This handout photograph released by The Indian Ministry of Defence on January 2, 2015, is said to show a burning vessel off the coast of the western Indian state of Gujarat in the Arabian Sea early on January 1, 2015. PHOTO: AFP
All four people on board the vessel from near Karachi are believed to have been killed in the dramatic episode in the Arabian Sea on New Year's Eve, according to India's defence ministry.
Indian Coast Guard ships and aircraft tried to intercept the boat near the maritime border with Pakistan, around 365 kilometres (225 miles) from the coastal state of Gujarat, following an intelligence tip-off.
"However, the boat increased speed and tried to escape away from the Indian side of maritime boundary. The hot pursuit continued for nearly one hour," a defence ministry statement added.
Although the boat did eventually stop after warning shots were fired, the four-man crew then hid themselves below deck before setting the boat on fire which triggered a large explosion.
"Due to darkness, bad weather and strong winds, the boat and persons on board could not be saved or recovered. The boat burnt and sank in the same position, in early hours of January 1," said the statement.
Although the defence ministry would only say that the crew were planning "some illicit transaction", it also stated that the boat was carrying explosives.
The incident has evoked memories of the 2008 Mumbai attacks when militants managed to sneak into India's financial capital by sea and then began a 60-hour siege of India's economic capital that left 166 people dead.
India reacted furiously last month to a Pakistan’s decision to grant bail to the alleged mastermind of the Mumbai attacks, although he has since been detained again.
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Pakistani and Indian fishermen get regularly arrested by authorities for mistakenly straying into each others waters. They often end up in each others jails. Arrested prisoners are regularly swapped also. But when did India kill Pakistan fishermen, or which Pakistani fishermen blew themselves up when caught by Indian authorities? Has any Pakistani fishermen's family come forward to claim that their family members have been killed in the recent incident. Rest assured they will never come forward. Interestingly the issue is hot in India, whereas in Pakistan it has been quietly taken off the media. Pursuing it would have only opened up can of worms.
Pakistan still not changing.. Indian army wanted to catch the boat for more information.. but the terrorists blew themselves.. Instead of learning lessons and changing from the recent School incident Pakistan is still trying to put false stories and color their ignorance..
once bitten twice shy. any illegal boat coming into territorial waters of india from napak pakistan must be blown off. who knows what kind of snakes they are carrying.
LOL.........Terrorist gone at the bottom of sea to meet Bin Laden
Many of the Indians like me do not understand why normal public of Pakistan blames India for everything. Be it cross border firings, mumbai attack, peshawar attack or now this boat issue. First thing, we are not coward that we will do anything in ambush. Secondly we will not kill any innocent person intentionally even the person is from Pakistan. Ask your fellow Pakistanis who have ever got a chance to visit India, a, sure they would have received a warm welcome. Of course there are politicians on each side who invoke general public to ensure their vote banks. But as an Indian I truly believe that any of us have true hatred for Pakistanis. Its just spur of an event after which few vent their ire on social media, but in general we do not hate Pakistanis.
A sane Indian voice - check other links embedded within. http://blogs.rediff.com/mkbhadrakumar/2015/01/03/mystery-of-the-pak-fishing-boat/
@ABC: you should go physically and tell Pakistan govt
Indians Please ask your coast guard to do proper research before blaming Pakistan.
To all the Indians, Read this http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/little-evidence-of-terror-link-may-have-been-petty-smugglers/
Indian newspaper has indicated that the 'terrorist' boat was actually carrying liqour and diesel smugglers. Lol, If only Indian Defense Ministry had the guts to do proper research before blaming Pakistan...
Nice try India, it seems that you don't want Pakistan to eliminate the Taliban. First the unprovoked border skirmishes and now this, while Pakistan and rest of the world are focused on operation against Taliban you seem to be bent on creating nuisance. At least concoct a believable story, this one seems like a joke. Showing the picture of a burning boat, wow, so convenient!
@Wajih ud Din: Nice try for an Indian to act like a Pakistani. But better luck next time.
@Prashanth:
Do you think we are foolish to believe India's concocted story? India has several boats of Pakistani fishermen in its custody and Indian Navy might have had blown up one of them. Where are the dead bodies? Why did it take the Indian Navy more than an hour to chase the small boat? Why don't you try asking these logical questions to Indian authorities?
Osama Bin Laden is not in Pakistan!!!! Mullah Omar?!!! Who is that? Ayman al- Zawahiri?!!! Never heard of him!!!! Terrorism? Jews and the Hindus!!!*!@!!! Dawood Ibrahim in Karachi!?!! Check with India - he is an Indian national!
Bollywood fables!
@wb: We know how inefficient Indian Navy is and its inefficiency was proved in the MV Suez debacle. Who knows maybe the Indian Navy set ablaze an empty boat and claimed that it carried Pakistani fishermen. India will never allow Pakistan to investigate because india will never want the true facts to come out in the open. Blaming Pakistan has always been India's favorite hobby. This boat story is nothing but a tactic to divert attention from the BSF killing of Pakistani soldiers at the border. India is getting nervous because Pakistan is going to formulate a strategy which will drive away elements that carry out activities in Pakistan with India's support.
I am an Indian. Consider these points: 1. "Fishermen" carrying kilos of explosives on their boat.... sounds insane! 2. "Whether explosives believed to be on board the fishing boat were intended for use in a possible attack..." Are you kidding? Explosives are used for attacking humans not fishes!! 3. Indian media is alleging that a terror threat was imminent. Why not??? Do you think, in the midnight, the Pakistani men on a boat carrying explosives were planning to celebrate the New year in India??? Why are you blaming Indian media for reaching a logical conclusion?
@Divyaa Rohatgi:
Behna, did you allow Pakistan to question Kasab? Nahi na, Then how can we believe your story? Don't act like typical Indian propaganda machine.
@Ratnesh: Maybe Indian Navy was trying to test its weapon system.
Well done India, I am from Pakistan. You are really doing a very good job. Pakistan sponsors terrorism and needs punishment. Pakistan kills its own people by creating Taliban, by harboring militants from all across the world. Pakistan kidnaps its own people by simply displacing them without any trial any court. Regards to India, Good Luck
@Pashtun:
If you are so much in love with your soldiers, then why did Pakistan disown their bodies during Kargil war?!
@Another Pakistani:
"This Indian story is nothing but an attempt to divert attention from BSF killing Pakistani soldiers on the border."
Why should India divert attention? India is quite content with the response we gave for killing our one BSF.
Four for one should be the rule from now onwards. You kill one of us, we'll kill four of you.
Sorry, I have no love for Pakistanis, all love exploded on 26/11.
@Rashid: India has a network of micro remote sensing satellites focused on The Moth-Eaten Most Holy Nation. We are getting to know you better ... a lot better. Bhaijaan. Just let RAW know, when you need inputs on controlling the 'Bad Taliban'. Jai Hind!
@Pashtun: Citizen Ajmal Kasab, Bhaijaan?! You are a really deluded person. The CEO of PakPropaganda Inc, likely.
I think India is getting jittery because Pakistan is formulating strategy to eliminate India's 'strategic' assets' which carry out terrorist activities in Pakistan.
Another Mumbai-style attack was averted. No wonder that cross-border firing also started at about the same time as a diversion. In a way, I am hoping that another such event happens so other we can settle this once and for all.
@Pashtun - "Does any one believe the Indian version? I personally do not."
Ok... we'll believe the Pakistani version which would be as authentic as your "OBL not in Pakistan" denial...
@Abdul Malik: Did you see OBL's dead body?
This Indian story is nothing but an attempt to divert attention from BSF killing Pakistani soldiers on the border.
Wonder why Pakistani fishermen go fishing with explosives?
@David Salmon:
"Applying Occam’s Razor to the few details, I would guess it most likely that the ship’s engine, laboring hard, sprang a fuel leak, which led to the fire and explosion. Why would fishermen try to escape in the darkness? To avoid incarceration for months until repatriated, and to avoid loss of their boat, which aren’t returned to the fishermen by either country afaik. Why did they go below? To avoid being shot at and/or to fight the fire. Complex explanations like a terrorist attack are unnecessary and lack persuasive evidence, imho. We shall see."
Fantastic, exactly fantastic. So, a fisherman would rather die than get arrested. Wait a minute!
Let me improve upon my statement. Applying your Occam's Razor theory, FOUR fishermen killed themselves instead of getting arrested.
Also, applying your great brain, isn't it an extraordinary coincidence that the boat which was being intercepted had an oil leak?
Wait a minute! What about the radiio conversation that our intelligence officials overheard about dumping a package at Porbandar?
Does your Occam's razor explain that?
Here's my question to Pakistanis:
If India blew up innocent fishermen from Pakistan, then why hasn't your Home Office summoned Indian ambassador to your office in Islamabad and protested?
Doesn't Pakistani government value your fishermen's life?
Why there has not been any protest, official statement from Nawaz Sharif government even after almost 24 hours of the incident.
If Indian fishermen were blown up by Pakistan, India would have been turned it into a serious international incidence. We would have informed multiple international forums, we would have made your ambassador in New Delhi to sit down in Rajnath Singh's office and hear a mouthful.
We care about our people.
So, here's the question Pakistanis must ask your own government: Why are you silent?
A small boat like that, what was it doing International waters? Were they planning to catch a whale? Fishermen are usually people who are handed over if proven innocent by India, by Pakistan, even Sri Lanka releases them. Well they had explosives for sure, for the fire is within the boat. I am sure if they were fishernen, they would have surrendered and not bombed themselves like in countless previous occasions.
@haq: Yeah lies by India just like Osama and Dawood not in Pakistan.
Your days are numbered, like it or not. Deny everything, including the existence of Bin Ladin in your country the US found him and killed him. We all know the truth and your time is up. We will do what needs to be done to protect us and if that means the destruction of Pakistan so be it. Publish this or not I do not care, you are unable to face the truth.
This is the beginning of something lamentable. The poorest of the poor ( ie fishermen) will now die on both sides. Just y'all wait.
@Candid1:
Nonsense. Why did not Pakistan released the deal fishermen names?
Deep state is playing a dangerous game if it thinks India would be like the Hindus in its country whose women can be kidnapped and converted.
@JD: Very much a false flag operation, they can fire a incendiary round and set anything on fire. Cant believe unless it comes from an independent source. Nice try.
This on going operation by Lakhvi from Prison. A number of feedayeens have already landed., by transferring in India fishing vessels There were two boat . The second escaped to Pakistani waters in time and Indians stopped pursuing it.. However it was being tracked by satellite.
Applying Occam's Razor to the few details, I would guess it most likely that the ship's engine, laboring hard, sprang a fuel leak, which led to the fire and explosion. Why would fishermen try to escape in the darkness? To avoid incarceration for months until repatriated, and to avoid loss of their boat, which aren't returned to the fishermen by either country afaik. Why did they go below? To avoid being shot at and/or to fight the fire. Complex explanations like a terrorist attack are unnecessary and lack persuasive evidence, imho. We shall see.
India loosing ground in Afghanistan We Pakistan should be ready for war 24/7 you never know India really dragging us in war
I don't Believe the Indian Version The Pakistani Fisherman Must Have been Deliberately Killed by Indian Navy
More than half the Pakistani comment , are talking the same things that they say after every terror incidence that connects Pakistan ! National narrative deny, blame or lie ! pick ur choice,
All i can see is a burning wooden boat, no proof that its Pakistani, carrying Pakistanis or explosives, as usual a cooked up story like Mumbai attack. Pakistan Army captured Indian and Israeli weapons in swat and FATA, killed uncircumcised terrorists looking like gurkhas, killed terrorists with satanic tattoos during Peshawar air port attack, traced terrorists and baloch insurgents calls to Indian consulates in Afghanistan, but never blamed India, USA or Israel for promoting terrorism in Pakistan. I think its high time now, ISI should wake up and prove that its the best Intelligence agency of the world.
@Parvez: You need an AIS to "tell who it is". This is for protection of the Aircraft/Ship/... You don't need any AIS for radar to detect that it is there. If you throw a stone, it will show up on radar. Indians are buying from USA and Israel, gun locating radars...that work by tracking the projectile shell and calculate location of the gun that is 20-50 kms away. The shell has no AIS..and no Transponders....its just a dumb object in flight.
Indian news papers do not say anything like one hour chase. though more pics,while interpreting the boat is shown .. Indian Coast Guards definitely wanted to intercept the Pakistani boat in Indian waters to capture and interrogate to collect information why the boat was trying to flee instead of obeying orders to stop. What purpose will be served just to destroy a fishing boat.Logic does not support comments of destruction by Indian Coast guards. Definitely the boat was laden with explosives.
@American: This was a small fishing craft ( four men only ) and certainly not fitted with an automatic identification system (AIS) ......these crafts have, at best, a magnetic compass to navigate with.
.........and the truth WILL NEVER BE KNOWN.
@Rashid, you do not need transponders to detect boats. The area is small and the crafts respond to RADAR. Transponders are fitted to channel the communications. All communication sattelites have them.
If they were not terrorist why they started running, They must stop when ICG personnel were stopping they would have been inspected and released like many Pakistani fisherman released on regular basis by Indian Navy or by Indian Cost Guards.
Great Story.. Just smacked like "Bond Action".. Fishing dingy chase by Coast Guard Cutter which has speed of 30 plus knots, Surveillance Aircraft keeping the tab on Fishing Dingy... Sure the bodies could not be recovered, but milk cartoons, biscuits & Chalia of Pak brand would be recovered & Indian Media would have " A ball of time" bashing Pakistan.
Let us see how the dummy Defence Minister Khawaja responds. He can woffle within the safety of Parliament premesis. He is a coward.
There is Amit Shah, president of BJP, right hand man of Modi. Out on bail, for killing Muslims, and inciting ethnic riots violence against Muslims. Why is the murderer of Muslims given bail? The man culpable in the genocide of 2000 Muslims in Gujrat is walking free!! OR out on bail.. Rest assured the courts will find him not guilty. Guaranteed.
Both countries should develop a mutually agreed machanism to respect their sea border so that poor fisherman of both sides could not cross the border unknowingly .
Why not ask the Americans to verify the tracking of the fishing boat? And then share that with the public?
Evidence is more important than idle speculation.
@American Will you please tell the readers about the technology behind the tagging of all "floating craft that leaves Pakistani shores". It can't be like an air traffic control system as airliners are equipped with transponders that communicate with ATC. Not all shipping vessels are required to have automatic identification system (AIS). In the absence of AIS, I don't know how a satellite can "tag" a vessel and then track it.
No proof. No incriminating evidence. Just speculation.
inidan navy destroyed the ship out of fear, this story is just cover up. and salute to pak news papers they realy do get paid by someone else.
After the Mumbai massacre, India sent up specialized satellites and set up a surveillance system -- each and every vessel and floating craft that leaves Pakistani shores is tagged and tracked by Satellite at a Command Center near Delhi....just like an Aircraft Traffic Control Center.... Vigilance is the price of Security.
This is an unacceptable attack by India. Yesterday their Defense minister threatened Pakistan with collateral damage, and today they have attacked and killed poor innocent fishermen. Indian barbarism knows no bounds, and Pakistan must now retaliate and Make the indians pay just as it making its agents the Taliban pay.
Most probably Indians shot and destroyed the boat. It's a shame that this newspaper just follows whatever propaganda the Indians say.
Indian is already spreading news, here pak is involved. Funny part after hour long chase the boat STOPPED AFTER WARNING SHOTS FIRED, andthen set itself alight. N the kind of weaponary theyy are suppposed to be carrying should have blown the boat to bits. And indian reporters already wrote this newspiece showing similarities with 2008 incident. The whole atempt to build connection and nbring 2008 in spotlight again. Indian attempt to bring attention to lakhvi. Is pakistan in a position or actually interested in creating such ripples.
"The crew of a Pakistani fishing boat blew up and sank their vessel after trying to evade capture at the hands of the Indian navy in a high-speed chase at sea, officials said Friday."
Smells fishy.... a lot like the Criminals being killed in "Police Encounters" in Karachi...
What if they didn't blow themselves and were killed by Indian forces?This story seems to be a cover up to me.
I do not believe India.
Killing defenceless civillians like this has become a hallmark of the Indian Army.
PM Nawaz, we are waiting for you to ct to defend Pakistanis.
"The incident has evoked memories of the 2008 Mumbai attacks when militants managed to sneak into India’s financial capital by sea and then began a 60-hour siege of India’s economic capital that left 166 people dead."
The Indian government officials themselves are saying that was an inside job, but ET is just like another star news making up stories.
BTW Shame on Indians for shooting a boat with 4 men inside and then saying it exploded itself. I think Pakistan should not return any of the Indian terrorists entering into Pakistani waters anymore
As per the picture released by Indian defence ministry, does this look like a boat that can survive a One Hour hot pursiut against indian ships and aircraft. This reminds me of the fact of indian military killing innocent kashmiris and labelling them as terrorists to get promotions and medals.
More fodder for more mudslinging on each other.
this story cannot be digested. Indian navy must have fired and set them on ablaze and show word this picture. An inquiry should be demanded. Indians mostly lie.
False flag operation to malign Pakistan!
Blew themselves up or Indian Navy blew them into pieces in another act of projecting bravery!!?
Was it fishes or something more lethal that they were carrying, I believe the Indians!!!!, Nobody blows up their ships because of fishes. !!!! It sounds fishy!!!!
As per the pic provided by the indian defence ministry, does this even look like a boat that can evade capture in a high speed chase that lasted ONE HOUR against indian ships and aircrafts? This only reminds me of the times where indian soldiers killed innocent kashmiris to get medals and awards.
How can we trust this news as this is the Indian Government's version? Who knows may be the boat was carrying innocent fishermen and Indians blew them up.
Sound too fishy.. Things don't add up .. It look more like murder
Sounds all bull s to me. more likely Indian navy blewup the fishermen boat and fabricated this story. Just like those fake police encounters they do in gujrat.
Chalo, another Indian story to 'blame' Pakistan for terrorism, militancy, breathing, existing and so on and so forth. Have Pakistani authorities ever blown up a boat of Indian fishermen??
All evidence sank aswell....!!
Does any one believe the Indian version? I personally do not.
Having murdered our soldiers in cold blood, it now seems they are murdering our civilian fishermen.