ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Friday it had secured the repatriation of 11 Pakistani nationals and 20 Iranians who were aboard vessels seized by the United States near Singaporean waters amid the ongoing US-Iran crisis, with the group expected to arrive in Islamabad later in the night.
The development comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran following weeks of confrontation linked to the Iranian decision to shut down the Strait of Hormuz and the US naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Pakistani officials had earlier sought Singapore’s assistance after the Pakistani and Iranian seafarers were aboard vessels seized by US authorities near Singaporean waters.
“I am pleased to share that we have been successful in the repatriation of 11 Pakistani nationals, alongside 20 nationals of our brotherly country Iran, through Singapore, who were aboard vessels seized in the high seas by the United States,” Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said in a statement posted on X.
“All individuals are in good health and high spirits,” he continued, adding that the welfare and well-being of Pakistanis abroad, “particularly those in distress, remains our government’s highest priority.”
Dar said all individuals had reached Bangkok from Singapore and had “already boarded the flight scheduled to reach Islamabad later tonight.”
The Pakistani deputy prime minister also said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had entrusted Pakistan with facilitating the return of the Iranian nationals, while the operation involved coordination with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the governments of Singapore and Thailand.
The repatriation effort comes as Pakistan continues to position itself as a diplomatic intermediary between Washington and Tehran during the ongoing regional crisis, having facilitated contacts and engagements between the two sides since the US and Israel launched the war against Iran on Feb. 28.
