ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has repatriated eight Iranian fishermen who were rescued at sea by a British vessel, MMA Valour, this month, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Monday.
Pakistan said earlier this month it was facilitating the repatriation of 30 Iranians, including eight fishermen and 22 crew members, who were rescued at sea by US and British authorities.
In a post on X, Dar shared the eight Iranian fishermen have been successfully repatriated and departed from the southern Pakistani city of Karachi for Iran on Monday morning.
“Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan and all concerned authorities coordinated closely with the Iranian and UK authorities to facilitate the safe transit and early return of our Iranian brethren to their homeland,” he said.
“We appreciate the trust reposed in Pakistan by Iran in handling the matter for their nationals, and the cooperation of all stakeholders in making their safe return possible.”
The statement came a day after the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) said it had undertaken the necessary reception, documentation, medical screening and coordination related to the Iranian fishermen for onward repatriation.
Iranian state news agency IRNA reported the PMSA had handed over the group of Iranian fishermen to the Iranian Consulate General in Karachi and they would return home on Monday.
The repatriation operation comes as Pakistan mediated talks between the US and Iran in Switzerland, aimed at reaching a lasting agreement after the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding this month.
In May, Pakistan also facilitated the repatriation of 22 Iranian sailors from Islamabad to Tehran after their vessels were seized by the US near Singaporean waters.
