New Delhi, June 10: The Indian government has strongly condemned the attack on a commercial vessel near the coast of Oman. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reported on Wednesday that 21 of the 24 Indian crew members aboard the ship have been safely rescued, while three remain missing and are currently being searched for.
In a statement, the Ministry expressed, “We condemn the attack on the commercial vessel ‘Setabelo’ near the coast of Oman. Out of the 24 Indians on board, 21 have been rescued, while reports indicate that three are still missing. The Indian Embassy in Oman is in constant contact with local authorities and is monitoring the ongoing search and rescue operations.”
The Ministry highlighted that the continuous attacks on vessels in the region are deeply concerning and are a direct result of the ongoing conflict.
The statement further urged all parties to immediately de-escalate tensions and to facilitate successful diplomatic negotiations to restore peace and stability in the region. It called for an immediate cessation of attacks on commercial vessels and civilian infrastructure, emphasizing the need to ensure uninterrupted maritime navigation and trade in accordance with international law.
Earlier, the Indian Embassy in Oman had announced on social media that it had received reports of an incident involving a ship near the coast. The embassy stated that it is closely monitoring the situation and is in contact with local authorities.
Notably, on Monday, 24 Indian sailors aboard the Palauan-flagged vessel MT Marivex were also safely rescued after a fire broke out on the ship. This incident occurred south of the Strait of Hormuz.
During a weekly press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal mentioned that MT Marivex had become inactive near the coast of Oman. All 24 crew members, who were Indian nationals, were safely evacuated. He also expressed gratitude to the Omani government for its assistance in the rescue operation.
The Ministry had previously expressed deep concern over the escalating tensions in West Asia, stating that the ongoing conflict, which has lasted over 100 days, has created a severe humanitarian crisis and has significantly impacted the global economy and energy supply. It urged all parties to take immediate steps to reduce tensions and work towards a peaceful resolution.
Leave a Comment