The Indian Coast Guard released a statement declaring that a case had been registered against the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) following “unprovoked firing on an Indian fishing boat.” Pakistan, however, claims that the boat had transgressed into its territorial waters and ignored several warnings.
The incident occurred off the coast of Gujarat on Saturday, when the PMSA opened fire on seven fishermen on board the boat “Jalpari.” It resulted in the death of a 32-year-old fisherman. Another fisherman on board was also injured during the firing, which the Indian side maintains was “unprovoked.”
A source cited by NDTV said that the Indian side had taken a “serious note” of the incident and intends to raise the issue through diplomatic channels with Pakistan. Further, an FIR has been registered at the Navi Bandar police, which has jurisdiction over crimes committed beyond 12 nautical miles from the Gujarat coast.
The Indian Coast guard confirmed the incident. In an official statement, it said, “The case is under investigation at present by police authorities and the crew is being interviewed jointly. Details can be shared only after completion of the investigation.”
On Monday, the Indian government called on a senior official from the Pakistani High Commission to lodge a “strong protest” against the incident. It urged Pakistan to launch an inquiry into the incident and direct its forces to refrain from such unprovoked firing.
Pakistan, however, has said that the Indian fishermen had “illegally transgressed” into Pakistani waters and that the PMSA had delivered several warnings that were not paid heed to.
Pakistan’s official statement reads: “Pakistan Maritime Security Agency’s ships attempted to interdict the intruding boat, which even after repeated warnings did not respond or change course. PMSA ship fired warning shots in the vicinity of the Indian boat but again the boat did not stop its engines. Subsequently, PMSA fired directly onto the Indian boat after which it halted.” Thereafter, the six others on board were taken for questioning.
As of February 2021, Pakistan has acknowledged the presence of 270 fishermen and 49 civilian prisoners in its jails. Meanwhile, India has registered the presence of 77 Pakistani fishermen and 262 civilian prisoners. Each year, both sides detain several fishermen for violating maritime boundaries. Consequently, several vessels have also been seized by both India and Pakistan. India has often accused Pakistan of detaining its fishermen even after they served their sentence.
The most-recent firing against a traditional fishing boat is considered to be a blatant violation of the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea and is only likely to weaken the already strained diplomatic ties between the two countries.
India Files Case Against Pakistan Over Death of Fisherman Off Gujarat Coast
India claims that the firing was unprovoked, whereas Pakistan claims that the boat had “illegally transgressed” into Pakistani waters and was given several warnings that were ignored.
November 9, 2021
SOURCE: TIMES OF INDIA