Watch: 'India Zindabad' Chants By 23-Member Pak Crew After Navy Executes Daring Anti-Piracy Rescue

The resounding chants of “India Zindabad” from Pakistani sailors reverberated through the Indian Ocean Region as the Navy executed a daring anti-piracy operation this week, rescuing a hijacked Iranian fishing vessel and its 23-member Pakistani crew at sea.

The Indian Navy on Friday rescued the hijacked Iranian fishing vessel and its crew, after more than 12 hours of “intense coercive tactical measures” as part of the anti-piracy operation. The fishing vessel at the time of the incident was approximately 90 nm southwest of the Yemeni island of Socotra, which is in the northwest Indian Ocean near the Gulf of Aden.

‘Thankful to the Indian Navy’

On Saturday, the Indian Navy said the nine surrendered pirates are being brought to India for further legal action under the Maritime Anti-Piracy Act, 2022. “The crew, comprising 23 Pakistani nationals, were given a thorough medical checkup before clearing the boat to continue with her fishing activities,” according to a statement shared by the Navy’s spokesperson.

The hijacked vessel was intercepted on Thursday, the Navy said on Friday. “INS Sumedha intercepted FV ‘Al Kambar’ during the early hours of Friday and was joined subsequently by the guided missile frigate INS Trishul,” it said. “After more than 12 hours of intense coercive tactical measures as per the SOPs, the pirates on board the hijacked fishing vessel were forced to surrender. The crew, comprising 23 Pakistani nationals, have been safely rescued,” the Indian Navy has added.

“I am Amir Khan, master of this vessel. We were hijacked while coming from Iranian waters. The Indian Navy worked tirelessly overnight to help us get free. We are thankful to the Indian Navy, India Zindabad,” said the captain of the small vessel. The Indian Navy said it remains committed to ensuring maritime security in the region and the safety of seafarers, “irrespective of the nationalities”.

‘Irrespective of the nationalities’

The fresh anti-piracy action by the Indian Navy further cements its role as the first responder that the naval force seeks to play in the Indian Ocean Region. The action comes two weeks after it had rescued another vessel ‘Ruen’ and 17 hostages and captured 35 armed pirates in a nearly 40-hour dramatic mid-sea operation. Firm actions by the Indian Navy had resulted in the surrender of the pirate ship ex-MV Ruen on March 16, Navy officials had said.

The Navy had seized the former Maltese-flagged vessel in the operation around 2,600 km from the Indian coast which experts said was the first such successful takeover of a cargo ship from the Somali pirates in the last seven years. In the projection of India’s growing maritime power, the Navy executed the operation on March 16 ending a three-month hijacking of the bulk carrier with the deployment of its warship INS Kolkata, long-endurance Sea Guardian drones, P-8I surveillance aircraft and airdropping of elite MARCOS commandos from a C-17 plane.

INS Kolkata, carrying 35 pirates who were apprehended in an operation off the coast of Somalia, reached Mumbai on March 23. These pirates were then handed over to the Mumbai police for further legal action. The Indian Navy will take “affirmative action” to ensure a safer and more secure Indian Ocean Region, its chief Admiral R Hari Kumar had said on March 23 while citing the anti-piracy and other maritime security operations undertaken by the naval force in the preceding 100 days under ‘Op Sankalp’. The Navy has undertaken anti-piracy, anti-missiles and anti-drones operations; 110 lives — 45 Indians and 65 foreign nationals — have been saved during ‘Op Sankalp’ in those 100 days.

(With agency inputs)