6 Indian nationals among sailors rescued by navy, maritime security agency in Arabian Sea: security sources

Pakistan Navy Assists Indian Vessel Crew in Arabian Sea

The Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) have provided humanitarian assistance to the crew of an Indian offshore tug and supply vessel stranded in the Arabian Sea, according to security sources. The operation involved rescuing seven crew members—six Indians and one Indonesian national—after the vessel encountered a technical fault.

The incident began when the Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centre in Mumbai contacted Pakistani authorities, requesting assistance for the vessel, identified as MV Gautam. The vessel was en route from Oman to India when it experienced the technical problem, leaving the crew in need of help.

The Pakistan Navy deployed the PMSS Kashmir to carry out the rescue operation. According to the sources, the crew received emergency assistance, including food, medical aid, and technical support. The sources said that support operations for the vessel remain ongoing.

Context of Regional Rescue Efforts

This operation follows a similar rescue mission last month, when the Pakistan Navy responded to a distress call from a merchant vessel in the North Arabian Sea. In that incident, the Navy rescued 18 crew members, including nationals from China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The vessel, MV Gold Autumn, was approximately 200 nautical miles (around 370 kilometers) off Pakistan's coast when the distress call was made.

A statement from the Pakistan Navy at the time described the earlier operation as a "swift humanitarian operation" and highlighted the successful evacuation of the crew.

Multiple Sources Confirm Details

Details of the recent rescue were consistent across reports from both Pakistani and Indian media outlets. The Dawn newspaper, a leading Pakistani publication, and The Hindu, an Indian daily, both reported the same core facts: the Pakistan Navy and PMSA provided assistance, the crew consisted of six Indians and one Indonesian, and the operation was launched after a request from Mumbai's rescue coordination center.

No major discrepancies were noted among the sources, though the reports did not attribute the information to any official statement from the Pakistan Navy or Indian authorities. The information was provided by "security sources," a common term used by media in the region when officials speak on condition of anonymity.

Ongoing Support

The sources indicated that the support operation for the MV Gautam is still in progress. They did not specify the nature of the technical fault or whether the vessel has been towed to a port. The crew's condition was not detailed, but the provision of food and medical aid suggests they were in a stable state.

Regional Relations and Humanitarian Norms

The rescue of an Indian vessel by Pakistani authorities underscores a long-standing maritime tradition of rendering assistance to vessels in distress, regardless of nationality. Both countries have engaged in such operations in the past, even during periods of heightened political tension. The cooperation between the Mumbai rescue center and Pakistani authorities also highlights functional communication channels for maritime emergencies.

As of this report, no additional details have been released about the crew's status or the vessel's eventual destination. The Pakistan Navy and PMSA have not issued formal statements, and Indian officials have not commented publicly on the rescue.