India’s navy successfully rescued 19 Pakistani nationals from Somali pirates who had seized their fishing vessel near Somalia.

Eleven Somali pirates had taken the crew hostage on the Iranian-flagged fishing vessel Al Naeemi.

The INS Sumitra navy patrol ship intercepted the hijacked vessel, ensuring the safe release of the crew and the vessel.

This marks the second anti-piracy operation by INS Sumitra within 36 hours, as they had previously rescued 17 people from another hijacked Iranian-flagged fishing vessel in the Gulf of Aden.

Concerns arise over increased vessel attacks off Somalia’s coast amid recent missile attacks by Houthi fighters in the Red Sea.