Suez row: 'Pak navy was asked to help'
Moments after India blamed Pakistan for the controversy surrounding the rescue operations of MV Suez, Pakistan Navy hit back saying that they were requested to help with the rescue of the sailors onboard, which includes 6 Indians. Pakistan Navy spokesperson added that their priority was to bring the sailors to safety. He also confirmed that Suez sailors have been shifted to Pakistani warship PNS Babar.
Cmdr Irfan-ul-Haq, Director General PRO, Pakistan Navy told TIMES NOW, "Master of the ship requested the Navy on humanitarian grounds to save the life of sailors onboard MV Suez. On that request the Chief of Naval staff in Oman ordered PNS Babar, which was in the vicinity to provide protection."
"In this regard an operation has been launched, to save human life is of paramount importance and that is what Pak Navy is engaged in doing at this moment. They are 22 in number and absolute importance is to save human life," he added.
Earlier, government sources told TIMES NOW that even as INS Godavari approached MV Suez, Pakistan Navy personnel onboard PNS Babar shouted anti-India slogans.
War of words has been exchanged over Pakistani warship PNS Babar violating relevant regulations on navigational safety by its "risky" manoeuvres jeopardising the safety of INS Godavari.
The Pakistani warship, which is part of the international Combined Task Force anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, has caused several problems for Indian ships in the past.
On June 17, Pakistani Foreign Office had lodged a complaint with the Indian government over the "dangerous manoeuvre" of INS Godavari as it escorted the released MV Suez to port Salalah in Oman.
According to the Pakistani foreign office, PNS Babar had been escorting MV Suez, when the Indian warship moved dangerously close to PNS Babar and both warships brushed each other almost 100 nautical miles east of Port Salalah.
The Indian navy has already been under immense domestic pressure for not sending help in time to the sailors and was beaten to it by arch rivals Pakistan in measures to get the hostages released and escorted back to port.
INS Godavari had joined up with MV-Suez on June 16 to provide an Indian escort to the ship which is carrying six Indians among 22 sailors.
The event has now snowballed into a diplomatic row as both countries lodged tit-for-tat protests with each other for impeding humanitarian missions.
After Pakistan lodged its complaint, the Indian External Affairs Ministry released a statement on Saturday saying that the Naval advisor of the Pakistan high commission had been summoned by the ministry of defence and "our serious concern on this incident was conveyed."
An Indian navy official refuted Pakistani allegations that an Indian ship had put to risk MV Suez. He said that "reports of aggression by INS Godavari are incorrect and based on misinformation."
New Delhi lodged the protest under International Regulations for Prevention of Collisions at Sea and Article 10 of the 'Agreement between India-Pakistan on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements 1991' involving INS Godavari on high seas, the MEA statement said.
It added "PNS Babur by its risky manoeuvres jeopardised the safety of INS Godavari and its crew."
MV-Suez, which was hijacked by Somali pirates last August, had been released earlier this week after the Egyptian owner of the ship and Pakistani human rights activists, Ansar Burney managed to raise the $2.1 million demanded by pirates. India, which was due to contribute $500,000 as part of its share of the ransom fee, never turned up with its promised amount, almost putting the lives of 22 sailors in jeopardy. After the sailors and their ship were released by pirates on Tuesday, MV-Suez once again came under attack from Somali pirates. However, by this time PNS Babar had reached the ship and thwarted the attack.
Pakistan and India are also due to conduct foreign secretary level talks in Islamabad between June 24-25.
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Moments after India blamed Pakistan for the controversy surrounding the rescue operations of MV Suez, Pakistan Navy hit back saying that they were requested to help with the rescue of the sailors onboard, which includes 6 Indians. Pakistan Navy spokesperson added that their priority was to bring the sailors to safety. He also confirmed that Suez sailors have been shifted to Pakistani warship PNS Babar.
Cmdr Irfan-ul-Haq, Director General PRO, Pakistan Navy told TIMES NOW, "Master of the ship requested the Navy on humanitarian grounds to save the life of sailors onboard MV Suez. On that request the Chief of Naval staff in Oman ordered PNS Babar, which was in the vicinity to provide protection."
"In this regard an operation has been launched, to save human life is of paramount importance and that is what Pak Navy is engaged in doing at this moment. They are 22 in number and absolute importance is to save human life," he added.
Earlier, government sources told TIMES NOW that even as INS Godavari approached MV Suez, Pakistan Navy personnel onboard PNS Babar shouted anti-India slogans.
War of words has been exchanged over Pakistani warship PNS Babar violating relevant regulations on navigational safety by its "risky" manoeuvres jeopardising the safety of INS Godavari.
The Pakistani warship, which is part of the international Combined Task Force anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, has caused several problems for Indian ships in the past.
On June 17, Pakistani Foreign Office had lodged a complaint with the Indian government over the "dangerous manoeuvre" of INS Godavari as it escorted the released MV Suez to port Salalah in Oman.
According to the Pakistani foreign office, PNS Babar had been escorting MV Suez, when the Indian warship moved dangerously close to PNS Babar and both warships brushed each other almost 100 nautical miles east of Port Salalah.
The Indian navy has already been under immense domestic pressure for not sending help in time to the sailors and was beaten to it by arch rivals Pakistan in measures to get the hostages released and escorted back to port.
INS Godavari had joined up with MV-Suez on June 16 to provide an Indian escort to the ship which is carrying six Indians among 22 sailors.
The event has now snowballed into a diplomatic row as both countries lodged tit-for-tat protests with each other for impeding humanitarian missions.
After Pakistan lodged its complaint, the Indian External Affairs Ministry released a statement on Saturday saying that the Naval advisor of the Pakistan high commission had been summoned by the ministry of defence and "our serious concern on this incident was conveyed."
An Indian navy official refuted Pakistani allegations that an Indian ship had put to risk MV Suez. He said that "reports of aggression by INS Godavari are incorrect and based on misinformation."
New Delhi lodged the protest under International Regulations for Prevention of Collisions at Sea and Article 10 of the 'Agreement between India-Pakistan on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troops Movements 1991' involving INS Godavari on high seas, the MEA statement said.
It added "PNS Babur by its risky manoeuvres jeopardised the safety of INS Godavari and its crew."
MV-Suez, which was hijacked by Somali pirates last August, had been released earlier this week after the Egyptian owner of the ship and Pakistani human rights activists, Ansar Burney managed to raise the $2.1 million demanded by pirates. India, which was due to contribute $500,000 as part of its share of the ransom fee, never turned up with its promised amount, almost putting the lives of 22 sailors in jeopardy. After the sailors and their ship were released by pirates on Tuesday, MV-Suez once again came under attack from Somali pirates. However, by this time PNS Babar had reached the ship and thwarted the attack.
Pakistan and India are also due to conduct foreign secretary level talks in Islamabad between June 24-25.
Gen.Shuja Pasha Played a Key role in Getting Pakistani and IndianHostages Release
indian Families Turn To Pak Navy For Help
