Indian Navy Rescues Pakistani Sailors From Somali Pirates

The Indian Navy warship INS Sumitra rescued 19 Pakistani sailors after pirates hijacked their fishing vessel off the east coast of Somalia on Monday.

"Having thwarted the Piracy attempt on FV Iman, the warship has carried out another successful anti-piracy op off the East Coast of Somalia, rescuing Fishing Vessel Al Naeemi and her Crew (19 Pakistani Nationals) from 11 Somali Pirates," a statement from the Indian Navy said.

After rescuing MV Iman, INS Sumitra was again pressed into action to locate and intercept another Iranian-flagged FV which had been boarded by pirates and took the crew as hostages.

"Responding swiftly to the developing situation Sumitra intercepted the FV on PM 29 Jan 24 & through coercive posturing & effective deployment of her integral helo & boats compelled the safe release of the crew and the vessel. This rescue of hijacked Vessels, through swift, persistent and relentless efforts by Mission Deployed #IndianNavy warship in the Southern Arabian Sea approx 850 nm West of Kochi, also prevents misuse of Fishing Vessels as Mother Ships for further acts of Piracy on Merchant Vessels," the statement added.

The warship followed standard operating procedures (SOPs) to pressure pirates into safely releasing the crew and the boat. It successfully secured the release of all 19 crew members and the vessel. Following this, the ship conducted a confirmatory boarding to ensure the well-being of the crew held captive by Somali pirates.

"INS Sumitra, over the course of less than 36 hours, through swift, persistent and relentless efforts has rescued two hijacked Fishing Vessels along with 36 Crew (17 Iranian and 19 Pakistani) in Southern Arabian Sea approximately 850 nm West of Kochi, and prevented misuse of these Fishing Vessels as Mother Ships for further acts of Piracy on Merchant Vessels," Navy said in a statement.

It may be recalled that the Indian Navy's mission-deployed guided missile destroyer, INS Visakhapatnam, on January 18 following a distress call from the Marshall Island-flagged MV Genco Picardy after a drone attack on the night of January 17.

INS Visakhapatnam, currently on an anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden, promptly acknowledged the distress call. The destroyer intercepted the vessels at midnight on January 18, 2024, to provide immediate assistance.

Responding swiftly to a distress call, INS Visakhapatnam, engaged in an anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden, intercepted the vessels at midnight on January 18, 2024, to offer immediate assistance.