NEW DELHI: Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on Wednesday seized a Pakistani fishing boat and apprehended 11 crew members for operating illegally in Indian waters, officials said. The detainees have been handed over to the Jakhau Marine Police in Gujarat for further investigation.ICG on Thursday confirmed the interception on X, stating that it had “intercepted and apprehended a Pakistani fishing vessel along with 11 crew operating illegally inside Indian waters. ” The force said the “decisive action reflects the unwavering vigilance of the ICG and India’s firm resolve to protect its maritime frontiers and uphold international maritime law within the MZI. Relentless surveillance and proactive operation remain the bedrock of our maritime security strategy.”Gujarat Defence PRO Wing Commander Abhishek Kumar Tiwari said the operation was carried out swiftly. In a post on X, he wrote that the Coast Guard had “apprehended a Pakistani fishing boat with 11 crew inside India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).”
He said the interdiction highlights the Coast Guard’s sustained maritime operations and India’s commitment to securing its frontiers while enforcing international laws within the Maritime Zones of India (MZI). “Continuous vigilance across India’s maritime domain remains a cornerstone of our national maritime security strategy,” he added.Last year, an ICG ship rescued seven Indian fishermen who had been apprehended by a Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) vessel near the India-Pakistan maritime boundary. The ICG intercepted the Pakistani vessel Nusrat and chased it for nearly two hours before persuading it to release the fishermen on November 17.
