Thaindian News

New Delhi, March 10 (IANS) With 53 Indian sailors still held hostage by Somali pirates, the government Thursday said it was doing everything possible to free them from captivity, including back channel efforts.

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna told the Rajya Sabha that the matter had to be viewed objectively, as piracy was a disturbing and serious issue, and also urged members to show restraint. He also said India is in touch with the owners of the hijacked ships.

“There is no use getting worked up and getting emotive. Let us be very objective in our assessment of the situation,” Krishna said after BJP member S.S. Ahluwalia raised the issue during zero hour. Ahluwalia was joined by other opposition members from various parties.

“We will have to be restrained but at the same time we will have to pursue vigorously through back channels, there cannot be any time limit. The incident is disturbing and serious. New Delhi attaches utmost importance to the safety and security of the Indian sailors,” Krishna said.

Somali pirates had Wednesday released 11 Indians among the crew of cargo vessel RAK Afrikana, thereby bringing down the number of Indian sailors in captivity to 53.

The Indian sailors were taken hostage by the pirates, who had captured four Panama-flagged ships M.V. Iceberg, M.V. Suez. M.T. Asphalt Venture, and M.V. Sinin and Italian-flagged M.T. Savina Caylyn.

Krishna added that negotiations are on at several levels and Indian diplomats in Cairo and Dubai are in touch with private ship owners.

The minister also said the ship owners are engaged in negotiations with the pirates and the Director General of Shipping, who is the nodal authority on movement of ships, is making efforts to get the sailors released.

In the case of all five ships with Indian crew members, the Indian missions and posts concerned have been in regular touch with ship owners and with the governments of countries, where these ship owners are based, to secure the release of Indian nationals, the external affairs ministry said in a statement later in the day.

“Director General, Shipping has continued his efforts to expedite steps by the owners of the ships to secure the release of our sailors from the pirates,” the ministry said.

The Indian ambassador in Cairo and the consul general in Dubai are also working energetically with their counterparts from other countries, whose crew members have been held by the pirates in order to intensify efforts to secure the release of crew held in these ships, expeditiously.

The ministry also said while the UN Security Council and International Maritime Organisation are working on prevention, guidance, reporting and cooperation to mitigate piracy, an Indian warship continues to be deployed in the Gulf of Aden to escort Indian merchant vessels and protect Indian shipping interests since 2008.

“Following recent incidents of pirate attacks closer to Indian western shores, the Indian Navy has increased the vigil and neutralised two pirate motherships and captured 43 pirates,” it added.

The ministry said: “It is also necessary for flag states to be accountable and persuade the ships owners to expedite conclusion of negotiations with pirates so that seafarers are released quickly.”

The external affairs ministry pointed out that the shipping ministry was the nodal agency for piracy related issues.