Delhi in talks with multiple sources for release of sailors
7 Indians among crew on board a ship seized by Houthi rebels
New Delhi, Jan 28 (UNI): The seven Indian sailors on board a UAE-flagged ship that has been seized by Houthi rebels are safe and the Indian government is in touch with multiple sources, including the UN Mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA), to press for their release at the earliest, a top official said on Friday.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said as per the latest information “received from the shipping company based in the UAE as well as from other sources, the seven Indian sailors are safe, in good health, and are being provided regular meals”.
However, their captors have not been allowing them to communicate with their families, he said.
The Centre is in touch with multiple sources, including the UN Mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA), “to enquire about the safety and well-being of our sailors as well as to reinforce our message to the Houthis that our sailors should be released at the earliest”.
On January 16, 2019, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2452 (2019) authorising the establishment of a Special Political Mission, the UNMHA, which brings together civilian, military and police personnel to support the Yemeni parties in delivering their obligations under the Stockholm Agreement, Referring to the January 17 Houthi drone attack in Abu Dhabi in which two Indians and a Pakistani national were killed.
“As regards the attack in UAE, two Indian nationals were killed, in the terror attack on January 17. The External Affairs Minister in his telephonic conversation with his UAE counterpart condemned the terror attack in the strongest terms. Subsequently, the UNSC of which we are currently a member, in a press statement, condemned in the strongest terms the heinous terror attack in Abu Dhabi, on January 17. We are closely monitoring the developments,” Bagchi said.
