Indian Navy rescues 23 Pakistan crew from hijacked Iranian ship

The Indian Navy has rescued an Iranian-flagged fishing boat from Somali pirates in the Arabian Sea. A total of 23 Pakistani nationals were rescued from the boat.

This was stated in a statement by the Indian Navy on Friday (March 29).

"Based on inputs on a potential piracy incident onboard an Iranian Fishing Vessel 'Al-Kambar 786' late evening on March 28, two Indian Naval ships-mission deployed in the Arabian Sea for maritime security operations-were diverted to intercept the hijacked fishing vessel," the Navy said in a statement.

"After more than 12 hours 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," it added.

Earlier this month, the Indian Navy carried out another daring operation and intercepted a ship, Ruen, sailing almost 2,600 km from the shores of the Indian Coast when pirates attacked it.

In the 40-hour rescue operation, INS Kolkata successfully forced all 35 pirates to surrender and ensured the safe evacuation of 17 crew members from the vessel without any injuries.