India yet to provide information on drug boat: Pakistan

From Sajjad Hussain

Islamabad

Pakistan today said India has so far not shared any information with it about a Pakistani boat seized by it for carrying narcotics.

“We are aware of the Indian media reports. Our Mission in New Delhi has approached the Indian authorities to seek details of the boat (ownership, registration) and arrested crew. So far no information has been shared with us,” Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said responding to a question at the weekly briefing.

She said that drug trafficking was a very serious matter and curbing it requires cooperation among countries.

Aslam said India in principle should have informed Pakistan if a boat from it was carrying drugs was seized.

She said the DG Pakistan Maritime Security Agency has been asked to ascertain the facts.

“You may recall that a couple of months ago, Indian authorities and media alleged that a ‘terror boat’ from Pakistan, with explosives had been destroyed. For weeks, Indian authorities created media hype. It turned out to be a hoax and an embarrassment to India,” she said.

The boat carrying 232 kgs of narcotics, whose market value is pegged at Rs 600 crore, was seized and eight Pakistani crew onboard were arrested in a joint intelligence-based operation by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard from international waters off Gujarat coast on Tuesday.

– PTI