Onboard special aircraft to Islamabad, June 23 (ANI): Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, who is visiting Islamabad for two days for talks with her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir, said on Thursday that India is looking forward to the return of six Indian sailors of the M.V. Suez, who had recently been freed by Somali pirates after payment of a ransom.
Speaking to mediapersons onboard a special aircraft taking her to the Pakistan capital, Rao said: "We look forward to see our boys home. The sailors are landing in Karachi. Our counsellor, Suhel Aijaz Khan, is in Karachi to expedite the process."
The M V Suez's 22-member crew, including six Indians, will reach Karachi on Thursday. The crew who were transferred to Pakistani naval ship PNS Zulfiqar from PNS Babar were to reach Karachi earlier, but got delayed due to bad weather in the region.
The crew, including the six Indians, four Pakistanis, 11 Egyptians and a Sri Lankan, were taken on board the PNS Babar after the M V Suez ran out of fuel and started sinking.
The Pakistan Navy launched the Operation Umeed-e-Nuh (New Hope) to rescue the crew after M V Suez captain Wasi Hasan requested the evacuation of his crew to save their lives.
On June 17, the ship's fuel was exhausted while it was 100 nautical miles short of the Omani port of Salalah.
Though a tug was arranged for towing the vessel to Salalah, the tug too developed a defect and the towing plan was abandoned.
India and Pakistan have traded angry charges over an incident involving their warships that were sent to help the M V Suez.
Pakistan alleged that the Indian warship INS Godavari brushed against the PNS Babar.
India denied the allegation and said the PNS Babar was responsible for the incident as it carried out dangerous manoeuvres. By Smita Prakash (ANI)
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