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New Delhi: The Indian Navy said that 23 Pakistani nationals rescued from Somali pirates after a 12-hour-long operation in the Arabian Sea on Friday in which the pirates on board were forced to surrender.
On Friday, Indian Navy warship INS Sumedha intercepted Fishing Vessel Al-Kamar and was joined subsequently by the guided missile frigate INS Trishul. The dramatic rescue unfolded in the early hours of March 29, 2024, when the Indian Navy warship INS Sumedha intercepted the hijacked vessel, FV Al-Kambar, as it was being held captive by pirates.
Navy officials said that the Naval specialist teams are presently undertaking thorough sanitisation and seaworthiness checks of the FV in order to escort her to a safe area for resuming normal fishing activities. Acting swiftly, INS Sumedha was soon joined by the guided missile frigate INS Trishul to bolster the operation.
Utilising their tactical expertise and strategic coordination, Indian naval forces initiated negotiations with the pirates, compelling them to surrender without bloodshed. Earlier, based on the inputs on a potential piracy incident onboard Iranian Fishing Vessel ‘Al Kamar 786’ late evening on March 28, two Indian Naval ships, mission deployed in Arabian Sea for maritime security operations were diverted to intercept the hijacked fishing vessel.
The fishing vessel at the time of incident was approximately 90 Nm South-West of Socotra and was reported to have been boarded by nine armed pirates. The hijacked vessel was intercepted on March 29. Notably, the Indian Navy has carried out several high-octane operations against piracy attacks lately.
Indian Navy remains committed to ensuring maritime security in the region and safety of seafarers, irrespective of nationalities. This action by the Indian Navy serves as a testament to India’s resolve to combat piracy and uphold international maritime laws, the Indian Navy said in a statement.
