Indian Navy Rescues 23 Pakistani Nationals From Hijacked Iranian Fishing Vessel In Arabian Sea

The Indian Navy has successfully rescued at least 23 Pakistani nationals from armed pirates in an over 12-hour-long anti-piracy operation in the Arabian Sea. “After more than 12 hrs of intense coercive tactical measures as per the SOPs, the pirates on board the hijacked FV were forced to surrender. The crew, comprising 23 Pakistani nationals, have been safely rescued,” the Indian Navy said in a statement. 

#INSSumedha intercepted FV Al-Kambar during early hours of #29Mar 24 & was joined subsequently by the guided missile frigate #INSTrishul.

After more than 12 hrs of intense coercive tactical measures as per the SOPs, the pirates on board the hijacked FV were forced to surrender.… https://t.co/2q3Ihgk1jn pic.twitter.com/E2gtTDHVKu

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) March 29, 2024

“Indian Naval specialist teams are presently undertaking thorough sanitisation & seaworthiness checks of the FV to escort her to a safe area for resuming normal fishing activities,” the statement further added. 

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Indian Navy vessel INS Sumedha on March 29 intercepted the Iranian fishing vessel, Al-Kambar in the early hours following a distress call, and was later joined by the guided missile frigate INS Trishul.

The vessel was reportedly around 90 nautical miles southwest of Socotra, a Yemeni island in the Indian Ocean when nine armed pirates reportedly boarded it. This is the second time this month that the Indian Navy completed an anti-piracy operation without any bloodshed. 

Earlier this month, the Indian Navy coerced over 30 Somalian pirates to surrender and rescued the crew without any firefight or bloodshed. The Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata safely evacuated 17 crew members from the vessel without any injuries.