Indian missing after Panama-flagged tanker attacked amid West Asia crisis
New Delhi, Sep 13 (PTI) India on Sunday condemned an attack on a Panama-flagged oil tanker off the coast of Oman that resulted in one Indian seafarer being reported missing.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said 13 other Indian crew members of the vessel, MT El Gaia, were rescued.
"We condemn the attack on the commercial vessel MT El Gaia off the coast of Oman earlier today. Of the 14 Indian crew onboard, 13 Indians have been rescued so far," it said.
"Search and rescue operations for the missing Indian national are continuing. Our embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and proactively coordinating with the Omani authorities in the ongoing search and rescue operation," the MEA said in a statement.
The Indian side thanked Omani authorities for their support in rescuing the Indian seafarers.
"We reiterate our call for immediate de-escalation of tensions and pursuance of dialogue and diplomacy to bring peace to the region," the MEA said.
"The targeting of commercial shipping, seafarers, civilians, and civilian infrastructure in the region is unacceptable," it added.
New Delhi has been concerned over attacks on commercial shipping as most of the vessels usually have Indian seafarers.
Speaking at the BRICS summit on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the creation of a "Seafarers' Emergency Support Network" to safeguard them from security risks due to regional conflicts.
Ten Indian seafarers are among the 16 Indians killed so far in the West Asia conflict, while another five Indian seafarers have died in strikes on merchant vessels in the Black Sea.
"We also urge that free and safe navigation and flow of commerce through the international waterways in the region be restored at the earliest," the MEA said.
