Sceptical Pak Govt. says waiting for India to share information on seized boats

A sceptical Pakistan Foreign Office on Thursday said that it was still waiting for India to share complete information on the two boats seized in Indian waters off the Gujarat coast reported to have sailed from nPakistan waters.

"As regards the boat, yes, we are aware of media reports. Our Mission in Delhi has approached the Indian authorities for sharing information with us. And to provide us details of the 'Pakistani' boat, details like registration, ownership which will determine the origin of the boat. So far, no information has been shared with us," Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam told media in Islamabad.

It maybe recalled that the Indian Navy and Coast Guard had carried out a joint operation to seize a boat with 200 kilograms of heroin and an assortment of satellite phones and mobile phones. Eight suspected Pakistani drug traffickers were onboard the seized boat on the Arabian Sea, and they were taken into custody promptly.

Indian defence ministry officials said that the seized drugs were worth approximately 15 million dollars in the international market.

Aslam said, "Drug trafficking is a very serious crime, and it requires co-operation between countries. In principle, if a boat from Pakistan carrying drugs in Indian water was seized, India should have informed Pakistan first and foremost, because, as I said, this requires co-operation between countries. We have received nothing, but on our own we have asked the Director General Pakistan Maritime Security Agency to ascertain the facts."

Maritime authorities of both Pakistan and India frequently arrest fishermen hailing from the two nations when they inadvertently cross the Arabian Sea maritime border, which is poorly defined currently.