and reputation today warrant that we actually help in difficult situations” in the region.
India has independently deployed an unprecedented 10-12 frontline warships in the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden, amid the escalating attacks by Houthi rebels of Yemen and Somali pirates that have disrupted maritime trade between Europe and Asia over the last few months.
INS Sumitra, a 2,200-tonne offshore patrol vessel deployed for anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, had intercepted hijacked Iranian-flagged fishing vessel Iman and ensured the safe release of her 17-member Iranian crew last week.
English (US) ·