Pakistan Navy rescues 19, including eight Iranians, after vessel breaks down off Gwadar

Fishing vessel suffered from engine failure; Navy towed the vessel towards shore despite rough conditions

The Pakistan Navy on Thursday successfully rescued a fishing vessel carrying 19 crew members, including eight Iranians, after it became stranded about 120 nautical miles south of Gwadar following an engine failure, safely bringing all those onboard to shore despite adverse monsoon conditions in the North Arabian Sea.

In a post on X, Pakistan Navy Director General Public Relations (DGPR) said the fishing vessel AL JALALI had become stranded after suffering an engine failure. The rescue operation, coordinated through the Joint Maritime Information Coordination Centre (JMICC), ensured the safety of all 19 crew members, including 11 Pakistanis and eight Iranians.

Pakistan Navy successfully rescued fishing vessel AL JALALI, stranded about 120 NM south of Gwadar after engine failure. The rescue operation, coordinated through JMICC, ensured the safety of all 19 crew members, including 11 Pakistanis and 8 Iranians. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/RWg5yqTlUj

— DGPR (Navy) (@dgprPaknavy) July 30, 2026

The Navy said PNS Taimur provided the stranded crew with food, drinking water and medical assistance before safely towing the vessel towards shore despite rough monsoon conditions.

PNS TAIMUR provided food, drinking water & medical assistance before safely towing the vessel towards shore despite adverse monsoon conditions in the North Arabian Sea. Operation underscores PN’s readiness to safeguard lives at sea and respond swiftly to maritime emergencies. 2/2 pic.twitter.com/NmAfGIVUq2

— DGPR (Navy) (@dgprPaknavy) July 30, 2026

The DGPR said the operation "underscores Pakistan Navy's readiness to safeguard lives at sea and respond swiftly to maritime emergencies."

In a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif later commended the Pakistan Navy for the operation and praised the officers and sailors involved in the rescue.

The prime minister said the Navy personnel provided the stranded fishermen with "food, drinking water and medical assistance," describing it as "a practical demonstration of our armed forces' humanitarian spirit and professional training."

Read: Pakistan secures release of sailors from US-seized ships

He added that "this successful rescue operation reflects the Pakistan Navy's commitment and constant readiness to protect human lives at sea."

President Asif Ali Zardari also paid tribute to the Pakistan Navy in a post on X, saying the timely rescue of Pakistani and Iranian citizens was "a practical manifestation of the Pakistan Navy's high professional capabilities and humanitarian spirit."

صدرِ مملکت آصف علی زرداری کا شمالی بحیرۂ عرب میں پھنسے ماہی گیروں کو بحفاظت ریسکیو کرنے پر پاک بحریہ کو خراجِ تحسین۔

بروقت کارروائی کے ذریعے پاکستانی اور ایرانی شہریوں کو بحفاظت ریسکیو کرنا پاک بحریہ کی اعلیٰ پیشہ ورانہ صلاحیتوں اور انسانی ہمدردی کا عملی مظہر ہے: صدرِ مملکت…

— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) July 30, 2026

The president added that the protection of human lives at sea "demonstrates the Pakistan Navy's strong commitment to its national and international responsibilities."

The rescue comes amid a series of maritime assistance and repatriation efforts involving Pakistani authorities in recent months. On June 17, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan was "pleased to facilitate the repatriation of 30 Iranian nationals," including eight Iranian fishermen rescued at sea by the British vessel MMA Valour and 22 Iranian crew members from the vessel Lenore/Davina, which had recently been interdicted by US authorities.

Earlier, on May 15, Pakistan announced the successful repatriation of 11 Pakistani nationals and 20 Iranian citizens who had been aboard vessels seized by the United States in international waters. Earlier that month, Islamabad had also facilitated the return of 22 Iranian crew members from the Iranian container vessel MV Touska, which had been seized by US forces in the Gulf of Oman. Pakistani officials described the move as a "confidence-building measure" between Washington and Tehran.