PMSA rescues six Indian fishermen at sea

Indian Coast Guard appreciates humanitarian gesture

KARACHI:

A ship of the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) has rescued six Indian fishermen who were drowning close to the international maritime boundary line between the two countries.

According to a statement issued on Friday, the PMSA ship was patrolling in the eastern maritime region and found six Indian fishermen close to international waters. A rescue operation was launched immediately and all crew members of the Indian fishing boat were safely recovered. Later, the Indian fishermen reported that their boat sank as a result of an accident and they drifted towards Pakistani waters.

The PMSA ship provided the fishermen medical aid and food thus helping to stabilize their physical condition. Later, the fishermen were handed over to an Indian Coast Guard ship operating in the area. The humanitarian gesture of the PMSA ship was appreciated by the fishermen as well as the Indian Coast Guard.

The PMSA has always been at the forefront in saving lives at sea without any distinctions, according to the statement. The rescue of the Indian fishermen is a manifestation of this resolve.

Unlike land, the maritime border is determined by coordinates of longitude and latitude. Fishermen from both sides, fishing in vessels with no navigational tools, often find themselves on the wrong side.

Moreover, the Sir Creek area, where Sindh borders with India's Gujarat remains a disputed territory and most of the maritime trespassing cases are reported from here.