The Indian Coast Guard have seized a Pakistani boat off the Gujarat coast on Sunday morning, triggering fears of an attack amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.
The officials escorted the boat and its nine crew members to Porbandar for further investigation, agencies stated.
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A senior coast guard officer approved the development and said that the crew members are being interrogated by the investigating officers to get more information about their activity and plan in the Indian waters.
ICG Samudra Pavak was on patrol duty off Gujarat coast when it detected the Pakistani boat in Indian waters. The Pakistani boat was chased and crew members were seized. The coast guard is likely to hand over the Pakistani men to Porbandar Police for additional enquiries.
The incident comes days after the government articulated a high alert and security agencies tightening vigil, especially in the border areas and coastal areas. The coast guard had deployed many ships and aircraft to watch India’s waters.
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Relations between New Delhi and Islamabad have plunged after the army said on Thursday it carried out “surgical strikes” on terror based camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Islamabad has hit back, rejecting the claim and saying any attempt to rupture its territorial integrity will be rebuffed. Experts say the heightened tensions may trigger certain infiltration trials, both by land and sea.