New Delhi:
The Indian government seems to have taken a cue from Pakistan. Today, it sent a Godavari class warship to protect the MV Suez, which has six Indians on board. The warship is expected to reach Suez by Thursday afternoon.
It was a Pakistani ship that came to the rescue of the Suez after the Indian Navy ignored its repeated calls for help. The merchant vessel was released by Somali pirates less than 48 hours ago. This morning, it was attacked once again by pirates.
(Read: Suez crew messages about new threat at sea)The crew of the Suez, which is owned by an Egyptian company, was held hostage for nine months before 2.1 million dollars was paid as ransom earlier this week, some of it raised via donations from Pakistan.
Indian sailors and their families had complained that the Indian Navy ignored repeated calls and messages for help.
Instead, Pakistan rushed a major naval warship, PNS Babar, to meet the Suez which is still in dangerous waters. The PNS Babar will escort the Suez to the port Salalah in Oman. That journey is likely to be completed on Friday morning.
Ansar Burney, a Pakistani rights activist, played a key role in the negotiations that led to the pirates freeing the hostages late on Monday. Mr Burney confirmed today that he had received messages from the Suez of a new attack.
(Read: Families of Indian sailors thank Ansar Burney)The owners of the ship told NDTV that they had approached the Indian government for help. In an email to NDTV, a senior company official said, "I've contacted the (Indian) Navy, but there's no response. I have called them so many times." He says Indian officials advised him to "call the NATO hot line and ask if they have any war ship in this area for escort."