22 crew members on seized Iranian ship by US evacuated to Pakistan, says FO

Pakistan said on Monday that 22 crew members held aboard the seized Iranian container ship, ‘MV Touska’ were evacuated to Pakistan by the US.

“The individuals, who were flown to Pakistan last night, will be handed over to the Iranian authorities today,” the Foreign Office (FO) said in a press release today.

The statement further said that the Iranian ship will also be backloaded to Pakistani territorial waters for return to its original owners after necessary repairs.

These returns are being coordinated in tandem with the support of both the Iranian and US sides, added the FO.

“Pakistan welcomes such confidence-building measures and will continue to facilitate dialogue and diplomacy while pursuing ongoing mediation efforts for regional peace and security.”

As per Reuters, the US Central ​Command had said the ship’s crew failed to comply with repeated warnings over six hours, and the vessel was in violation ​of a US blockade.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar expressed Pakistan’s appreciation to the United States and Iran, and said that the country “remains committed to facilitating dialogue, diplomacy, and mediation for the regional peace and security”.