ISLAMABAD: Tehran’s ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, has “wholeheartedly appreciated” the Pakistan Navy for rescuing eight Iranian fishermen after their boat caught fire in the open sea, state-run APP news agency reported on Tuesday.
A Pakistan Navy ship, Yarmook, heard a distress call from the fire-stricken boat and swiftly acted, the Pakistani military’s media wing said on Monday, adding that a successful rescue operation was carried out on humanitarian grounds, with all eight fishermen rescued and the fire extinguished.
“Moghadam on Monday wholeheartedly appreciated Pakistan Navy for responding actively and conscientiously to the distress call of assistance from an Iranian fishing boat caught in an uncontrollable fire in the open sea and safely rescuing eight Iranian fishermen,” APP said.
“The ambassador said that Iran and Pakistan have a close mutual support and cooperation in the rescue and humanitarian assistance operations at the international waters done by due vigilance and professionalism this time by Pakistan Navy.”
Last month, Pakistan Navy rescued nine Indian seamen who were stranded in a disabled tug that had been en route to Sharjah.
The vessel, Ocean Tug SAS-5 registered at St. Kitts & Nevis, had been disabled for days near the Indian coast after a failure of its electric generators at a position 167 nautical miles southeast of the Pakistani port city of Karachi, according to Pakistan Navy.