Investigation regarding boat seized by India under way: FO

FO says government is constantly in touch with Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi

Pakistan claimed on Thursday investigation is under way regarding a 'Pakistani' boat carrying a 200kg heroin shipment seized by Indian coast guards.

“The government is constantly in touch with our High Commission in New Delhi,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said, during a weekly Foreign Office press briefing in Islamabad.

India seized 200kg of heroin reportedly from Pakistani drug traffickers aboard a boat on the Arabian Sea, a defence official said on Tuesday, in a $15 million haul that is one of the country’s largest and comes as narcotic flows escalate from Afghanistan.

Read: India seizes 200kg heroin shipment on 'Pakistani' boat

A joint navy and coastguard operation allegedly intercepted the vessel in Indian waters on Monday, apparently headed for the western state of Gujarat, Indian navy spokesman D K Sharma said.

“Using fishing boats to smuggle heroin is a new strategy by Pakistani smugglers,” said Sharma, adding that the smugglers were using phones and GPS systems to allow trans-shipment to another boat.

Eight crew members from, reportedly hailing from Pakistan, were detained and were in police custody in Gujarat, he said.

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), a specialised police force, said the confiscation of heroin on Tuesday was one of India’s biggest recorded heroin seizures.

Read: Pakistan rejects India’s allegations about ‘so-called terror boat’: FO

The NCB this year sought cooperation from the Indian military to fight the rise in heroin smuggled from Afghanistan via Pakistan through Kashmir in the north and coastal border areas in the west.

Yemen conflict

Claiming that no country should interfere in bilateral ties of other countries, the spokesperson said the premier visit to Saudi Arabia will result in finding a solution to the Yemen crisis.

“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has gone to Saudi Arabia to hold consultations with Saudi leadership to find out an amicable solution of the issue,” she added.

Read: PM Nawaz, army chief depart for Riyadh

Welcoming Saudi Arabia’s decision to halt air strikes in Yemen, the spokesperson was hopeful that the step would help normalising the prevailing situation in Yemen and pave way for a political resolution of the issue.

Read: Pakistan welcomes end of Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen

“Pakistan welcomes Saudi decision to halt air attacks in Yemen and hoped this step will help restore peace in the area,” Aslam said.