World

Yemen turmoil: Pakistani aircraft carrying rescued Indians reaches New Delhi

The Indian nationals reached Karachi Port along with 146 Pakistanis from Yemen

Web Desk April 08, 2015

PHOTO: AFP

A special aircraft, carrying 11 Indian evacuees from Yemen, reached New Delhi from Karachi, Express News reported on Wednesday.

India on Tuesday accepted Pakistan’s offer to transport Indian nationals back home who reached Karachi Port along with 146 Pakistanis from Yemen.

Read: Promise delivered: Special flight to take rescued Indians to Delhi

Pakistan’s High Commissioner to New Delhi Abdul Basit in a twitter message had said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had offered a special aircraft to take the 11 Indians from Pakistan to India.

Read: 11 Indians among those rescued by Pakistan from Yemen

Shortly after the offer was conveyed by the mission to the Indian government, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs India, Syed Akbaruddin took to Twitter to confirm that India had accepted Pakistan’s offer.

“India accepts Pakistan’s offer to fly back from Karachi by special plane 11 Indians evacuated by Pakistani naval ship from Yemen,” he tweeted on Tuesday.

COMMENTS (13)

Tazia | 9 years ago | Reply @Humanitarian @ insan The headline of news says special plane not a commercial flight. Insan I have absolutely no negative feeling for your great country and favour a peaceful neighbours. My only concern was use of PIA plane for "special gesture" at the time when airline is facing shortage and flights gets cancelled because of non availablity of aircraft. If we had emirates airline with 300+ aeroplanes and almost free fuel, we can afford this luxury. I do acknowledge India's noble gesture but how these citizens reached Pakistan ? Definitely not on special Plane flown to Karachi.

Insan | 9 years ago | Reply @tazia I read your interesting exchange with Humanitarian, and thought you might like to read this story splashed across the world yesterday: http://www.niticentral.com/2015/04/07/india-bails-america-yemen-309158.html Go right to the bottom of the story where Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj talks about Pakistanis rescued from Yemen. It's a nice feeling to accept and respect each other. I do hope that India and Pakistan, someday, live in peace and harmony. In fact, many Pakistanis I know in Dubai are very friendly and hospitable, and have invited me to watch Bollywood films at their home. It's a small display of courtesy and bonhomie. Some Pakistani friends even dream that India and Pakistan should reunite and become one country - as East and West Germany did. Will this ever happen? I have no answer but let's hope we live in peace and harmony. Keep the devils in your country inside your closet, just as we are trying to do. If people are strong and know the difference between right and wrong, between fact and fiction, then no leader can misguide them. Our media, fiercely independent, realizes the advantages of a democracy and is very critical of our leaders. It truly plays a watchdog role as far as accountability by our leaders is concerned.

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Humanitarian | 9 years ago | Reply @tazia: Did not mean to step on anyone's toes but you need to just do a Google search by using the search words "India rescue ship in Yemen" and you will get access to stories in the international media. As for your contention to "save" money, you would have, probably, ended spending more if you had first brought these 11 Indian nations to Islamabad or Karachi, then transported them on the land route to the crossing point at the borders. This process is seen as cumbersome by the government, both in terms of costs and logistics. Besides, the Indians were flown on commercial flights of PIA planes which do fly to places like Delhi or Mumbai, thus making it easier for the authorities to organize the transportation. Also think in terms of reducing the untold stress for the suffering civilians involved in this upheaval: they are anxious and eager to get home as quickly as possible. There is absolutely no negative sentiment for Pakistan in what I say. I was just enquiring why Pakistani media loves to flesh out negative sentiments about India while blatantly ignoring the good things that India and Indians are capable of doing. Is that part of a scheme to keep the brainwashed common man in Pakistan in the dark? If that is indeed the case, then there is no objectivity and freedom of press in Pakistan which is known (check studies by international media bodies) to control and use the media for its propaganda. In contrast, the vituperative Indian media, which can be highly critical of the Indian Government on issues, has widely reported Pakistan's help in bringing the 11 Indians home and Prime Minister Modi has personally thanked Mr. Nawaz Sharif for this gesture. Just ponder on my words. It's good to exchange views with intelligent people like you; we can learn from each other. I wish you and your country well.

tazia | 9 years ago | Reply @Humanitarian: If you read our comments correctly, the objection is not on their resque from Yemen. We are questioning the logic of sending them from Pakistan to India on a PIA special flight ? There were other economical options as well... send them by normal commercial flight, by road through lahore, by ship to mumbai etc etc. Btw your comment "This has, conspicuously, not been reported by the Pakistani press but the media of almost the entire world has carried this report".... doesnt seem logical, i have not seen this news item in world media. Even if this is true, how did these resqued citizens reach pakistan definitely not through special Air India flight ???? Yet again, you negative sentiments for Pakistan and Pakistan media :(

MK | 9 years ago | Reply Shiv sena will probably protest at this. Shining India, Vibrant India, shining.

Parvez | 9 years ago | Reply .....but then Nawaz Sharif is a ruler from the Mogul Dynasty and making such gestures comes naturally to him.

Naz | 9 years ago | Reply Indian Navy has for many days sent ships to rescue Indians and other foreign nationals, including Pakistani nationals. Both countries are helping each other.

Humanitarian | 9 years ago | Reply @tazia: @observer @Malatesh @BOL In case you guys don't know - and before you keep frothing at the mouth over "rescuing" Indians - you ought to know that India has also rescued Pakistani nationals trapped in the Yemen conflict. Some 26 countries, including the USA, France, China and others (including Pakistan) requested India to help transport their nationals out of the crisis area. This has, conspicuously, not been reported by the Pakistani press but the media of almost the entire world has carried this report. As you know, India deployed a large rescue ship to transport not only its nationals but also other nationalities. India has also used its own aircraft, personally supervised by the External Affairs Minister of State, V.K. Singh, to transport its own nationals. In times of acute crisis and where no other option is available, it is a humanitarian gesture to help civilians get out of conflict zones. Any civilized country would - and should - do that. Unless, you four are among the large lot of Pakistanis whose myopic vision precludes such gestures.

Bobb Mack | 9 years ago | Reply Even the Indian would feel it made very little sense and could be forgiven for being suspicious about Pak Agenda. Not very impressive way if the purpose was to show goodwill. They were only 11 in number and would be more than happy if they were flown from Karachi to Lahore and then transported to Wagah border.

BOL | 9 years ago | Reply Cant understand the illogical logic "India accepts Pakistan request of sending its national to india" One Pakistan has done good by bringing along these stranded indians to safety and then it also requests the Indians to send them home on its own aircraft??? It should have been the other way round...

Malatesh | 9 years ago | Reply Why special airplane for only 11 passengers? They should have sent them by train or bus route. Its just showoff. Anyways, thanks to Pakistan for rescuing 11 Indians.

oBSERVER | 9 years ago | Reply Why this special treatment and why not to all? Nawaz is known to misuse public funds. His own ADC narrated his this habit on TV. No wonder he took his son on official visit to Modiland. Business first.

tazia | 9 years ago | Reply When our airline is facing shortage of aeroplanes, expensive fuel cost etc what was the need of sending them on tax payers money or Mr Nawaz sharif is paying for the trip from his pocket ? Why not india take responsiblity of their own citizens and send Air India flight or they have security risk flying to KHI ?? .

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